scholarly journals Application of CFD to the Design of Manifolds Employed in the Thermodynamic Method to Obtain Efficiency in a Hydraulic Turbine

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8359
Author(s):  
Erick O. M. Castañeda ◽  
Gustavo B. Urquiza ◽  
Laura L. G. Castro ◽  
Juan C. C. García

This study presents the design and implementation of different types of manifolds (sampling system) to measure water flow properties (velocity, pressure, and temperature) through the high- and low-pressure section of a Francis-type low head hydraulic turbine (LHT of 52 m) to calculate it is efficiency using the Thermodynamic Method (TM). The design of the proposed manifolds meets the criteria established in the “International Electrotechnical Commission—60041” Standard for the application of the TM in the turbine. The design of manifolds was coupled to the turbine and tested by the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) application, under the same experimental conditions that were carried out in a power plant, without the need for on-site measurements. CFD analyses were performed at different operating conditions of volumetric flow (between values of 89.67 m3/s and 35.68 m3/s) at the inlet of turbine. The mechanical power obtained and the efficiency calculated from the numerical simulations were compared with the experimental measurements by employing the Gibson Method (GM) on the same LTH. The design and testing of manifolds for high- and low-pressure sections in a low head turbine allows for the constant calculation of efficiency, avoiding breaks in the generation of electrical energy, as opposed to other methods, for example, the GM. However, the simulated (TM) and experimental (GM) efficiency curves are similar; therefore, it is proposed that the design of the manifolds is applied in different geometries of low-head turbines.

Author(s):  
Bin Zhou ◽  
Amir Mujezinovic ◽  
Andrew Coleman ◽  
Wei Ning ◽  
Asif Ansari

Low Engine Order (LEO) excitations on a steam turbine Last Stage low-pressure (LP) Bucket (or Blade) (LSB) are largely the result of flow unsteadiness (e.g. flow circulation and reversal) due to low steam exit velocity (Vax) off the LSB at the off-design conditions. These excitations at low frequencies impose major constraints on LP bucket aeromechanical design. In this study, bucket forced response under typical LEO excitation was analytically predicted and correlated to experimental measurements. First, transient CFD analyses were performed at typical low flow, low Vax operating conditions that had been previously tested in a subscale low pressure turbine test rig. The unsteady pressure distribution on the bucket was derived from the transient CFD analyses at frequencies corresponding to the bucket’s modes of vibration. Subsequently, these computed unsteady pressure were mapped onto a LSB finite element model, and forced response analyses were performed to estimate the bucket dynamic response, i.e. the alternating stresses and strains. The analytically predicted bucket response was compared against measured data from airfoil mounted strain gages and good correlation was found between the analytical prediction and the test data. Despite uncertainty associated with various parameters such as damping and unsteady steam forcing etc., the developed methodology provides a viable approach for predicting bucket forced response and in turn High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) capability during early phases of steam turbine LSB design.


Author(s):  
Silvio Chemnitz ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis

Abstract The development and verification of new turbulence models for RANS equations based numerical methods require reliable experimental data with a deep understanding of the underlying turbulence mechanisms. High accurate turbulence measurements are normally limited to simplified test cases under optimal experimental conditions. This work presents comprehensive three-dimensional data of turbulent flow quantities, comparing advanced constant temperature anemometry (CTA) and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods under realistic test conditions. The experiments are conducted downstream of a linear, low-pressure turbine cascade at engine relevant high speed operating conditions. The special combination of high subsonic Mach and low Reynolds number results in a low density test environment, challenging for all applied measurement techniques. Detailed discussions about influences affecting the measured result for each specific measuring technique is given. The presented time mean fields, as well as total turbulence data demonstrate with an average deviation of ΔTu < 0.4% and ΔC/Cref < 0.9% an extraordinary good agreement between the results from the triple sensor hot-wire probe and the 2D3C-PIV setup. Most differences between PIV and CTA can be explained by the finite probe size and individual geometry.


2015 ◽  
Vol 758 ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Muis ◽  
Priyono Sutikno ◽  
Aryadi Suwono ◽  
Firman Hartono

Studies conducted on axial flow hydraulic turbine by comparing the performance of turbines which use a single rotor and two rotors that rotate in opposite (contra-rotating). Both turbines are designed to generate energy utilizing a very low head water flow. Single rotor turbine consists of one row of guide vane and one row of rotor blade. Contra-rotating rotor turbine consists of one row of guide vane and two rows of rotor blade, which is the front rotor blade also serves as a guide vane for the rear rotor. Both of turbines are designed for the same flow and operating conditions. The results of numerical studies show that both of turbines can be applied with a fairly high efficiency, however the single rotor turbine is significantly higher. Especially for contra-rotating turbine, the total power that generated at the same operating conditions will increase because powers are resulted from both of rotors, but the effective head required will be significantly increase compare to the single-rotor turbine. These results may be used as a reference in the development of axial flow hydraulic turbine for very low head sites to expand the applications. Keywords: Single rotor, contra-rotating rotor, axial flow, very low head, hydraulic turbine.


Author(s):  
Juri Bellucci ◽  
Lorenzo Peruzzi ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Lorenzo Arcangeli ◽  
Nicola Maceli

Abstract This work aims to deepen the understanding of the aerodynamic behavior and the performance of a low pressure steam turbine module. Numerical and experimental results obtained on a three-stage low pressure steam turbine (LPT) module are presented. The selected geometry is representative of the state-of-the-art of low pressure sections for small steam turbines. The test vehicle was designed and operated in different operating conditions with dry and wet steam. Different types of measurements are performed for the global performance estimation of the whole turbine and for the detailed analysis of the flow field. Steady and unsteady CFD analyses have been performed by means of viscous, three-dimensional simulations adopting a real gas, equilibrium steam model. Measured inlet/outlet boundary conditions are used for the computations. The fidelity of the computational setup is proven by comparing computational and experimental results. Main performance curves and span-wise distributions show a good agreement in terms of both shape of curves/distributions and absolute values. Finally, an attempt is done to point out where losses are generated and the physical mechanisms involved are investigated and discussed in details.


2018 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 01036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Kharlamov ◽  
Pavel Shkodun ◽  
Andrey Ognevsky

Effective use of fuel and energy resources is one of the main tasks in modern industry and transport. The main directions of increasing the energy efficiency of the electric rolling stock of railways are considered in the paper. For the electric rolling stock of railways, a significant proportion of electric power consumption falls on traction needs. The consumption of electrical energy and its recovery directly depends on the proper operation and fine-tuning of the magnetic system and switching of traction electric motors of the rolling stock. The methods of testing traction electric motors currently used in railway transport do not fully correspond to their operating modes during operation. For more reliable control of their condition, a methodology for estimating the nature of the operation of traction electric motors in conditions close to real ones was proposed. Studies of the influence of transient processes on the quality of switching of traction electric motors taking into account operating conditions are carried out. Based on the results of the study, the analysis of the data obtained is carried out, and a criterion for estimating the switching stability of traction electric motors in transient operation modes is proposed. The proposed criterion allows carrying out quality control of the tuning of the magnetic system and switching of the traction electric motor, and also estimating the nature of its operation in various modes, taking into account the operating conditions.


Author(s):  
Laslo Šereš ◽  
Ljubica Dokić ◽  
Bojana Ikonić ◽  
Dragana Šoronja-Simović ◽  
Miljana Djordjević ◽  
...  

Cross-flow microfiltration using ceramic tubular membrane was applied for treatment of steepwater from corn starch industry. Experiments are conducted according to the faced centered central composite design at three different transmembrane pressures (1, 2 and 3 bar) and cross-flow velocities (100, 150 and 200 L/h) with and without the usage of Kenics static mixer. For examination of the influence of the selected operating conditions at which usage of the static mixer is justified, a response surface methodology and desirability function approach were used. Obtained results showed improvement in the average permeate flux by using Kenics static mixer for 211 % to 269 % depending on experimental conditions when compared to the system without the static mixer. As a result of optimization, the best results considering flux improvement as well as reduction of specific energy consumption were obtained at low transmembrane pressure and lower feed cross-flow rates.


2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph A. Schmalhofer ◽  
Peter Griebel ◽  
Manfred Aigner

The use of highly reactive hydrogen-rich fuels in lean premixed combustion systems strongly affects the operability of stationary gas turbines (GT) resulting in higher autoignition and flashback risks. The present study investigates the autoignition behavior and ignition kernel evolution of hydrogen–nitrogen fuel mixtures in an inline co-flow injector configuration at relevant reheat combustor operating conditions. High-speed luminosity and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements in an optically accessible reheat combustor are employed. Autoignition and flame stabilization limits strongly depend on temperatures of vitiated air and carrier preheating. Higher hydrogen content significantly promotes the formation and development of different types of autoignition kernels: More autoignition kernels evolve with higher hydrogen content showing the promoting effect of equivalence ratio on local ignition events. Autoignition kernels develop downstream a certain distance from the injector, indicating the influence of ignition delay on kernel development. The development of autoignition kernels is linked to the shear layer development derived from global experimental conditions.


Author(s):  
Christoph Heinz ◽  
Markus Schatz ◽  
Michael V. Casey ◽  
Heinrich Stu¨er

To guarantee a faultless operation of a turbine it is necessary to know the dynamic performance of the machine especially during start-up and shut-down. In this paper the vibration behaviour of a low pressure model steam turbine which has been intentionally mistuned is investigated at the resonance point of an eigenfrequency crossing an engine order. Strain gauge measurements as well as tip timing analysis have been used, whereby a very good agreement is found between the methods. To enhance the interpretation of the data measured, an analytical mass-spring-model, which incorporates degrees of freedom for the blades as well as for the rotor shaft, is presented. The vibration amplitude varies strongly from blade to blade. This is caused by the mistuning parameters and the coupling through the rotor shaft. This circumferential blade amplitude distribution is investigated at different operating conditions. The results show an increasing aerodynamic coupling with increasing fluid density, which becomes visible in a changing circumferential blade amplitude distribution. Furthermore the blade amplitudes rise non-linearly with increasing flow velocity, while the amplitude distribution is almost independent. Additionally, the mechanical and aerodynamic damping parameters are calculated by means of a non-linear regression method. Based on measurements at different density conditions, it is possible to extrapolate the damping parameters down to vacuum conditions, where aerodynamic damping is absent. Hence the material damping parameter can be determined.


Author(s):  
Nobuhiko Fukuda ◽  
Satoshi Someya ◽  
Koji Okamoto

It is thought that the pressure fluctuation can occur due to the interaction between flow through guide vanes and flow into runner blades, resulting in a vibration of turbine and a blade cracking, in a hydraulic turbine operated in a wide range for flexible power demand. High accurate velocity measurement with high time/spatial resolution can help to clarify the mechanism of the interaction and to provide good experimental data for the validation of numerical procedure. So the aim of present study is to estimate the unstable velocity field quantitatively in the area between guide vanes and runner blades, using high time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV). Two types of velocity measurements were carried out, i.e., phase-locked measurement and high time sequential velocity measurement, in a pump-turbine model with 20 guide vanes and 6 runner blades. The characteristic of the flow field varied corresponding to the operating conditions such as flow rate and rotational speed. Opening angles of guide vanes were kept uniform. A clockwise vortex was generated at inside of the runner blade under smaller rotational speed. A counterclockwise vortex was separated at the backside of the runner blade under higher rotational speed. At any operating conditions, the velocity between guide vanes and runner blades oscillated periodically at the blade passing frequency.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Alvarez-Regueiro ◽  
Esperanza Barrera-Medrano ◽  
Ricardo Martinez-Botas ◽  
Srithar Rajoo

Abstract This paper presents a CFD-based numerical analysis on the potential benefits of non-radial blading turbine for low speed-low pressure applications. Electric turbocompounding is a waste heat recovery technology consisting of a turbine coupled to a generator that transforms the energy left over in the engine exhaust gases, which is typically found at low pressure, into electricity. Turbines designed to operate at low specific speed are ideal for these applications since the peak efficiency occurs at lower pressure ratios than conventional high speed turbines. The baseline design consisted of a vaneless radial fibre turbine, operating at 1.2 pressure ratio and 28,000rpm. Experimental low temperature tests were carried out with the baseline radial blading turbine at nominal, lower and higher pressure ratio operating conditions to validate numerical simulations. The baseline turbine incidence angle effect was studied and positive inlet blade angle impact was assessed in the current paper. Four different turbine rotor designs of 20, 30, 40 and 50° of positive inlet blade angle are presented, with the aim to reduce the losses associated to positive incidence, specially at midspan. The volute domain was included in all CFD calculations to take into account the volute-rotor interactions. The results obtained from numerical simulations of the modified designs were compared with those from the baseline turbine rotor at design and off-design conditions. Total-to-static efficiency improved in all the non-radial blading designs at all operating points considered, by maximum of 1.5% at design conditions and 5% at off-design conditions, particularly at low pressure ratio. As non-radial fibre blading may be susceptible to high centrifugal and thermal stresses, a structural analysis was performed to assess the feasibility of each design. Most of non-radial blading designs showed acceptable levels of stress and deformation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document