The Effect of J-Groove on Vortex Suppression and Energy Dissipation in a Draft Tube of Francis Turbine

Zhumei Luo, Cong Nie, Shunli Lv, Tao Guo and Suoming Gao
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Zhumei Luo: Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Cong Nie: Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Shunli Lv: Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Tao Guo: Department of Engineering Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Suoming Gao: Shenzhen Water Planning & Design Institute Company Limited, Kunming 650032, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: The vortex rope in the draft tube is considered as the major contributor to pressure pulsation at partial load (PL) conditions, which causes the hydro unit to operate unstably. Based on the prototype Francis turbine HLA551-LJ-43 in the laboratory, J-grooves are designed on its conical section in this paper. We used numerical simulation to study the effect of the J-grooves on vortex suppression and energy dissipation in the draft tube. Four typical operating conditions were chosen to analyze the vortex suppression; the corresponding flow ratios Q * are 100%, 82%, 69%, and 53%, respectively. Entropy production theory is used to calculate the energy losses and assess the effect of the J-groove on energy dissipation under part-load conditions. By comparing entropy production, circumferential and axial velocity components, swirl intensity, pressure pulsation, and vortex distribution in a draft tube with and without J-grooves at different operating conditions, it can be concluded that the entropy production on the wall containing a conical section with J-grooves is obviously smaller than that without J-grooves, the effects of J-grooves on reducing circumferential velocity component V u , pressure pulsation, and weakening vortex intensity and vortex rope in the conical section are obvious, especially at part load and deep part-load operating conditions. Using J-grooves shows better performance on vortex control and energy dissipation in the draft tube of a Francis turbine at partial load conditions.

Keywords: Francis turbine; entropy production theory; J-grooves; energy dissipation; vortex rope (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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