Unsteady assessment and alleviation of inter-blade vortex in Francis turbine

Inter-blade vortex refers to a specific type vortex cavitation observed in Francis turbines under partial loads and its adverse impact is widely recognized as a crucial factor that limits the safety and stability of hydraulic turbines. The present study endeavors to examine the spatiotemporal evolution attributes of inter-blade vortex and its contribution to the generation of unstable pressure fluctuations. To achieve this, a comprehensive investigation is conducted using a reduced-scale Francis model turbine with low head, combining numerical investigations and visualization experiments. The study demonstrates that the vapor volume associated with the inter-blade vortex experiences periodic pulsation, with a frequency proximate to the rotational frequency of the runner. Within the turbine runner, cavitation exhibits a dynamic cycle of incipience, growth, expansion, and localized collapse. The most remarkable cavitation disintegration occurs at the convergence point of the trailing edge of the runner blade and the band, wherein the most pronounced amplitude of pressure fluctuation is also discerned. In addition, this research establishes a direct correlation between pressure fluctuations and vapor volume, revealing that the acceleration of the vapor volume is accountable for the occurrence of pressure fluctuations with heightened magnitude. Furthermore, an optimization campaign successfully reduces the cavitation volume by 88.58% and 78.99% at two specific points of interest, resulting in the nearly complete elimination of high-amplitude pressure pulsations. Building upon these findings, data mining techniques are implemented to identify that the blade profile at a spanwise height of 0.75 significantly influences the enhancement of turbine hydraulic performance. Additionally, it has been ascertained that the design parameter governing the geometric placement of the blade trailing edge plays a pivotal role in reducing the intensity of the inter-blade vortex. This study yields invaluable insights into the underlying mechanism of unsteady phenomena induced by inter-blade vortex and formulates a hydraulic optimization approach capable of enhancing the operating stability of the Francis turbine.