Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine

With the development of a power system predominantly reliant on new energy sources, turbine generator sets are increasingly required to operate under wide load conditions, resulting in numerous unstable flow phenomena and substantial economic losses for power stations. This study employs the Shear S...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shenhui Li, Jiayang Pang, Chengmei Dan, Wenping Xiang, Xutao Yi, Xiaobing Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/316
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850231786752180224
author Shenhui Li
Jiayang Pang
Chengmei Dan
Wenping Xiang
Xutao Yi
Xiaobing Liu
author_facet Shenhui Li
Jiayang Pang
Chengmei Dan
Wenping Xiang
Xutao Yi
Xiaobing Liu
author_sort Shenhui Li
collection DOAJ
description With the development of a power system predominantly reliant on new energy sources, turbine generator sets are increasingly required to operate under wide load conditions, resulting in numerous unstable flow phenomena and substantial economic losses for power stations. This study employs the Shear Stress Transport (SST) <i>k-ω</i> turbulence model to combine numerical simulations with experimental methods. It calculates the guide vane opening at the rated head of a Francis turbine and examines the internal flow field characteristics and pressure pulsations under various operating conditions. The findings indicate that the entropy production ratio in the draft tube is the highest among all load conditions, ranging from about 72.7% to 95.9%. Energy dissipation in the vaneless zone and the runner increases with greater opening. At 45% and 100% load conditions, the draft tube is mainly influenced by dynamic and static interference, single and double frequencies induced by runner rotation, and low-frequency fluctuations of the vortex and. Under 60% load conditions, pressure fluctuations in the draft tube are primarily caused by the eccentric vortex band, characterized by higher intensity and a frequency of 0.2 <i>f<sub>n</sub></i>. Numerical results closely align with experimental observations. The findings provide essential guidance for ensuring the stable operation of power plant units.
format Article
id doaj-art-58f71dbe59ce4393bd6e3dd94dac5a42
institution OA Journals
issn 2077-1312
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-58f71dbe59ce4393bd6e3dd94dac5a422025-08-20T02:03:25ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-02-0113231610.3390/jmse13020316Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis TurbineShenhui Li0Jiayang Pang1Chengmei Dan2Wenping Xiang3Xutao Yi4Xiaobing Liu5Key Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSichuan Futang Hydropower Co., Ltd., Maerkang 623003, ChinaGongzui Hydropower General Plant Dadu River Co., Ltd., Leshan 641900, ChinaGongzui Hydropower General Plant Dadu River Co., Ltd., Leshan 641900, ChinaKey Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, ChinaWith the development of a power system predominantly reliant on new energy sources, turbine generator sets are increasingly required to operate under wide load conditions, resulting in numerous unstable flow phenomena and substantial economic losses for power stations. This study employs the Shear Stress Transport (SST) <i>k-ω</i> turbulence model to combine numerical simulations with experimental methods. It calculates the guide vane opening at the rated head of a Francis turbine and examines the internal flow field characteristics and pressure pulsations under various operating conditions. The findings indicate that the entropy production ratio in the draft tube is the highest among all load conditions, ranging from about 72.7% to 95.9%. Energy dissipation in the vaneless zone and the runner increases with greater opening. At 45% and 100% load conditions, the draft tube is mainly influenced by dynamic and static interference, single and double frequencies induced by runner rotation, and low-frequency fluctuations of the vortex and. Under 60% load conditions, pressure fluctuations in the draft tube are primarily caused by the eccentric vortex band, characterized by higher intensity and a frequency of 0.2 <i>f<sub>n</sub></i>. Numerical results closely align with experimental observations. The findings provide essential guidance for ensuring the stable operation of power plant units.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/316Francis turbineGuide vane openingnumerical calculationpressure fluctuationteststability
spellingShingle Shenhui Li
Jiayang Pang
Chengmei Dan
Wenping Xiang
Xutao Yi
Xiaobing Liu
Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Francis turbine
Guide vane opening
numerical calculation
pressure fluctuation
test
stability
title Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine
title_full Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine
title_fullStr Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine
title_short Influence of Load Variation on the Flow Field and Stability of the Francis Turbine
title_sort influence of load variation on the flow field and stability of the francis turbine
topic Francis turbine
Guide vane opening
numerical calculation
pressure fluctuation
test
stability
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/316
work_keys_str_mv AT shenhuili influenceofloadvariationontheflowfieldandstabilityofthefrancisturbine
AT jiayangpang influenceofloadvariationontheflowfieldandstabilityofthefrancisturbine
AT chengmeidan influenceofloadvariationontheflowfieldandstabilityofthefrancisturbine
AT wenpingxiang influenceofloadvariationontheflowfieldandstabilityofthefrancisturbine
AT xutaoyi influenceofloadvariationontheflowfieldandstabilityofthefrancisturbine
AT xiaobingliu influenceofloadvariationontheflowfieldandstabilityofthefrancisturbine