IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v292y2024ics0360544224002858.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investigation of role of fins in a Francis turbine model's cavitation-induced instabilities under design and off-design conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Shahzer, Mohammad Abu
  • Kim, Jin-Hyuk

Abstract

Harnessing hydraulic energy for power generation using Francis turbines presents formidable downstream swirl instabilities, which can lead to pressure surges at part load (PL) conditions. Cavitation-induced issues affect not just the PL operations but also the power generation at the best efficiency point (BEP). To combat these challenges, fins strategically placed on the draft tube (DT) periphery aid in low-pressure recovery, which suppresses the hurdles for stable energy extraction. This ongoing study delves deep into the internal flow dynamics of the turbine, considering various Thoma numbers, and evaluating the impact of fins. The investigation employs numerical simulations utilizing structured and unstructured grids, incorporating the Shear Stress Transport (SST) model and the Rayleigh-Plesset model to model turbulent flow in a two-phase mixture. Preliminary findings reveal that at PL, the presence of fins substantially reduces low-pressure zone formation, minimizing vortex ropes and associated instabilities. The fins positively influence axial velocity, reducing swirl intensity and mitigating pressure pulsations by 60 % at PL. Conversely, at the BEP, the impact of fins appears less pronounced, with zero detrimental effect. In conclusion, with no negative effect at BEP, the incorporation of fins enhances the turbine's operational range and ensures smoother and more stable energy production at PL.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahzer, Mohammad Abu & Kim, Jin-Hyuk, 2024. "Investigation of role of fins in a Francis turbine model's cavitation-induced instabilities under design and off-design conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:292:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224002858
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.130514
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224002858
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.130514?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Muhirwa, Alexis & Cai, Wei-Hua & Su, Wen-Tao & Liu, Quanzhong & Binama, Maxime & Li, Biao & Wu, Jian, 2020. "A review on remedial attempts to counteract the power generation compromise from draft tubes of hydropower plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 743-764.
    2. Trivedi, Chirag & Iliev, Igor & Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar & Markov, Zoran & Engstrom, Fredrik & Lysaker, Henning, 2020. "Investigation of a Francis turbine during speed variation: Inception of cavitation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 147-162.
    3. Jafarzadeh Juposhti, Hessan & Maddahian, Reza & Cervantes, Michel J., 2021. "Optimization of axial water injection to mitigate the Rotating Vortex Rope in a Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 214-231.
    4. Gohil, Pankaj P. & Saini, R.P., 2015. "Effect of temperature, suction head and flow velocity on cavitation in a Francis turbine of small hydro power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 613-624.
    5. Sonawat, Arihant & Kim, Sung & Ma, Sang-Bum & Kim, Seung-Jun & Lee, Ju Beak & Yu, Myo Suk & Kim, Jin-Hyuk, 2022. "Investigation of unsteady pressure fluctuations and methods for its suppression for a double suction centrifugal pump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    6. Laouari, Ahmed & Ghenaiet, Adel, 2021. "Investigation of steady and unsteady cavitating flows through a small Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 841-861.
    7. KC, Anup & Thapa, Bhola & Lee, Young-Ho, 2014. "Transient numerical analysis of rotor–stator interaction in a Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 227-235.
    8. Zhou, Xing & Shi, Changzheng & Miyagawa, Kazuyoshi & Wu, Hegao, 2021. "Effect of modified draft tube with inclined conical diffuser on flow instabilities in Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 606-617.
    9. Seung-Jun Kim & Young-Seok Choi & Yong Cho & Jong-Woong Choi & Jung-Jae Hyun & Won-Gu Joo & Jin-Hyuk Kim, 2020. "Effect of Fins on the Internal Flow Characteristics in the Draft Tube of a Francis Turbine Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-23, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kumar, Prashant & Singal, S.K. & Gohil, Pankaj P., 2024. "A technical review on combined effect of cavitation and silt erosion on Francis turbine," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 190(PB).
    2. Shiraghaee, Shahab & Sundström, Joel & Raisee, Mehrdad & Cervantes, Michel J., 2024. "Extending the operating range of axial turbines with the protrusion of radially adjustable flat plates: An experimental investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    3. Wang, Wen-Quan & Yu, Zhi-Feng & Yan, Yan & Wei, Xin-Yu, 2024. "Numerical investigation on vortex characteristics in a low-head Francis turbine operating of adjustable-speed at part load conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    4. Zhou, Xing & Hu, Xinyi & Huang, Quanshui & Wu, Hegao & Tang, Xiaodan & Cervantes, Michel J., 2024. "Optimization design of an innovative francis draft tube: Insight into improving operational flexibility," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    5. He, Xianghui & Yang, Jiandong & Yang, Jiebin & Zhao, Zhigao & Hu, Jinhong & Peng, Tao, 2023. "Evolution mechanism of water column separation in pump turbine: Model experiment and occurrence criterion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    6. Raul-Alexandru Szakal & Alexandru Doman & Sebastian Muntean, 2021. "Influence of the Reshaped Elbow on the Unsteady Pressure Field in a Simplified Geometry of the Draft Tube," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, March.
    7. Laouari, Ahmed & Ghenaiet, Adel, 2021. "Investigation of steady and unsteady cavitating flows through a small Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 841-861.
    8. Sergey Shtork & Daniil Suslov & Sergey Skripkin & Ivan Litvinov & Evgeny Gorelikov, 2023. "An Overview of Active Control Techniques for Vortex Rope Mitigation in Hydraulic Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-31, July.
    9. Zhou, Xing & Wu, Hegao & Cheng, Li & Huang, Quanshui & Shi, Changzheng, 2023. "A new draft tube shape optimisation methodology of introducing inclined conical diffuser in hydraulic turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    10. Zhumei Luo & Cong Nie & Shunli Lv & Tao Guo & Suoming Gao, 2022. "The Effect of J-Groove on Vortex Suppression and Energy Dissipation in a Draft Tube of Francis Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Lei Wang & Jiayi Cui & Lingfeng Shu & Denghui Jiang & Chun Xiang & Linwei Li & Peijian Zhou, 2022. "Research on the Vortex Rope Control Techniques in Draft Tube of Francis Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-27, December.
    12. Yuan, Zhiyi & Zhang, Yongxue & Zhou, Wenbo & Zhang, Jinya & Zhu, Jianjun, 2024. "Optimization of a centrifugal pump with high efficiency and low noise based on fast prediction method and vortex control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    13. Zhou, Xing & Shi, Changzheng & Miyagawa, Kazuyoshi & Wu, Hegao, 2021. "Effect of modified draft tube with inclined conical diffuser on flow instabilities in Francis turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 606-617.
    14. Tao Guo & Lihui Xu & Wenquan Wang, 2021. "Influence of Upstream Disturbances on the Vortex Structure of Francis Turbine Based on the Criteria of Identification of Various Vortexes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    15. Fernández Oro, J.M. & Barrio Perotti, R. & Galdo Vega, M. & González, J., 2023. "Effect of the radial gap size on the deterministic flow in a centrifugal pump due to impeller-tongue interactions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    16. Sotoude Haghighi, M.H. & Mirghavami, S.M. & Chini, S.F. & Riasi, A., 2019. "Developing a method to design and simulation of a very low head axial turbine with adjustable rotor blades," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 266-276.
    17. Goyal, Rahul & Gandhi, Bhupendra K., 2018. "Review of hydrodynamics instabilities in Francis turbine during off-design and transient operations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(PA), pages 697-709.
    18. Borkowski, Dariusz & Węgiel, Michał & Ocłoń, Paweł & Węgiel, Tomasz, 2019. "CFD model and experimental verification of water turbine integrated with electrical generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 875-883.
    19. Federico Fontana & Massimo Masi, 2023. "A Hybrid Experimental-Numerical Method to Support the Design of Multistage Pumps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-20, June.
    20. Chen, Chen & Liu, Ming & Li, Mengjie & Wang, Yu & Wang, Chaoyang & Yan, Junjie, 2024. "Digital twin modeling and operation optimization of the steam turbine system of thermal power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:292:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224002858. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.