Experimental and numerical studies on a high head model Francis turbine were carried out over the entire range of turbine operation. A complete Hill diagram was constructed and pressure-time measurements were performed at several operating conditions over the entire range of power generation by installing pressure sensors in the rotating and stationary domains of the turbine. Unsteady numerical simulations were performed at five operating conditions using two turbulent models, shear stress transport (SST) k-ω and standard k-ε and two advection schemes, high resolution and second order upwind. There was a very small difference (0.85%) between the experimental and numerical hydraulic efficiencies at the best efficiency point (BEP); the maximum difference (14%) between the experimental and numerical efficiencies was found at lower discharge turbine operation. Investigation of both the numerical and experimental pressure-time signals showed that the complex interaction between the rotor and stator caused an output torque oscillation over a particular power generation range. The pressure oscillations that developed due to guide vanes and runner blades interaction propagate up to the trailing edge of the blades. Fourier analysis of the signals revealed the presence of a vortex rope in the draft tube during turbine operation away from the BEP.
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November 2013
Research-Article
Experimental and Numerical Studies for a High Head Francis Turbine at Several Operating Points
Chirag Trivedi,
Chirag Trivedi
Ph.D. Student
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Roorkee 247667, India
e-mail: chirag.trivedi@ltu.se
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
Lulea University of Technology
,Norrbotten 97187
, Sweden
;Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Roorkee 247667, India
e-mail: chirag.trivedi@ltu.se
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Michel J. Cervantes,
Michel J. Cervantes
1
Professor
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
e-mail: Michel.Cervantes@ltu.se
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
Lulea University of Technology
,Norrbotten 97187
, Sweden
e-mail: Michel.Cervantes@ltu.se
1Corresponding author.
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B. K. Gandhi,
B. K. Gandhi
Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
e-mail: bkgmefme@iitr.ernet.in
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology
,Roorkee 247667
, India
e-mail: bkgmefme@iitr.ernet.in
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Ole G. Dahlhaug
Ole G. Dahlhaug
Professor
Water Power Laboratory,
Department of Energy and Process Engineering,
e-mail: ole.g.dahlhaug@ntnu.no
Water Power Laboratory,
Department of Energy and Process Engineering,
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
,Trondheim 7491
, Norway
e-mail: ole.g.dahlhaug@ntnu.no
Search for other works by this author on:
Chirag Trivedi
Ph.D. Student
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Roorkee 247667, India
e-mail: chirag.trivedi@ltu.se
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
Lulea University of Technology
,Norrbotten 97187
, Sweden
;Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Roorkee 247667, India
e-mail: chirag.trivedi@ltu.se
Michel J. Cervantes
Professor
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
e-mail: Michel.Cervantes@ltu.se
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics,
Department of Engineering
Sciences and Mathematics,
Lulea University of Technology
,Norrbotten 97187
, Sweden
e-mail: Michel.Cervantes@ltu.se
B. K. Gandhi
Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
e-mail: bkgmefme@iitr.ernet.in
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology
,Roorkee 247667
, India
e-mail: bkgmefme@iitr.ernet.in
Ole G. Dahlhaug
Professor
Water Power Laboratory,
Department of Energy and Process Engineering,
e-mail: ole.g.dahlhaug@ntnu.no
Water Power Laboratory,
Department of Energy and Process Engineering,
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
,Trondheim 7491
, Norway
e-mail: ole.g.dahlhaug@ntnu.no
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Fluids Engineering. Manuscript received December 11, 2012; final manuscript received June 11, 2013; published online August 7, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Edward M. Bennett.
J. Fluids Eng. Nov 2013, 135(11): 111102 (17 pages)
Published Online: August 7, 2013
Article history
Received:
December 11, 2012
Revision Received:
June 11, 2013
Citation
Trivedi, C., Cervantes, M. J., Gandhi, B. K., and Dahlhaug, O. G. (August 7, 2013). "Experimental and Numerical Studies for a High Head Francis Turbine at Several Operating Points." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. November 2013; 135(11): 111102. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024805
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