The influence of guide vane opening on internal cavitation of Francis turbine

Abstract

Abstract In response to the theme of national multi energy complementary power grid construction, hydropower stations need to frequently change the opening of active guide vanes. Operation deviates from the rated working condition. And output is adjusted to meet the flexible power demand of users. Cavitation phenomenon as the biggest problem restricting the eccentric operation of Francis turbine. Easily induce cavitation damage to the flow passage components of the unit and shorten the service life of the unit. Therefore, there is a good engineering research background for the cavitation characteristics inside Francis turbines in the process of exploring the variation of guide vane opening. This paper takes a high head Francis turbine as the research object, based on numerical simulation and model test. The results show that the maximum amplitude of the draft tube vortex gradually increases during the process of decreasing the opening. The degree of cavitation is gradually serious, and the streamline distribution of the flow field inside the impeller is uneven. As the opening of the guide vane gradually increases, the vortexof the draft tube gradually decreases. The cavitation degree is weakened, and the streamline distribution inside the impeller is significantly improved. With the increase of the guide vane opening, the low-speed area on the outlet surface of the impeller gradually decreases, resulting in a gradual reduction of the low-speed zone in the straight cone section of the draft tube, a smaller vortex, a weaker cavitation degree. The internal flow distribution of the impeller is significantly improved.