Numerical Study of the Winter–Kennedy Flow Measurement Method in Transient Flows

Binaya Baidar, Jonathan Nicolle, Bhupendra K. Gandhi and Michel J. Cervantes
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Binaya Baidar: Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Luleå, Sweden
Jonathan Nicolle: Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec (IREQ), Varennes, QC J3X 1S1, Canada
Bhupendra K. Gandhi: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
Michel J. Cervantes: Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Luleå, Sweden

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: This paper explores the possibility of using the Winter–Kennedy (WK) method for transient flow rate measurement in hydraulic turbines. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis of a numerical model of an axial turbine was carried out for accelerating and decelerating flows. Those were obtained by linearly opening and closing of the guide vanes, respectively, while retaining the inlet pressure constant during the simulations. The behavior of several WK configurations on a cross-sectional plane and along the azimuthal direction of the spiral casing was studied during the transients. The study showed that there are certain WK configurations that are more stable than others. The physical mechanism behind the stability (or instability) of the WK method during transients is presented. Using the steady WK coefficient obtained at the best efficiency point (BEP), the WK method could estimate the transient flow rate with a deviation of about 7.5% and 3.5%, for accelerating and decelerating flow, respectively.

Keywords: Winter–Kennedy; flow rate; transient flow; hydropower; CFD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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