Numerical Calculation of a Prototype Kaplan Turbine Efficiency Using Full 3-D Navier-Stokes Simulations

A full three dimensional Navier – Stokes numerical simulation has been performed for performance analysis of a hydraulic Kaplan turbine. No simplifications have beenenforced in the simulation. The numerical results have been evaluated using some integral parameters such as the turbine efficiency via comparing the results withexisting experimental data from the prototype Hill chart. In part of this study the numerical simulations were performed in order to calculate the prototype turbineefficiencies in some specific points which comes from the scaling up of the modelefficiency that are available in the model turbine Hill chart. The results are very promising which shows the good ability of the numerical techniques for resolving theflow characteristics in these kinds of complex geometries. A parametric study regarding the evaluation of turbine performance in four different runner angles of theprototype is also performed and the results are cited in this paper. The effect of runner blade angles on the static pressure distribution on the blades is also investigatednumerically and the results are presented for a constant guide vane opening and fourrunner blade angles.

Keywords:

Power plant , Kaplan turbine , Runner , Computational Fluid Dynamics , Turbulent flow