Performance study for Francis-99 by using different turbulence models

Abstract

The three-dimensional numerical investigation for turbine-99 at the best efficiency operation point, part load operation point and full load operation point was conducted by using the different turbulence models. By comparing the results of numerical simulation and experimental results, it was found that: there is a certain deviation between the numerical simulation results obtained by different turbulence models and experimental values, and the deviation increase with the reduction of output. Compared to other turbulence model, the result obtained by the standard k-e turbulent model has a relatively small difference with the experimental results. The main causes for the big difference between the numerical simulation and model test include two aspects: (1) the mesh generation and boundary conditions setting lead to differences between the research object and the actual model, (2) it is difficult to accurately simulate the unstable flow such as impact, flow separation and vortex in the turbine. Therefore, in the future actual flow pattern simulation, besides the reasonable choice of turbulence model, based on the actual flow characteristics, the boundary conditions and the simulation results will be amended to reduce the deviation between the numerical simulation and experimental results as much as possible.