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Numerical Study on Flow Characteristics in a Francis Turbine during Load Rejection

Author

Listed:
  • Daqing Zhou

    (College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Huixiang Chen

    (College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
    College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Jie Zhang

    (Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute Corporation Limited, Shanghai 200434, China)

  • Shengwen Jiang

    (College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Jia Gui

    (College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • Chunxia Yang

    (College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

  • An Yu

    (College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)

Abstract

Labyrinth seals are not usually included in the numerical models of hydraulic machinery to simplify the geometric modeling, and thereby reduce the calculation burden. However, this simplification affects the numerical results, especially in the load rejection process, because disc friction losses, volume losses, and pressure fluctuations in the seal ring (SR) clearance passage are neglected. This paper addresses the issue by considering all of the geometrical details of labyrinth seals when conducting multiscale flow simulations of a high head Francis turbine under a transient load rejection condition using the commercial software code. A comparison of the numerical results that were obtained with the experimental testing data indicates that the calculated values of both torque and mass discharge rate are 8.65% and 5% slightly less than the corresponding values that were obtained from experimental model testing, respectively. The obtained pressure fluctuations of the Francis turbine in the vaneless zone and the draft tube appear to more closely match with the experimental test data when including SR clearance. Moreover, the flow rates through SR clearance passages were very small, but the pressure fluctuations among them were significantly enhanced under the minimal load condition. The numerical model with SR clearance can more accurately reflect the fact that the water thrust on the runner only fluctuates from 800 N to 575 N during the load rejection process, even though the water thrust on the blades varies from −220 N to 1200 N. Therefore, multiscale flow study is of great significance in understanding the effect of clearance flow on the load rejection process in the Francis turbine.

Suggested Citation

  • Daqing Zhou & Huixiang Chen & Jie Zhang & Shengwen Jiang & Jia Gui & Chunxia Yang & An Yu, 2019. "Numerical Study on Flow Characteristics in a Francis Turbine during Load Rejection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:4:p:716-:d:208157
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ravi Koirala & Baoshan Zhu & Hari Prasad Neopane, 2016. "Effect of Guide Vane Clearance Gap on Francis Turbine Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, April.
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    3. Li, Deyou & Wang, Hongjie & Li, Zhenggui & Nielsen, Torbjørn Kristian & Goyal, Rahul & Wei, Xianzhu & Qin, Daqing, 2018. "Transient characteristics during the closure of guide vanes in a pump-turbine in pump mode," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 973-983.
    4. Spänhoff, Bernd, 2014. "Current status and future prospects of hydropower in Saxony (Germany) compared to trends in Germany, the European Union and the World," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 518-525.
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    6. Fu, Xiaolong & Li, Deyou & Wang, Hongjie & Zhang, Guanghui & Li, Zhenggui & Wei, Xianzhu, 2018. "Influence of the clearance flow on the load rejection process in a pump-turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 310-321.
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    8. Trivedi, Chirag & Gandhi, Bhupendra K. & Cervantes, Michel J. & Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar, 2015. "Experimental investigations of a model Francis turbine during shutdown at synchronous speed," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 828-836.
    9. Daqing Zhou & Huixiang Chen & Languo Zhang, 2018. "Investigation of Pumped Storage Hydropower Power-Off Transient Process Using 3D Numerical Simulation Based on SP-VOF Hybrid Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sun, Longgang & Guo, Pengcheng & Yan, Jianguo, 2021. "Transient analysis of load rejection for a high-head Francis turbine based on structured overset mesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 658-671.
    3. Lucie Zemanová & Pavel Rudolf, 2020. "Flow Inside the Sidewall Gaps of Hydraulic Machines: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-37, December.
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    5. Meng Zhang & Jinhai Feng & Ziwen Zhao & Wei Zhang & Junzhi Zhang & Beibei Xu, 2022. "A 1D-3D Coupling Model to Evaluate Hydropower Generation System Stability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-13, September.

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