IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v252y2025ics0960148125011863.html

Knowledge discovery of injector geometry effects on Pelton turbine erosion: Approaches for efficient high-head water utilization

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Chenxi
  • Li, Fang
  • Shen, Peirong
  • Guo, Pengcheng

Abstract

The Pelton turbine is an effective method to utilize high-head water resources. However, high-speed, sand-laden water impacts the injector and bucket in the Pelton turbine, eroding structural surfaces and compromising operational safety. This study systematically investigates the interactions among key structural design variables and develops a knowledge discovery framework aimed at enhancing the erosion resistance of Pelton turbine injectors. Primarily, the Oka model is applied to quantitatively evaluate the impact of varying particle sizes on injector erosion. Subsequently, the injector is optimized using Multi-Point Search-based Efficient Global Optimization (MSEGO), where key design variables include needle angle, nozzle angle, needle diameter, and needle transition diameter. As a result of the optimization process, the average erosion rates at the nozzle throat and needle transition are reduced by 93.90 % and 93.67 %, respectively, indicating a significant enhancement in erosion resistance. To further refine the understanding of erosion mechanisms, the synergistic effects of design variables on erosion performance are comprehensively analyzed through advanced data mining techniques, incorporating parallel coordinate system visualization and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Therefore, this study not only presents a systematic design optimization strategy but also offers a robust, data-driven framework for enhancing the durability and operational efficiency of injectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Chenxi & Li, Fang & Shen, Peirong & Guo, Pengcheng, 2025. "Knowledge discovery of injector geometry effects on Pelton turbine erosion: Approaches for efficient high-head water utilization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:252:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125011863
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123524
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125011863
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123524?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Walch, Alina & Castello, Roberto & Mohajeri, Nahid & Scartezzini, Jean-Louis, 2020. "Big data mining for the estimation of hourly rooftop photovoltaic potential and its uncertainty," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    2. Guo, Bao & Xiao, Yexiang & Rai, Anant Kumar & Liang, Quanwei & Liu, Jie, 2021. "Analysis of the air-water-sediment flow behavior in Pelton buckets using a Eulerian-Lagrangian approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    3. Hagen, Brede A.L. & Agromayor, Roberto & Nekså, Petter, 2021. "Equation-oriented methods for design optimization and performance analysis of radial inflow turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    4. Messa, Gianandrea Vittorio & Mandelli, Simone & Malavasi, Stefano, 2019. "Hydro-abrasive erosion in Pelton turbine injectors: A numerical study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 474-488.
    5. Židonis, Audrius & Aggidis, George A., 2015. "State of the art in numerical modelling of Pelton turbines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 135-144.
    6. Zhe Ma & Baoshan Zhu & Cong Rao & Yonghong Shangguan, 2019. "Comprehensive Hydraulic Improvement and Parametric Analysis of a Francis Turbine Runner," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.
    7. Du, Xianping & Liang, Jinbin & Muro, Juan López & Qian, Guowei & Burlion, Laurent & Bilgen, Onur, 2024. "Development of a control co-design optimization framework with aeroelastic-control coupling for floating offshore wind turbines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 372(C).
    8. Han, L. & Zhang, G.F. & Wang, Y. & Wei, X.Z., 2021. "Investigation of erosion influence in distribution system and nozzle structure of pelton turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 1119-1128.
    9. Yao, Jiawei & Cai, Liuxi & Li, Yun & Zhan, Hongkun & He, Jiaming, 2025. "Investigation of the collaborative optimization of the aerodynamic and anti-erosion performance of a two-stage energy recovery turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    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. Zhao, Haoru & Zhu, Baoshan & Xu, Ronglong & Tan, Lei & Zhang, Haiku & Chen, Lei & Liu, Zhendong & Yang, Jin & Deng, Feiyuan, 2025. "Evaluating the predictive potential of modeling frameworks for Pelton turbine energy performance and guiding engineering modeling in hydroelectric applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).
    2. Xiao, Yexiang & Guo, Bao & Rai, Anant Kumar & Liu, Jie & Liang, Quanwei & Zhang, Jin, 2022. "Analysis of hydro-abrasive erosion in Pelton buckets using a Eulerian-Lagrangian approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 472-485.
    3. Jean Decaix & Cécile Münch-Alligné, 2022. "Geometry, Mesh and Numerical Scheme Influencing the Simulation of a Pelton Jet with the OpenFOAM Toolbox," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Li, Lihao & Lu, Jiaxing & Gong, Yong & Zhao, Haoyu & Liu, Xiaobing & Zhu, Baoshan, 2024. "Sediment erosion characteristics of Pelton turbine runner: Effects of sediment concentration and diameter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    5. Chitrakar, Sailesh & Solemslie, Bjørn Winther & Neopane, Hari Prasad & Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar, 2020. "Review on numerical techniques applied in impulse hydro turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 843-859.
    6. Guo, Bao & Xiao, Yexiang & Rai, Anant Kumar & Liang, Quanwei & Liu, Jie, 2021. "Analysis of the air-water-sediment flow behavior in Pelton buckets using a Eulerian-Lagrangian approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    7. Xiao, Yexiang & Liu, Zishi & Liang, Quanwei & Liu, Jie & Zhang, Jin & Zhu, Yilin & Li, Xuesong & Gu, Chunwei, 2024. "The interaction between bucket number and performance of a Pelton turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    8. Khan, Rehan & Ullah, Sati & Qahtani, Faez & Pao, William & Talha, Tariq, 2024. "Experimental and numerical investigation of hydro-abrasive erosion in the Pelton turbine buckets for multiphase flow," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    9. Wei Yang & Benqing Liu & Ruofu Xiao, 2019. "Three-Dimensional Inverse Design Method for Hydraulic Machinery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-19, August.
    10. Kerschbaum, Alina & Trentmann, Lennart & Hanel, Andreas & Fendt, Sebastian & Spliethoff, Hartmut, 2025. "Methods for analysing renewable energy potentials in energy system modelling: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    11. Qin, Yonglin & Li, Deyou & Wang, Hongjie & Liu, Zhansheng & Wei, Xianzhu & Wang, Xiaohang, 2022. "Multi-objective optimization design on high pressure side of a pump-turbine runner with high efficiency," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 103-120.
    12. Martinez, Jayson J. & Deng, Zhiqun Daniel & Mueller, Robert & Titzler, Scott, 2020. "In situ characterization of the biological performance of a Francis turbine retrofitted with a modular guide vane," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    13. Müller, Jonas & Trutnevyte, Evelina, 2020. "Spatial projections of solar PV installations at subnational level: Accuracy testing of regression models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    14. Kramer, Matthias & Terheiden, Kristina & Wieprecht, Silke, 2015. "Optimized design of impulse turbines in the micro-hydro sector concerning air detrainment processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P2), pages 2604-2613.
    15. Li, Guanglei & Wang, Guohao & Luo, Tengqi & Hu, Yuxiao & Wu, Shouyuan & Gong, Guanghui & Song, Chenchen & Guo, Zhiling & Liu, Zhengguang, 2024. "SolarSAM: Building-scale photovoltaic potential assessment based on Segment Anything Model (SAM) and remote sensing for emerging city," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).
    16. Isaac Gallardo & Daniel Amor & Álvaro Gutiérrez, 2023. "Recent Trends in Real-Time Photovoltaic Prediction Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-17, July.
    17. Hong, Sheng & Wu, Yuping & Wu, Jianhua & Zhang, Yuquan & Zheng, Yuan & Li, Jiahui & Lin, Jinran, 2021. "Microstructure and cavitation erosion behavior of HVOF sprayed ceramic-metal composite coatings for application in hydro-turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1089-1099.
    18. Lonergan, Katherine Emma & Sansavini, Giovanni, 2022. "Business structure of electricity distribution system operator and effect on solar photovoltaic uptake: An empirical case study for Switzerland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    19. Wang, Jiazhi & Shi, Wei & Ren, Yajun & Ran, Xiaoming & Collu, Maurizio & Venugopal, Vengatesan & Zhao, Haisheng, 2026. "An integrated multi-objective optimization framework for large-scale floating offshore wind turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    20. Ge, Xinfeng & Sun, Jie & Zhou, Ye & Cai, Jianguo & Zhang, Hui & Zhang, Lei & Ding, Mingquan & Deng, Chaozhong & Binama, Maxime & Zheng, Yuan, 2021. "Experimental and Numerical studies on Opening and Velocity Influence on Sediment Erosion of Pelton Turbine Buckets," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 1040-1056.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:renene:v:252:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125011863. 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/renewable-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.