Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation
The complex flow conditions in Pelton turbines make it challenging to gain detailed insight into the local flow processes. However, CFD methods offer vast potential for developing and optimising Pelton turbines due to these flow conditions. In a comprehensive examination, a six-nozzle prototype Pelt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-186X/8/1/10 |
| _version_ | 1797611101214474240 |
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| author | Lukas Sandmaier Peter Meusburger Helmut Benigni |
| author_facet | Lukas Sandmaier Peter Meusburger Helmut Benigni |
| author_sort | Lukas Sandmaier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The complex flow conditions in Pelton turbines make it challenging to gain detailed insight into the local flow processes. However, CFD methods offer vast potential for developing and optimising Pelton turbines due to these flow conditions. In a comprehensive examination, a six-nozzle prototype Pelton turbine with 19 buckets has been investigated using 3D CFD simulations. First, the steady simulations of the manifold and the unsteady runner simulation have been performed with a mesh-based, commercial CFD code, whereby a two-equation turbulence model and the homogeneous two-phase model were used. Then, to limit the simulation time, symmetry was applied in the runner simulation, and also a strategic definition of the mesh element size in selected blocks of higher interest. Subsequently, the simulation results were analysed. Based on the first simulation results, the geometry of the distributor was modified in an iterative process to reduce losses and improve the jet shape. For the improvement of the latter, a characteristic number was introduced to quantify the secondary flows upstream of the nozzles, which act negatively on the jet shape. Furthermore, the results of the runner simulation were analysed with special regard to the jet-bucket interaction from the start to the end of the impingement cycle of a particular bucket. Finally, a potential efficiency increase could be derived from the summary. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:24:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-721fc54f0e444feb846765a894f88efe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-186X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:24:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power |
| spelling | doaj.art-721fc54f0e444feb846765a894f88efe2023-11-17T11:43:07ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power2504-186X2023-03-01811010.3390/ijtpp8010010Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and OptimisationLukas Sandmaier0Peter Meusburger1Helmut Benigni2Institute of Hydraulic Fluid Machinery, Graz University of Technology, Kopernikusgasse 24/4, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Hydraulic Fluid Machinery, Graz University of Technology, Kopernikusgasse 24/4, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Hydraulic Fluid Machinery, Graz University of Technology, Kopernikusgasse 24/4, 8010 Graz, AustriaThe complex flow conditions in Pelton turbines make it challenging to gain detailed insight into the local flow processes. However, CFD methods offer vast potential for developing and optimising Pelton turbines due to these flow conditions. In a comprehensive examination, a six-nozzle prototype Pelton turbine with 19 buckets has been investigated using 3D CFD simulations. First, the steady simulations of the manifold and the unsteady runner simulation have been performed with a mesh-based, commercial CFD code, whereby a two-equation turbulence model and the homogeneous two-phase model were used. Then, to limit the simulation time, symmetry was applied in the runner simulation, and also a strategic definition of the mesh element size in selected blocks of higher interest. Subsequently, the simulation results were analysed. Based on the first simulation results, the geometry of the distributor was modified in an iterative process to reduce losses and improve the jet shape. For the improvement of the latter, a characteristic number was introduced to quantify the secondary flows upstream of the nozzles, which act negatively on the jet shape. Furthermore, the results of the runner simulation were analysed with special regard to the jet-bucket interaction from the start to the end of the impingement cycle of a particular bucket. Finally, a potential efficiency increase could be derived from the summary.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-186X/8/1/10Pelton turbinecomputational fluid dynamicshydropowernumerical modelling |
| spellingShingle | Lukas Sandmaier Peter Meusburger Helmut Benigni Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation International Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power Pelton turbine computational fluid dynamics hydropower numerical modelling |
| title | Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation |
| title_full | Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation |
| title_fullStr | Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation |
| title_short | Transient 3D CFD Simulation of a Pelton Turbine—A State-of-the-Art Approach for Pelton Development and Optimisation |
| title_sort | transient 3d cfd simulation of a pelton turbine a state of the art approach for pelton development and optimisation |
| topic | Pelton turbine computational fluid dynamics hydropower numerical modelling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-186X/8/1/10 |
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