Internal Flow Characteristics of a Francis Hydro Turbine Model by Internal Flow Passage Shapes

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
Zhenmu Chen ◽  
Qingsheng Wei ◽  
Patrick Mark Singh ◽  
Young-Do Choi
Keyword(s):  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Flow Passage ◽  
Hydro Turbine ◽  
Turbine Model

Inter-Blade Vortex Characteristics With the Blockage Effects of Runner Blade in a Francis Hydro Turbine Model

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Jun Kim ◽  
Jin-Hyuk Kim ◽  
Young-Seok Choi ◽  
Yong Cho ◽  
Jong-Woong Choi
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Hydro Turbine ◽  
Runner Blade ◽  
Performance Reduction ◽  
Turbine Model ◽  
Low Flow Rate

Abstract This study presents the numerical analysis on the inter-blade vortex characteristics along with the blockage effects of runner blade in a Francis hydro turbine model with various flow rate conditions. The turbine model showed different flow characteristics in the runner blade passages according to operating conditions, and inter-blade vortex was observed at lower flow rate conditions. This inter-blade vortex can lead to performance reduction, vibration, and instability for smooth operation of turbine systems. The previous study on blockage effects on various runner blade thickness, showed its influence on hydraulic performance and internal flow characteristics at low flow rate conditions. Therefore, the inter-blade vortex characteristics can be altered with the blockage effects at low flow rate conditions in a Francis hydro-turbine. For investigating the internal flow and unsteady pressure characteristics, three-dimensional steady and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes calculations are performed. These inter-blade vortices were captured at the leading and trailing edges close to the runner hub. These vortex regions showed flow separation and stagnation flow while blockage effects contributed for decreasing the inter-blade vortex at low flow rate conditions.

Performance and Internal Flow of Contra-Rotating Small Hydro Turbine

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Shigemitsu ◽  
Junichiro Fukutomi ◽  
Ryosuke Sonohata
Keyword(s):  
Flow Condition ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Small Hydropower ◽  
Flow Passage ◽  
Hydro Turbine ◽  
Experimental Apparatus ◽  
Hydro Turbines

Small hydropower generation is one of important alternative energy, and potential of small hydropower is great. Efficiency of small hydro turbines is lower than that of large one, and these small hydro turbine’s common problems are out of operation by foreign materials. Then, there are demands for small hydro turbines to keep high performance and wide flow passage. Therefore, we adopted contra-rotating rotors, which can be expected to achieve high performance and enable to use low-solidity rotors with wide flow passage, in order to accomplish high performance and stable operation. Final goal of this study is development of a small hydro turbine like electrical goods, which has high portability and makes an effective use of unused small hydro power energy source. In this research, experimental apparatus of the contra-rotating small hydro turbine with 60mm casing diameter was manufactured and performance of it was investigated by an experiment. Efficiency of the contra-rotating small hydro turbine was high in pico-hydro turbine and high efficiency could be kept in wide flow rate range. Internal flow condition, which was difficult to measure experimentally, was shown by the numerical flow analysis. Further, influence of spokes to support the rotor was clarified. Then, a relation between the performance and internal flow condition was considered by the experimental and numerical analysis results.

Suppression of cavitation in the draft tube of Francis turbine model by J-Groove

2018 ◽  
Vol 233 (9) ◽  
pp. 3100-3110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenmu Chen ◽  
Young-Do Choi
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Flow Characteristic ◽  
Draft Tube ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Francis Turbine ◽  
Dynamics Analysis ◽  
Hydro Turbine ◽  
Turbine Performance ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis ◽  
Turbine Model

Cavitation is recognized as a phenomenon that can cause serious damage to a hydro turbine and can reduce its performance when operating at off-design point. This is an undesired phenomenon, which needs to be improved. In order to suppress the cavitation in the Francis turbine draft tube, a technology with grooved draft tube named J-Groove is introduced in the Francis turbine. The Francis turbine performance and the internal flow characteristic are investigated both with and without J-Groove installation by the experimental method and numerical simulation. Visualization was used to capture the cavitation rope in the Francis turbine draft tube to compare with the computational fluid dynamics analysis result. The results show that the turbine performance both with and without J-Groove installation is quite similar. Regardless of impact on performance of Francis turbine by J-Groove, it suppresses the cavitation vortex rope and pressure fluctuation in the Francis turbine draft tube efficiently.

scholarly journals Effect of Fins on the Internal Flow Characteristics in the Draft Tube of a Francis Turbine Model

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Jun Kim ◽  
Young-Seok Choi ◽  
Yong Cho ◽  
Jong-Woong Choi ◽  
Jung-Jae Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Draft Tube ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Francis Turbine ◽  
Vortex Rope ◽  
Turbine Model ◽  
Low Flow Rate

Undesirable flow phenomena in Francis turbines are caused by pressure fluctuations induced under conditions of low flow rate; the resulting vortex ropes with precession in the draft tube (DT) can degrade performance and increase the instability of turbine operations. To suppress these DT flow instabilities, flow deflectors, grooves, or other structures are often added to the DT into which air or water is injected. This preliminary study investigates the effects of anti-cavity fins on the suppression of vortex ropes in DTs without air injection. Unsteady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes analyses were conducted using a scale-adaptive simulation shear stress transport turbulence model to observe the unsteady internal flow and pressure characteristics by applying anti-cavity fins in the DT of a Francis turbine model. A vortex rope with precession was observed in the DT under conditions of low flow rate, and the anti-cavity fins were confirmed to affect the mitigation of the vortex rope. Moreover, at the low flow rate conditions under which the vortex rope developed, the application of anti-cavity fins was confirmed to reduce the maximum unsteady pressure.

Investigation into the Internal Flow Characteristics of a Pump-turbine Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Mark Singh ◽  
Chengcheng Chen ◽  
Zhenmu Chen ◽  
Young-Do Choi
Keyword(s):  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Pump Turbine ◽  
Turbine Model

scholarly journals Effect of the leakage flow in runner on flow characteristics of a Francis turbine model

2021 ◽  
Vol 774 (1) ◽  
pp. 012087
Author(s):  
S J Kim ◽  
Y S Choi ◽  
Y Cho ◽  
J W Choi ◽  
J J Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Francis Turbine ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Turbine Model

scholarly journals Effect of Air Injection on the Internal Flow Characteristics in the Draft Tube of a Francis Turbine Model

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1182
Author(s):  
Seung-Jun Kim ◽  
Yong Cho ◽  
Jin-Hyuk Kim
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Draft Tube ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Air Injection ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Francis Turbine ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Vortex Rope

Under low flow-rate conditions, a Francis turbine exhibits precession of a vortex rope with pressure fluctuations in the draft tube. These undesirable flow phenomena can lead to deterioration of the turbine performance as manifested by torque and power output fluctuations. In order to suppress the rope with precession and a swirl component in the tube, the use of anti-swirl fins was investigated in a previous study. However, vortex rope generation still occurred near the cone of the tube. In this study, unsteady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes analyses were conducted with a scale-adaptive simulation shear stress transport turbulence model. This model was used to observe the effects of the injection in the draft tube on the unsteady internal flow and pressure phenomena considering both active and passive suppression methods. The air injection affected the generation and suppression of the vortex rope and swirl component depending on the flow rate of the air. In addition, an injection level of 0.5%Q led to a reduction in the maximum unsteady pressure characteristics.

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