Francis Turbines

Noelle Fillo, Kimberly Fridsma, Callen

Hecker

History

Developed by James B. Francis in

Lowell, Massachusetts

Founded ASCE
Locks and Canals company
1848

The first Francis turbine was

housed in the Pawtucket
Gatehouse in Lowell, MA.
He based his designs off of other
turbines that were designed around
that time.

Pawtucket Gatehouse

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/22/1/012020/pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_turbine

History

Design based off of Benoit Foureyrons outwardflow turbine and Jean-Victor Poncelets inwardflow turbine.
Can be used in a variety of hydraulic heads and
flow levels
Francis Turbines are a reaction turbine
First hydraulic turbine with radial inflow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_turbine, http://turbinegenerator.org/hydro/hydropower-types/francis-turbine,
http://www.brighthubengineering.com/fluid-mechanics-hydraulics/27407-hydraulic-turbines-francis-turbine/,

History

Many different design changes

over the years from 1848 to
1920.

First stock turbine

Newer designs included

adjustable guide vanes

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/22/1/012020/pdf

Elevation and Plan View of a Francis turbine

http://hopshop.net/tours/electricutility/images/francis-turbine.jpg

http://www.bflhydro.com/img/img-modal-francis.jpg

The Physics of a Francis Turbine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BCiFeykRzo

Physics Cont.

Water flows through spiral

casing, runners, guide
vanes and exits out turbine
eye
Pressure differences
caused by blade shape
allow for rotation and
draws water towards
center
Guide vane angles are
manipulated to optimize
flow

CFD images showing high velocities near

eye and blade edges

http://www.cfdsupport.com/water-turbine-cfdmanual/francis-turbine-cfd-openfoam-rotorresults-velocity-1.png

http://www.e3k.com/images/CFDfrancis02.png

Preventing Cavitation

Pressure differences caused by flow create

vortices that damage surfaces
Indicated by a popping noise
Static pressure must not go below vapor
pressure
Flow separation at turbine exit must be
avoided to avoid draft tube damage
Must control for:

Pressure head
Flow rate
Exit Pressure

Advantages of Francis Turbines

Francis turbines work best for medium to

high range heads
Easily controlled operating head
Francis turbines operate over the largest
range for both flow and head parameters
Large range in size to meet different
power requirements

Range from 0.25 MW to 1000 MW

High efficiency

Generally around 94%

Operative ranges of different turbines

http://www.gunt.
de/networks/gunt/sites/s1/mmcontent/produktbilder/07036531/Datenblatt/07036531%202.
pdf

Advantages

Francis turbines are mixed flow designs

Francis turbines have the highest
maximum power for turbines
Francis vs. Pelton

Smaller and more economical than a

Pelton wheel capable of the same
power generation

More resistant to wear than the

Pelton wheel
Francis turbines have higher levels
of efficiency

http://www.gunt.
de/networks/gunt/sites/s1/mmcontent/produktbilder/07036531/Datenblatt/07036531%202.
pdf

Disadvantages

Unclean water can cause rapid wear in

Francis turbines
Cavitation is always a possibility

Runner erosion
Losses in efficiency

Effects of cavitation on runner

http://authors.library.caltech.edu/25019/1/chap6.htm

Difficult to maintain and clean

Low acceptance of head variation
Constant adjustment of guide vanes and
runners
Francis turbines are generally limited to
large hydroelectric systems

Possible cavitation areas on the runner

http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:741702/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Disadvantages

Francis turbine efficiency significantly

decreases with turbine flow rates below
40%

Decreased flow also greatly increases

cavitation risk

Water hammer effect can cause harmful

effects

Occurs when runners are forced from high

speed to stopping

Build up of overpressures can cause

catastrophic results

http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_transmission/index.htm

http://www.plumbingmart.com/water-hammer-information.html

Calculations/Relevant Equations

Blade Velocity

Guide vane angle

Power Generated

Specific Speed

Example
A Francis turbine is to be operated at a speed of 600 rpm and with a discharge of
4.0 m3/s. If r1 = 0.60 m, 1 = 110, and the blade height B is 10 cm, what should
be the guide vane angle 1 for a nonseparating flow condition at the runner
entrance?

Case Study I- Itaipu Dam in Brazil/Paraguay

Located on the Parana River between

Brazil and Paraguay
One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern
World
Second largest hydroelectric power plant
87.8 TWh generated in 2014
118m of hydraulic head
20 Francis turbines

700 MW each
16 m diameter

Average reservoir capacity

19x109 m3

http://www.solar.coppe.ufrj.br/itaipu.html

Case Study II- Guri Hydroelectric Power

Plant in Orinoco, Venezuela

On the Caroni River in Necuima

Canyon in Orioco, Venezuela
Installed capacity of 10,200 MW
and provides 12,900 GW/h to the
country
Ten 730MW Francis Turbines
Third largest power plant in the
world

http://www.power-technology.com/projects/gurihydroelectric/, http://www.industcards.com/hydro-venezuela.htm,

Case Study III- Vertical Twin Turbines in

Australian Irrigation Dams

Used in Wyangala, Copeton and

Burrendong irrigation dams
Smaller turbines, but useful for
privately developed hydro schemes
Desirable when head is too high for
a Kaplan turbine
Ideal when:

13 MW
45 m head

High efficiency and low prices

http://www.bryanleyland.co.
nz/uploads/2/9/7/1/29710909/twinfrancisturbines
.pdf

Fish-Friendly Francis Turbine Design

Do not allow cavitation to occur
Direct migratory fish away from
turbines
Low number of blades with thick
edges
Wide wicket gate-runner gaps,
Wicket gates aligned with stay vanes
Smooth surfaces provided
Use advanced control system and
monitor speeds
Minimize pressure changes
experienced by fish
http://www1.eere.energy.
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.
gov/wind/pdfs/doewater-13741.
gov/images/hydropower/newandoldturbinedesign_102313.gif
pdf

Conclusions

Francis turbines are one of the

most widely used turbines of our
time
Extremely high efficiency at
specific flows
Come in many sizes and are very
versatile
Large range of power outputs
Wanted when dealing with
relatively medium head and high
flows

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0-sfeSq1IWs/maxresdefault.jpg