Numerical and experimental investigation of the effect of baffles on flow instabilities in a Francis turbine draft tube under partial load conditions

• Published in: Advances in mechanical engineering Vol. 11; no. 1
• Main Authors: Zhou, Xing, Wu, He-gao, Shi, Chang-zheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2019; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Baffles; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulation; Draft tubes; Flow velocity; Fluid flow; Repair & maintenance; Rope; Swirling; Turbines; Variations; draft tube; vortex rope; flow instability; baffle; pressure fluctuation; Computational fluid dynamic; Francis turbine

An improved method for preventing vortex rope formation and alleviating the associated pressure fluctuations in turbine draft tubes is investigated using baffles in the draft tube to hinder the swirling flow emerging from a Francis turbine runner. A strong swirl produces flow instabilities and press...