DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DESIGNS OF HORIZONTAL BULB HYDROTURBINES

Abstract

The key aspects and methods of increasing the energy and operational efficiency of hydraulic turbine equipment at hydroelectric power plants areconsidered. A detailed analysis of directions for improving the main indicators characterizing the advantages of horizontal-type bladed hydraulicturbines has been carried out. Particular attention is paid to direct-flow rotary-blade hydraulic turbines with a horizontal axis of rotation for thehydraulic unit. These hydraulic turbines offer significant advantages over those using a spiral casing for water supply, including high throughput and awide range of operating pressures and flow rates. The focus of the article is on the advantages of direct-flow bulb hydraulic turbines and their potentialuse at high pressures. However, existing direct-flow hydraulic units operate at low heads of up to 25 m. Therefore, there is a need to develop newdesigns for these turbines to operate efficiently at higher heads up to 280 m, expanding the reliable operation zone. The paper examines new designsolutions for which Ukrainian patents have been received, aiming at the effective use of horizontal bulb hydraulic units. The text highlights theproblems of increasing the energy and operational performance of hydraulic turbine equipment at hydroelectric power plants, presenting importanttasks for researchers to optimize structures and improve efficiency. Recommendations for carrying out numerical modeling in CFD (ComputationalFluid Dynamics) programs are proposed to provide a detailed understanding of hydrodynamic processes in the flow parts of hydraulic turbines. Thepurpose of numerical modeling is to evaluate the efficiency and productivity of new hydroturbines in different operating modes. This includesanalyzing the pressure distribution, flow rate and other characteristics inside the turbine. The obtained data will allow to identify potential "weak"points and optimize the blading and other structural elements for maximum efficiency. This integrated research approach, including both experimentaland multiple methods, will contribute to the development of efficient and reliable hydroturbines in line with modern requirements for sustainableenergy development.