Influence of runner clearance on efficiency and cavitation in kaplan turbine

Abstract

Since the clearance between the runner shroud and the hub can change with the angle of the blades, it has a great influence on the hydraulic characteristics and cavitation performance in the Kaplan Turbine. In this paper, the CFD will be used to solve the turbulence model based on the k-ωSST model in the entire flow field of the turbine and the Zwart-Gerber-Belamri model will be used to predict the cavitation. We compare the hydraulic characteristics and cavitation performance of the Kaplan Turbine under the conditions of the runner clearance exist or the runner clearance absence. Finally, we analysis the influence of the clearance width in the hydraulic performance and the relationship between the clearances and the turbine characteristics.