DIMENSIONING AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF AN AXIAL HYDRAULIC TURBINE OF HIGH POWER/WEIGHT RATIO

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop a methodology for dimensioning and performance analysis of a stage of Hydraulic Axial Flow Turbines of High Power to Weight Ratio (HAFT-HPWR).

The HAFT-HPWR consists of two rows (stator and rotor) with non-twisted blades.

The axial flow turbine of higher power to weight ratio is that with a degree of reaction equal to zero. The experimental results on a single stage 50% reaction turbine show a big influence of Reynolds number on the turbine performance. The zone of operation at the best efficiency point varies strongly with the rotation speed.

The performance analysis of HAFT-HPWR requires the precise assessment of the influence of the Reynolds number on deflection and the hydraulic losses. Due to complexity of the flow in an axial turbine, such assessment should be based on 3D numerical simulation, in order to compute the hydraulic losses present in a stage of HAFT-HPWR, without using models and correlations.