Francis turbines
Examples
Losses in Francis turbines
NPSH
Main dimensions
Traditional runner
X blade runner
SVARTISEN
P = 350 MW
H = 543 m
Q* = 71,5 m3/S
D0 = 4,86 m
D1 = 4,31m
D2 = 2,35 m
B0 = 0,28 m
n = 333 rpm
La Grande, Canada
P = 169 MW
H = 72 m
Q = 265 m3/s
D0 = 6,68 m
D1e = 5,71m
D1i = 2,35 m
B0 = 1,4 m
n = 112,5 rpm
Outlet
draft tube
Outlet
runner
Inlet
runner
Outlet
guide vane
Inlet
guide vane
Hydraulic efficiency
c32
c12
g h1 g h 3 losses
2
2
c32
c12
g h1 g h 3
2
2
c1u u1 c 2 u u 2
g Hn
Losses in Francis Turbines
Hydraulic Efficiency [%]
Draft tube
Output Energy
Head [m]
Hydraulic Efficiency [%]
Losses in Francis Turbines
Output Energy
Output [%]
Friction losses between runner
and covers
Friction losses
Gap losses
Gap losses
Friction losses
Friction losses in
the spiral casing
and stay vanes
Guide vane losses
Gap losses
Runner losses
Draft tube losses
Relative path
Absolute path without
the runner installed
Absolute path with the runner installed
Velocity triangles
Net Positive Suction Head, NPSH
c 32
c 32
c 22
h2
z 2 hb h3
z3
2g
2g
2g
c 32
H s h3
z3 z 2
2g
c 22
h2
z2
2g
c 22
h2
2g
c 32
h b Hs z2
2g
J
h b Hs J
1
h2 hb h2'
NPSH
h2
c 22
hb H s
J
2g
NPSH
hva
NPSH h b h 2 H s
NB:
HS has a negative
value in this figure.
NPSH required
NPSH R
h b h va H s
NPSH A
c 2m
u 22
NPSH R a
b
2g
2g
Turbines
Pumps
a 1.05 a 1.15 1.6 a 2.0
b 0.05 b 0.15 0.2 b 0.25
Main dimensions
Dimensions of the outlet
Speed
Dimensions of the inlet
D1
D2
Dimensions of the outlet
We assume cu2= 0 and choose 2 and u2 from NPSHR:
c
u
a u 2 tan 2 b u 22
NPSH R a
b
2g
2g
2g
2
m2
13o <
35 <
1,05 <
0,05 <
2
u2
a
b
<
<
<
<
22o
43 m/s
1,15
0,15
2
2
Highest value for highest head
Diameter at the outlet
c m 2 u 2 tan 2
Connection between cm2and choose D2 :
D 22
Q
cm2
4
cm2
Q4
D 22
D1
4Q
D2
cm 2
D2
Speed
Connection between n and choose u2 :
D2 n
u2
60
u 2 60
n
D2
Correction of the speed
The speed of the generator is given from the
number of poles and the net frequency
3000
n
zp
for
f 50Hz
Example
Given data:
Flow rate
Head
Q = 71.5 m3/s
H = 543 m
We choose:
a = 1,10
b = 0,10
2 = 22o
u2 = 40 m/s
1,1 40 tan 22 0,1 40 2
NPSH R
22,8 m
2g
Find D2 from:
4Q
4Q
D2
cm2
u 2 tan 2
4 71,5
D2
2.37 m
40 tan 22
Find speed from:
u 2 60 40 60
n
322 rpm
D 2 2.37
Correct the speed with synchronic speed:
3000
zp
9.3
n
3000
choose z p 9 n K
333 rpm
9
We keep the velocity triangle at the outlet:
u2
u2K
2
c2
c2K
w2
tan 2
c m 2 c mK
u 2 u 2K
4Q
4Q
D 22 K
D 22
n D2
n K D 2K
60
60
n K D 32 K n D 32
D2K
h D 32
322
3
2.373m
2.35m
hK
333
Dimensions of the inlet
u 1 c u1 u 2 c u 2
h
2 u 1 c u1 u 2 c u 2
gH
At best efficiency point, cu2= 0
u 1 c u1
h 0,96
2 u 1 c u1
gH
h
0,96
c u1
2 u1 2 u1
Diameter at the inlet
We choose:
0,7 < u1 < 0,75
D1 n 2 D1
u1
2
60
2
u1 60
D1
n
D1
D2
Height of the inlet
Continuity gives:
c m1 A1 c m 2 A 2
We choose:
cm2 = 1,1 cm1
1.1 D
B1 D1
4
2
2
B1 B0
Inlet angle
cu1
cm1
c1
c m1
tan 1
u1 c u1
u1
1
w1
Example continues
Given data:
Flow rate
Head
Q = 71.5 m3/s
H = 543 m
We choose:
h = 0,96
u1 = 0,728
cu2 = 0
n 2 u 1 c u1
h
0.96
c u1
0,059
2 u1 2 0,728
Diameter at the inlet
u1 u1 2 g h 0,728 2 9,81 543 75,15 m s
u1 60 75,15 60
D1
4,31 m
n
333
D1
Height of the inlet
1,1 D
1,1 2.35
B1
0,35 m
4 D1
4 4,31
2
2
B1
Inlet angle
cu1
cm1
c1
u1
1
w1
c m 2 sin 2 u 2 sin 22 40,9 m s
c m1
13,9 m s
1,1
1,1
1,1
c m1
c m1
2g h
13,9
0,135
2 9,81 543
c m1
0,135
arctan
1 arctan
62.9
0,728 0,659
u 1 c u1
SVARTISEN
P = 350 MW
H = 543 m
Q* = 71,5 m3/S
D0 = 4,86 m
D1 = 4,31m
D2 = 2,35 m
B0 = 0,28 m
n = 333 rpm
