Effect of Air Admission on Pressure Pulsation in a Francis Turbine

In this study pressure and shaft torque pulsation were measured with variation of head and flow during the model test for a 15 MW Francis Turbine. Pressure pulsations were measured at the inlet of the spiral casing and 4 points in the cone of the diffuser and shaft torque pulsation at the upper position of the turbine. The maximum amplitude of pressure pulsation appeared 2.03% of the maximum rated head with the frequency of 25% of the rated revolution and at the guide vane opening of 10°. Shaft torque pulsation appeared 0.01% of the rated shaft torque, fairly low value. Air was admitted through the cone and pressure pulsation gradually decreased with increase of air flow and kept nearly constant after 5% of the rated flow. A new Francis turbine of which specific speed is 115 m-kW had been designed to rehabilitate the old one and the model test was performed at EPFL. The commercial code, STAR-CCM + was used for numerical simulation of flow.