Physical Mechanism of Interblade Vortex Development at Deep Part Load Operation of a Francis Turbine

For seamless integration of growing electricity production from intermittent renewable energy sources, Francis turbines are under increasing demand to extend their operating range. This requires Francis turbines to operate under off-design conditions, where various types of cavitation are induced. At deep part load condition, an interblade cavitation vortex observed in a runner blade channel is a typical cavitation phenomenon causing pressure fluctuations and erosion, which prevent a reliable operation of Francis turbines at deep part load. The underlying mechanisms of its development are, however, yet to be understood. In an objective of revealing its developing mechanisms, the present study is aimed at investigating flow structures inside runner blade channels by comparison of three different operating conditions at deep part load using numerical simulation results. After demonstrating interblade vortex structures are successfully simulated by performed computations, it is shown that flow inside the runner at deep part load operation is characterized by a remarkable development of recirculating flow on the hub near the runner outlet. This recirculating flow is concluded to be closely associated with interblade vortex development. The skin-friction analyses applied to the hub identify the flow separation caused by a nonuniform distribution of flow, which describes the underlying physical mechanism of interblade vortex development. Investigations are further extended to include a quantitative evaluation of the specific energy loss induced by interblade vortex development. The integration of energy flux defined by rothalpy evidences the energy loss due to the presence of strong interblade vortex structures.