Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions
Cavitation is a critical challenge which significantly affects performance of hydro turbines leading to inefficient operation. Cavitation primarily arises due to improper design and frequent variations in operating conditions. Prediction or maintaining cavitation within controlled limits is crucial...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-10-01
|
| Series: | Next Energy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949821X25001541 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849233446407241728 |
|---|---|
| author | Saaif Showkat Ghulam Ashraful Harmain Junaid Hassan Masoodi |
| author_facet | Saaif Showkat Ghulam Ashraful Harmain Junaid Hassan Masoodi |
| author_sort | Saaif Showkat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cavitation is a critical challenge which significantly affects performance of hydro turbines leading to inefficient operation. Cavitation primarily arises due to improper design and frequent variations in operating conditions. Prediction or maintaining cavitation within controlled limits is crucial and challenging task in turbines yet it is essential for employing effective mitigation strategies to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of turbines. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of Francis turbine runner employed at DulHasti Power Station (DPS) was conducted using Ansys CFX for 3 different loading conditions (Underload, Full load and Over load) to identify and mitigate cavitation prone areas. Blade loading profiles were analysed to detect the sudden pressure drops responsible for manifesting cavitation and Elliptic Ratio, the key blade design parameter was optimized to control sudden pressure drops and enhance cavitation resistance of runner. The effectiveness of the modified design was validated using Thoma’s cavitation number to ensure improved resistance against cavitation. Our study concluded that the modified runner exhibited reduced cavitation intensity demonstrating the potential for improved operational reliability. This novel framework, optimizing the elliptic ratio of blade to mitigate cavitation, establishes a benchmark for cavitation control in Francis turbine and can be extended to other reaction turbines as well. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08aaadf023894e9682c8ef233c954c67 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-821X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Next Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-08aaadf023894e9682c8ef233c954c672025-08-20T05:08:28ZengElsevierNext Energy2949-821X2025-10-01910039110.1016/j.nxener.2025.100391Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditionsSaaif Showkat0Ghulam Ashraful Harmain1Junaid Hassan Masoodi2Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Srinagar, India; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Srinagar, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, IndiaCavitation is a critical challenge which significantly affects performance of hydro turbines leading to inefficient operation. Cavitation primarily arises due to improper design and frequent variations in operating conditions. Prediction or maintaining cavitation within controlled limits is crucial and challenging task in turbines yet it is essential for employing effective mitigation strategies to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of turbines. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of Francis turbine runner employed at DulHasti Power Station (DPS) was conducted using Ansys CFX for 3 different loading conditions (Underload, Full load and Over load) to identify and mitigate cavitation prone areas. Blade loading profiles were analysed to detect the sudden pressure drops responsible for manifesting cavitation and Elliptic Ratio, the key blade design parameter was optimized to control sudden pressure drops and enhance cavitation resistance of runner. The effectiveness of the modified design was validated using Thoma’s cavitation number to ensure improved resistance against cavitation. Our study concluded that the modified runner exhibited reduced cavitation intensity demonstrating the potential for improved operational reliability. This novel framework, optimizing the elliptic ratio of blade to mitigate cavitation, establishes a benchmark for cavitation control in Francis turbine and can be extended to other reaction turbines as well.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949821X25001541HydropowerDesignOptimizationCavitationEfficiencyFrancis turbine |
| spellingShingle | Saaif Showkat Ghulam Ashraful Harmain Junaid Hassan Masoodi Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions Next Energy Hydropower Design Optimization Cavitation Efficiency Francis turbine |
| title | Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions |
| title_full | Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions |
| title_fullStr | Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions |
| title_short | Cavitation control in Francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions |
| title_sort | cavitation control in francis turbines by design optimization across variable operating conditions |
| topic | Hydropower Design Optimization Cavitation Efficiency Francis turbine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949821X25001541 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saaifshowkat cavitationcontrolinfrancisturbinesbydesignoptimizationacrossvariableoperatingconditions AT ghulamashrafulharmain cavitationcontrolinfrancisturbinesbydesignoptimizationacrossvariableoperatingconditions AT junaidhassanmasoodi cavitationcontrolinfrancisturbinesbydesignoptimizationacrossvariableoperatingconditions |