Vlad Hasmatuchi

Experimental Evidence of Rotating Stall in a Pump-Turbine at Off-Design Conditions in Generating Mode

An experimental investigation of the rotating stall in reduced scale model of a low specific speed radial pump-turbine at runaway and turbine brake conditions in generating mode is achieved. Measurements of wall pressure in the stator are performed along with high-speed flow visualizations in the vaneless gap with the help of air bubbles injection. When starting from the best efficiency point (BEP) and increasing the impeller speed, a significant increase of the pressure fluctuations is observed mainly in the wicket gates channels. The spectral analysis shows a rise of a low frequency component (about 70% of the impeller rotational frequency) at runaway, which further increases as the zero discharge condition is approached. Analysis of the instantaneous pressure peripheral distribution in the vaneless gap reveals one stall cell rotating with the impeller at sub-synchronous speed. High-speed movies reveal a quite uniform flow pattern in the guide vanes channels at the normal operating range, whereas at runaway the flow is highly disturbed by the rotating stall passage. The situation is even more critical at very low positive discharge, where backflow and vortices in the guide vanes channels develop during the stall cell passage. A specific image processing technique is applied to reconstruct the rotating stall evolution in the entire guide vanes circumference for a low positive discharge operating point. The findings of this study suggest that one stall cell rotates with the impeller at sub-synchronous velocity in the vaneless gap between the impeller and the guide vanes. It is the result of rotating flow separations developed in several consecutive impeller channels which lead to their blockage.

High-speed flow visualization in a pump-turbine under off-design operating conditions

The flow hydrodynamics in a low specific speed radial pump-turbine reduced scale model is experimentally investigated under off-design operating conditions in generating mode. Wall pressure measurements, in the stator, synchronized with high-speed flow visualizations in the vaneless space between the impeller and the guide vanes using air bubbles injection are performed. When starting from the best efficiency point and increasing the runner speed, a significant increase of the pressure fluctuations is observed mainly in channels between wicket gates. The spectral analysis shows a rise of one stall cell, rotating with about 70% of the impeller frequency, at runaway, which further increases as the zero discharge condition is approached. Then a specific image processing technique is detailed and applied to create a synthetic instantaneous view of the flow pattern on the entire guide vanes circumference for an operating point in turbine-brake mode, where backflow and vortices accompany the stall passage.

Analysis and Prevention of Vortex Breakdown in the Simplified Discharge Cone of a Francis Turbine

We perform a numerical analysis of the decelerated swirling flow into the discharge cone of a model Francis turbine operated at variable discharge and constant head, using an axisymmetric turbulent swirling flow model and a corresponding simplified computational domain. Inlet boundary conditions correspond to velocity and turbulent kinetic energy profiles measured downstream the Francis runner. Our numerical results are validated against experimental data on a survey section further downstream in the cone, showing that the Reynolds stress turbulence model with a quadratic pressure-strain term correctly captures the flow field. It is shown that the diffuser performance quickly deteriorates as the turbine discharge decreases, due to the occurrence and development of vortex breakdown, with a central quasistagnant region. We investigate a novel flow control technique, which uses a water jet injected from the runner crown tip along the axis. It is shown that the jet discharge can be optimized for minimum overall losses, while the vortex breakdown is eliminated. This flow control method is useful for mitigating the Francis turbine flow instabilities when operating at partial discharge.

Numerical Simulations of a Counter-Rotating Micro-Turbine

A counter-rotating hydraulic micro-turbine has been developed to recover the energy lost in release valves of water supply network. This compact two-stage axial turbine could be installed in line with the conduit, reducing the infrastructure investments, which is a crucial point for small power plant. The two stages of the turbine allow to use this axial turbine in case of high head conditions. Steady numerical simulations of the flow in the turbine have been carried out using ANSYS CFX to develop the design of the turbine and assess its performance. The influence of numerical set up such as the mesh size and the type of interface between the stator and the two rotating parts has been studied. The influence of the elbow and the honeycomb on the inflow conditions was also assessed. A best efficiency of 85 % is reached when the two runners counter-rotate at the same nominal speed. When the turbine operates under part and full load conditions, the relative rotational speed between the two runners will allow optimizing the efficiency.

Hydrodynamics of a Pump-Turbine at Off-Design Operating Conditions: Numerical Simulation

Flow numerical simulations in a low specific speed radial pump-turbine scale model are performed to investigate off-design operating conditions in generating mode. The Best Efficiency Point (BEP) and the runaway operating conditions at 10° guide vanes opening are addressed. The computational domain includes the full reduced scale model water passage from the spiral casing inlet to the draft tube outlet. The numerical simulation is performed using the Ansys CFX code, solving the incompressible unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Wall pressure measurements in the stator are used to validate the numerical results. Then, detailed analysis is focused on the onset of the flow instabilities when the machine is brought from BEP to runaway. In these severe operating conditions, one single stall cell is found to rotate with the impeller at subsynchronous speed in the vaneless gap between the impeller and the guide vanes. It is found to be the effect of flow separation developed at the inlet of several consecutive impeller channels which lead to their blockage.

Advanced Instrumentation For Measuring Fluid-Structure Coupling Phenomena In The Guide Vanes Cascade Of A Pump-Turbine Scale Model

In the present study, the fluid-structure coupling is investigated in the guide vanes of a pump-turbine scale model placed in one of the test rigs of the Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines (EPFL) in Lausanne. The paper focuses on the advanced instrumentation used to get reliable and complete fluid-structure coupling results. Semi-conductor strain gages are installed on three guide vanes which are especially weakened to account for stronger fluid-structure coupling phenomena. These are statically calibrated in terms of torsion torque and bending force. A laser vibrometer is used to measure the vibrating guide vane velocity. Piezo-resistive pressure sensors are placed around the weakened guide vanes to monitor the influence of the structural vibrations on the surrounding flow. A new non-intrusive excitation system is used to get the guide vanes impulse response. The instrument set enables a reliable fluid-structure coupling investigation in hydraulic pump-turbine scale model. Finally, the results show strong coupling between the vibrating guide vanes and the surrounding unsteady flow.

Fluid-structure coupling in the guide vanes cascade of a pump-turbine scale model

The present study concerns fluid-structure coupling phenomena occurring in a guide vane cascade of a pump-turbine scale model placed in the EPFL PF3 test rig. An advanced instrument set is used to monitor both vibrating structures and the surrounding flow. The paper highlights the interaction between vibrating guide vanes and the flow behavior. The pressure fluctuations in the stay vanes region are found to be strongly influenced by the amplitude of the vibrating guide vanes. Moreover, the flow induces different hydrodynamic damping on the vibrating guide vanes depending on the operating point of the pump-turbine.

New Prototype of a Kinetic Turbine for Artificial Channels

In the actual context of Swiss nuclear phase-out strategy, harvesting the extensive potential of small hydropower (< 10 MW), in particular on existing infrastructure, is a priority. In this framework, a new kinetic turbine has been jointly developed by the HES-SO Valais//Wallis and Stahleinbau Gmbh in Switzerland, to harvest the kinetic energy of free-surface flows in existing facilities such as run-of-river tailrace channels, headrace tunnels, or water treatment stations. The hydraulic design of the ducted turbine has been obtained by flow numerical simulations. The objective of the present research project is to build the first prototype of 1 kW as well as an open-air platform and to test it in a tailrace channel. The chosen pilot site is the Lavey run-of-river hydropower plant’s tailrace channel, installed in the Western side of Switzerland on the Rhone River. The final purpose is to confirm the hydraulic efficiency results obtained by simulation and the electromechanical concept in view of a product industrialization phase to tap this potential in Switzerland and elsewhere. The global concept of the variable speed prototype, including the actual hydraulic and mechanical design, the electrical generator and the driving electronics as well as the integrated instrumentation are first presented. The specially designed open-air testing platform to test the turbine in the channel is also introduced. Finally, the efficiency of the turbine is optimized using steady pressurized numerical simulations and assessed in case of unsteady homogeneous multiphase turbulent simulations in the tailrace channel of Lavey. A power coefficient higher than 80% is reached.