EXPERIMENTAL and CFD SIMULATION VALIDATION PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS of FRANCIS TURBINE

Abstract

Francis Turbines are designed to Extract hydraulic power as much as possible in hydro power plant stations. Performance analysis and selecting design of hydraulic turbines are two very essential aspects of any hydro power project which ensure the economical and efficient functioning of these hydro power plants.CFD simulation can provide us insight into field flow characteristics which will help us understand the design parameter and development of Francis turbine. The performance analyzed in different operating conditions with the help of numerical simulation and experimental testing. The various visualization techniques in numerically and Physically model testing for hydraulic performance with maximum-minimum and rated head and different flow rate analyses of the turbines are briefly discussed. These techniques can be provided efficiency and insight flow characteristics with different operating conditions of the Francis turbine. Efficiency is calculated 94% with Computational fluid dynamics simulation with an error of less than 0.7% compared with physical model testing. The numerically simulation and physical model testing are shown that feasibility for the optimal design of the hydraulic Francis turbine.