| 1. |
- Baidar, Binaya, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of runner change on the Winter-Kennedy flow measurement method : A numerical study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Renewable energy. - : Elsevier. - 0960-1481 .- 1879-0682. ; 153, s. 975-984
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Winter-Kennedy (WK) method is a popular choice to estimate the relative flow rates, and thus the expected improvement in the efficiency of a low head turbine after its refurbishment. Runner refurbishment is a common way to improve the plant’s efficiency. However, a previous experiment on a model turbine reported deviations between the WK coefficients obtained from two different runners ‒ suggesting a deviation between the estimated and actual improvement in the efficiency. Without formal proof, the deviation was attributed to flow changes in the spiral casing. This paper presents a numerical investigation of the effects of a runner change on the WK method. For this purpose, unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (URANS) simulations of a turbine model with two different runners were conducted. The runner’s impact on the average flow conditions upstream and its subsequent effect on the WK coefficients were studied. The study shows the dependence of the WK coefficients to the runner ‒ with a maximum deviation on the coefficient up to 0.7%. The larger deviations were observed in regions prone to strong secondary flow. Following a radial and circumferential sensitivity study, a suitable location to minimize the effects of runner change on the WK method is reported.
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| 2. |
- Baidar, Binaya, et al.
(författare)
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Numerical study of the Winter-Kennedy method for relative transient flow rate measurement
- 2019
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Ingår i: IOP Conference Series. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 1755-1307 .- 1755-1315. ; 405:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Winter-Kennedy (WK) method is used to estimate relative flow rate using the differential pressure between two taps located at a radial section of a spiral casing (SC). It is widely used in index testing, for double regulated turbines optimization and sometimes for continuous discharge measurement in low head plants. This paper explores the possibility of using the WK method for relative transient flow rate measurements. A numerical model of a Kaplan model turbine from the penstock to the distributor has been developed. Unsteady RANS simulations with k-ω SST turbulence model are performed. Previously conducted experiments on the model turbine are used to validate the numerical results. In the simulations, the guide vanes (GVs) are closed from 26.5°, the best efficient point (BEP), to about 5° opening angle. Two azimuthal locations of the SC and four different WK configurations at each location are considered. The variation of the WK coefficients with time are investigated and compared to the ones at several stationary GV angles. The results showed a difference between the WK coefficients obtained at transient and stationary operations. However, there may be a possibility of using the WK method during transients by locating the pressure taps in appropriate locations for an acceptable variation of the WK coefficient from its BEP value.The research has been funded by Swedish Hydropower Centre (SVC).
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| 3. |
- Baidar, Binaya, et al.
(författare)
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Numerical Study of the Winter–Kennedy Flow Measurement Method in Transient Flows
- 2020
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Ingår i: Energies. - : MDPI. - 1996-1073. ; 13:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explores the possibility of using the Winter–Kennedy (WK) method for transient flow rate measurement in hydraulic turbines. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis of a numerical model of an axial turbine was carried out for accelerating and decelerating flows. Those were obtained by linearly opening and closing of the guide vanes, respectively, while retaining the inlet pressure constant during the simulations. The behavior of several WK configurations on a cross-sectional plane and along the azimuthal direction of the spiral casing was studied during the transients. The study showed that there are certain WK configurations that are more stable than others. The physical mechanism behind the stability (or instability) of the WK method during transients is presented. Using the steady WK coefficient obtained at the best efficiency point (BEP), the WK method could estimate the transient flow rate with a deviation of about 7.5% and 3.5%, for accelerating and decelerating flow, respectively.
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| 4. |
- Baidar, Binaya, et al.
(författare)
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Sensitivity of the Winter-Kennedy method to different guide vane openings on an axial machine
- 2019
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Ingår i: Flow Measurement and Instrumentation. - : Elsevier. - 0955-5986 .- 1873-6998. ; 68
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work studies the effects of guide vane openings (GVOs) on the Winter-Kennedy (WK) flow measurement method using CFD. The dependence of the WK coefficient with GVOs and its physical mechanism are presented. Although the WK method is reported to be sensitive to different factors including GVO, it is still unclear to which extent the GVO can be changed without modifying the WK coefficient significantly and the mechanism leading to such modification, if any. A numerical model of a Kaplan model turbine with a semi-spiral casing is developed and used to such purpose. Previously conducted experiments on the model turbine are used to validate the numerical results. The magnitude and behavior of the secondary flow are investigated together with the WK coefficients. The GVO is found to have an impact on the WK method, and the impact increases with the GVOs as the flow structure change. A suitable location to minimize the impact of the GVO is suggested. Furthermore, the theoretical WK constant with a suitable location and configuration are also presented; this can be useful in the absence of the measured WK coefficient.
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| 5. |
- Baidar, Binaya, et al.
(författare)
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Sensitivity of the Winter-Kennedy method to inlet and runner blade angle change on a Kaplan turbine
- 2019
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Ingår i: IOP Conference Series. - : Institute of Physics (IOP).
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Winter-Kennedy (WK) method is a widely used index testing approach, which provides a relative or index value of the discharge that can allow to determine the on-cam relationship between blade and guide vane angles for Kaplan turbines. However, some discrepancies were noticed in previous studies using the WK approach. In this paper, a numerical model of a Kaplan model turbine is used to study the effects of upstream and downstream flow conditions on the WK coefficients. Experiment on the model turbine is used to validate unsteady CFD calculations. The CFD results show that the inflow condition affects the pressure distribution inside the spiral case and hence the WK results. The WK coefficients fluctuate with high amplitude - suggesting to use a larger sampling time for on-site measurement as well. The study also concludes that to limit the impact of a change in runner blade angle on the coefficients, the more suitable WK locations are at the beginning of the spiral case with the inner pressure tap placed between stay vanes on the top wall.
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| 6. |
- Goyal, Rahul, et al.
(författare)
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Characteristics of Synchronous and Asynchronous modes of fluctuations in Francis turbine draft tube during load variation
- 2017
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Ingår i: The International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems. - : Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic. - 1882-9554. ; 10:2, s. 164-175
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Francis turbines are often operated over a wide load range due to high flexibility in electricity demand and penetration of other renewable energies. This has raised significant concerns about the existing designing criteria. Hydraulic turbines are not designed to withstand large dynamic pressure loadings on the stationary and rotating parts during such conditions. Previous investigations on transient operating conditions of turbine were mainly focused on the pressure fluctuations due to the rotor-stator interaction. This study characterizes the synchronous and asynchronous pressure and velocity fluctuations due to rotor-stator interaction and rotating vortex rope during load variation, i.e. best efficiency point to part load and vice versa. The measurements were performed on the Francis-99 test case. The repeatability of the measurements was estimated by providing similar movement to guide vanes twenty times for both load rejection and load acceptance operations. Synchronized two dimensional particle image velocimetry and pressure measurements were performed to investigate the dominant frequencies of fluctuations, vortex rope formation, and modes (rotating and plunging) of the rotating vortex rope. The time of appearance and disappearance of rotating and plunging modes of vortex rope was investigated simultaneously in the pressure and velocity data. The asynchronous mode was observed to dominate over the synchronous mode in both velocity and pressure measurements.
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| 7. |
- Goyal, Rahul, et al.
(författare)
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Experimental investigation on a high head model Francis turbine during load rejection
- 2016
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Ingår i: IOP Conference Series. - : IOP Publishing. - 1755-1307 .- 1755-1315. ; 49:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Francis-99 is a set of workshop aiming to determine the state of the art of high head model Francis turbine simulations (flow and structure) under steady and transient operating conditions as well as to promote their development and knowledge dissemination openly. The first workshop (Trondheim, 2014) was concerned with steady state operation. The second workshop will focus on transient operations such as load variation and start-stop. In the present work, 2-D particle image velocimetry (PIV) with synchronized pressure measurements performed in the draft tube cone of the Francis-99 test case during load rejection is presented. Pressure sensors were mounted in the vaneless space and draft tube cone to estimate the instantaneous pressure fluctuations while operating the turbine from the best efficiency point (9.8°) to part load (6.7°) with the presence of a rotating vortex rope (RVR). The time-resolved velocity and pressure data are presented in this paper showing the transition in the turbine from one state to another.
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| 8. |
- Goyal, Rahul, et al.
(författare)
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Experimental study of mitigation of a spiral vortex breakdown at high Reynolds number under an adverse pressure gradient
- 2017
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Ingår i: Physics of fluids. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-6631 .- 1089-7666. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The flow in the off-design operation of a Francis turbine may lead to the formation of spiral vortex breakdowns in the draft tube, a diffuser installed after the runner. The spiral vortex breakdown, also named a vortex rope, may induce several low-frequency fluctuations leading to structural vibrations and a reduction in the overall efficiency of the turbine. In the present study, synchronized particle image velocimetry, pressure, and turbine flow parameter (Q, H, α, and T) measurements have been carried out in the draft tube cone of a high head model Francis turbine. The transient operating condition from the part load to the best efficiency point was selected to investigate the mitigation of the vortex rope in the draft tube cone. The experiments were performed 20 times to assess the significance of the results. A precession frequency of 1.61 Hz [i.e., 0.29 times the runner rotational frequency (Rheingans frequency)] is observed in the draft tube cone. The frequency is captured in both pressure and velocity data with its harmonics. The accelerating flow condition at the center of the cone with a guide vane opening is observed to diminish the spiral form of the vortex breakdown in the quasi-stagnant region. This further mitigates the stagnant part of the cone with a highly dominated axial flow condition of the turbine at the best efficiency point. The disappearance of the stagnant region is the most important state in the present case, which mitigates the spiral vortex breakdown of the cone at high Reynolds numbers. In contrast to a typical transition, a new type of transition from wake to jet is observed during the mitigation of the breakdown. The obtained 2D instantaneous velocity fields demonstrate the disappearance region of shear layers and stagnation in the cone. The results also demonstrate the existence of high axial velocity gradients in an elbow draft tube cone.
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| 9. |
- Goyal, Rahul, 1987-
(författare)
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FLOW FIELD IN A HIGH HEAD FRANCIS TURBINE DRAFT TUBE DURING TRANSIENT OPERATIONS
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Hydroelectricity plays an important role to balance the stability of grid network. In order to improve the stability of presently high loaded grids, hydropower plants are being operated over a wide range of operations and experiencing frequent start-stop, load rejection, and load acceptance. The turbines need to sustain sudden change in their operating condition to balance the grid frequency. Francis turbines have been widely used because of their wider operating range and higher stability in operation during rapid load variation. This has resulted in severe damage to the turbines as they are not normally designed to operate under such transient conditions.Several low and high frequency pressure fluctuations prevail during transients operating conditions. Generally, wall pressure measurements are performed which may not provide sufficient information to investigate the flow instabilities related to these fluctuations. Thus, the main objective of the present work is to simplify and perform optical measurements in a turbine during transient operating conditions to investigate the flow field. The measurements have been performed at the Water Power Laboratory using a high head model Francis turbine. The turbine is a 1:5.1 scale down model of a prototype operating at the Tokke Power Plant, Norway. The model runner diameter, net head, and discharge at the best efficiency point (BEP) were 0.349 m, 12 m, and 0.2 m3 s-1, respectively. A total ten pressure sensors were mounted at different locations namely, turbine inlet, vaneless space, and draft tube. The data were acquired at a sampling rate of 5 kHz. The instruments and sensors have been calibrated according to guidelines available in IEC standards. The determined total uncertainty in the measurement of hydraulic efficiency was ±0.15% at BEP condition. The velocity measurements in the draft tube cone were performed using a 2D PIV system and the images were sampled at a rate of 40 Hz. Steady state measurements were carried out considering the realistic design and off-design operating conditions of the prototype turbine. Therefore, the angular speed of the runner was maintained constant for all steady state conditions during the measurements. The maximum hydraulic efficiency (92.4%) was observed at nED = 0.18, QED = 0.15, and a = 9.8º, which is named BEP. It is observed that the turbine experiences significant pressure fluctuations at the vaneless space, runner, and the draft tube. The fluctuations due to rotor-stator interaction (RSI) were observed to be most dominating at high load condition, however, fluctuations due to the rotating vortex rope (RVR) at part load (PL) condition. Two different modes (synchronous and asynchronous) modes of vortex rope are observed at PL condition of the turbine. An asymmetry in the flow leaving the runner was detected at both design and off-design conditions, with a stronger effect during off-design operating condition. Numerical simulations of the model turbine were carried out at PL operating condition. The simulations were performed using two turbulence models, standard k-ε and SST k-ω, with high-resolution advection scheme. The numerical pressure values obtained with both standard k-ε model and SST k-ω showed a small difference with the experimental values. The amplitudes of numerical pressure values were higher (~2.8%) in the vaneless space and lower (~5.0%) in the draft tube than the experimental values. The frequencies of the RSI and RVR were well captured in the turbine but the amplitudes were overestimated. During load rejection from BEP to PL, the plunging mode of the vortex rope was observed to appear first in the system than that of the rotating mode. Whereas during the load acceptance from PL to BEP, both the modes were observed to disappear simultaneously from the system. In the velocity data, the axial velocity only contributed to the development of the plunging mode and radial velocity to the rotating mode. The region of low velocity, stagnation point, flow separation, recirculation, oscillating flow and high axial velocity gradients were well captured in the system during the transients. The induced high-velocity gradients during the load acceptance from BEP to HL was observed to develop a vortex core in the draft tube.During startup and shutdown, the guide vanes angular position was moved from one to another steady state condition to achieve the minimum load condition of the turbine. At this condition, the generator of the turbine was magnetized at the synchronous speed during startup and shutdown, respectively. The frequency of wave propagation was observed to vary with the runner angular speed during startup and complete shutdown of the turbine. Comparatively high-pressure fluctuations in the draft tube were observed during the guide vane movement from the high discharge conditions. Some unsteady phenomena such as the formation of dead velocity zone, backward flow, and flow oscillations were observed during startup and shutdown of the turbine. The current work has been also used to continue a series of workshops, i.e., Francis-99. The first workshop was held on December 2014 with the cooperation of LTU and NTNU. The measurements performed in this work were used for the second workshop which was held on December 2016. The investigations presented in this thesis will be further explored in the third workshop scheduled for December 2018.
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| 10. |
- Goyal, Rahul, et al.
(författare)
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Numerical Simulation and Validation of a High Head Model Francis Turbine at Part Load Operating Condition
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series C. - : Springer. - 2250-0545 .- 2250-0553. ; 99:5, s. 557-570
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hydraulic turbines are operated over an extended operating range to meet the real time electricity demand. Turbines operated at part load have flow parameters not matching the designed ones. This results in unstable flow conditions in the runner and draft tube developing low frequency and high amplitude pressure pulsations. The unsteady pressure pulsations affect the dynamic stability of the turbine and cause additional fatigue. The work presented in this paper discusses the flow field investigation of a high head model Francis turbine at part load: 50% of the rated load. Numerical simulation of the complete turbine has been performed. Unsteady pressure pulsations in the vaneless space, runner, and draft tube are investigated and validated with available experimental data. Detailed analysis of the rotor stator interaction and draft tube flow field are performed and discussed. The analysis shows the presence of a rotating vortex rope in the draft tube at the frequency of 0.3 times of the runner rotational frequency. The frequency of the vortex rope precession, which causes severe fluctuations and vibrations in the draft tube, is predicted within 3.9% of the experimental measured value. The vortex rope results pressure pulsations propagating in the system whose frequency is also perceive in the runner and upstream the runner.
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