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Computation of e e s b e Pumpu p reversible Turbine Characteristics

Grunde Olimstad
Characteristics of Reversible Pump-Turbines

Objectives
Understand Physics of speed no-load instabilty Understand U d t d relation l ti between b t runner geometry t and d stability Improving stability and operation range of reversible pump turbines. Tool: CFD with OpenFOAM

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Contents
Introduction to pump-turbines pump turbines Characteristics Geometry Case Setup Results Discussion Conclusion

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Intro
Reversible pump-turbines are Francis-type machines designed to work as both turbine and pump Best methode for storing large amount of energy Economic driver to increase operating range Speed no-load instabilty can occure at low head.

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Characteristics
Non dimensional numbers:
Hydraulic machines are characterized h t i d by b the th flowrate(Q), fl t (Q) speed of rotation(N) and total pressure(H). Two commonly used non-dimensional numbers: Dimensionless flow; Qed RPTs have steeper characteristics than Francis turbines.

Q D 2 gH nD D gH

Dimensionless speed; N ed
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Geometry
Low specific speed RPTs have a nearly 22 dimensional area at the inlet. 2D-calculations sufficient to investigate the inlet angle. Francis RPT

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Geometry 3D ->2D
Two approaches; 1. Projection j to p plane z=0 2. Conformal mapping

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Geometry
The chosen way to transform from 3D to 2D is; Keep the first half of the blade as the projected or conformal. Adjust the second half to get homologous velocity diagrams. Keep the diameters constant
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Adjust outlet velocity diagram

Objective of this presentation;

-effect of variation in inlet blade angle, .

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CASE SETUP
Number of Cells Average Yplus Max Skewness Average mesh nonorthogonality g y 64 000 70 3.45

5.3

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Case Setup
Mesh created in Gambit Rotor and stator in two parts. FluentMeshToFoam MergeMeshes, flattenMesh and stitchMesh

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Case Setup
Boundary Condition:
Inlet
Velocity K profile1DfixedValue, Ur, Ut
3 k U 2I 2 2

Boundary Outlet p p; Runner Blades U; Periodic P i di Boundaries FrontAndB ackPlanes

Type fixedValue=0 fixedValue U=(0 0 0) cyclicGgi empty

I is turbulence intensity y

Epsilon

k C
3/ 2

3/ 4

is turbulent length scale

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Case Setup
MRFSimpleFoam (1.5-dev) Frozen F rotor t Perfect matching of rotor and stator cells, which are stitched together Every rotor-blade-tip in the same position relative to guide vanes vanes.

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Results

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Results

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Results

Original data is more irregular, so a curve fit is applied to each line. Grunde Olimstad

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Discussion
Losses depends on how the flow meets the blade at inlet.

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Discussion
-What What differs the geometries? Hydraulic power(i.e. power(i e H) divides on blade torque and losses:
g QH Tz losses l

First analyzis shows small variations in torque. Indicates that differences in H can be explained by losses.

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Conclusion
OpenFOAM shows good accuracy to analyze geometry differences. differences Can distinguish at least 0.1 degree blade variation Difficult to draw a clear conclusion about the steepness of characteristics around speed no-load.

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Aknowledgments
Thanks to advisors; D Bj Dr. Bjarne B Brresen (E (Energy Norway) N ) Prof. Torbjrn Nielsen (Norwegian University of technology and science)

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