Validation of a Stage Calculation in a Francis Turbine

Abstract

Abstract. This paper describes the verification of a simulation method for complete hydraulic turbine systems, from spiral casing through distributor and runner to the outlet draft tube. The method solves the steady 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes equations with a mixing plane at the interfaces between the components, so that the flow in each frame of reference is steady. The steady-state interactions between the components are taken into account but unsteady interactions are neglected. The paper verificates the method by comparison of computations with detailed flow measurements from a high specific speed Francis turbine model. Computations in which each component is computed in isolation are compared to computations using the mixing interface between components to demonstrate the advantages of the new technique.

Blade passage modeling strategy for hydraulic turbine

“…However, a large part of the design of hydraulic turbines still involves steady state simulations due to time constraints For a high head Francis turbine, both the global parameters such as efficiency, torque, etc., and local parameters including pressure fluctuations due to rotor stator interactions are important to the design. In the numerical simulations and design of hydro turbines, several efforts have been devoted [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”