Scientific Bulletin of the The 6th International Conference on

Politehnica University of Timisoara Hydraulic Machinery and Hydrodynamics

Transactions on Mechanics Special issue Timisoara, Romania, October 21 - 22, 2004

STUDY OF HYDRAULIC LOSSES IN THE FRANCIS TURBINES

Ioan PĂDUREAN, Ass. Prof*.

Department of Hydraulic Machinery
“Politehnica” University of Timisoara
Ion VELA, Prof. Octavian MEGHELEŞ, Ass. Prof.
“Eftimie Murgu” University of Reşiţa “Eftimie Murgu” University of Reşiţa
*Corresponding author: Bv Mihai Viteazu 1, 300223, Timişoara, România
Tel.: (+40) 256 489474, E-mail: padurean@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT 1. INTRODUCTION
The paper presents some calculation relations of In the operation process of the hydraulic machines
the hydraulic losses in the spiral casing, stay ring there are inevitable losses due to the friction of the
and draft tube of the hydraulic Francis turbine. fluid layers in motion, due to the friction with the
Numerical results there will be compared to values of solid wallsand due to the local resistance such as the
specific hydraulic losses found in literature, observing changes of speed direction, the changes of tube section
the evolution tendencies. By analyzing the results, and areas, etc. The quantitative amount of the lost
conclusions will be drawn in order to establish energy, the irreversible change in other energy forms
recommended calculation relations for the hydraulic (ex. heat) determines the efficiency of the system. The
losses. hydraulic losses have a high amount in the energy
balance of the turbo machines. A very precise quan-
KEYWORDS titative evaluation of the hydraulic dissipations could
Hydraulic Turbine, Hydraulic Losses, Stator, Spiral permit the deepening of the energetic transfer, as
Casing, Draft Tube, Runner, Wicked Gates. well as some constructive optimizations.
Do to the geometrical complexity of the hydraulic
NOMENCLATURE circuit of the turbo machines, an exact mathematical
model cannot be given, in order to come closer to the
hp - hydraulic losses real situation of flow through the turbo machines.
λ - Darcy coefficient Then, the study of hydraulic losses in each one of
ζ - local loss coefficient (Weissbach) the hydraulic circuit elements (spiral casing, stay ring,
d - spiral casing characteristic diameter runner, wicked gates, draft tube) becomes necessary
v - spiral casing characteristic speed for the designer of hydraulic machines.
R - spiral casing characteristic radius The first step in the determination of hydraulic
α - spiral inclining angle losses will be assimilation of some parts of the
bo - wicked gates high hydraulic circuit of the machine with simple geometri-
ϕ - spiral wrapping angle cal form as fix and rotative curves channels.
We have done studies of the hydraulic flows and
SUBSCRIPTS dissipations in the hydraulic circuit of the turbo
sc - spiral casing machines: spiral casing, stay ring and draft tube.
i - inlet
2. CALCULATIONS OF HYDRAULIC LOSSES
st - stay ring
sp - spiral Usually the study of hydraulic losses in the spiral
ex - outside potential movement casing and stay ring are treated together. The efficiency
sl - boundary layer of the energy transfer in the turbine highly depends
ms - secondary movement on the structure of the output current from the spiral
casing and its kinetic and energetic parameters.

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 The spiral casing is the first element of the Rst0 – the reference radius of the stator:
hydraulic turbine and connects the adduction pipe to Q 720 ⋅ K ⋅ π
the other element of the turbine. Relative calculation K= rst 0
;C = (4)
close to the real values of hydraulic losses in the b Q
spiral casing may be used in the selection criteria ∫
rste
r
⋅ dr
during the turbine design.
The losses from the spiral casing and stay ring Relation (3) takes into account the influence of
are composed of the longitudinal losses, local losses, the winding angle and the output speed from the
and losses due to secondary movements, losses due spiral casing, through “k”.
to the section and shock variations at stay ring entry, Levin and Clermont [9] assimilate the spiral casing
longitudinal losses in stay ring, and losses due to to the confuzor and calculates the global loss coeffi-
section variations as well as losses trail. cient like a local resistance coefficient depends on
In the special studies, the approach to the hydrau- the converging degree “n0” and “k” confuzor angle.
lic losses in the spiral casing is different, starting
with neglecting them up to taking into account of a ς c = ( 0,0125⋅ n04 + 0,024⋅ n03 − 0,0723⋅ n02 −
(5)
great amount in the losses from the turbines -66% − 0,0044⋅ n0 −0,00745)⋅(αr3 − 2παr2 − 10αr )
[4]. The losses in the spiral casing have a well define
place in the energetic amount of the machine, as Lasenko [8] calculates the losses in the spiral
seen in [1], [3], [4], [9]. casing as a sum between the distributed losses and
The calculus of the dissipations from the spiral the confuzor losses
casing is very divers. Thus, in [7], there is considered hpcs = hpcsl + hp csc (6)
that there are only distributed losses in the spiral
casing, the calculus relation being taken from the Q2
pipes. h p csc = ς ⋅ (7)
2
8π 2 g ⋅ rst20 ⋅ b02
l sp visp
h pcs = λ ⋅ ⋅ (1) where b0 – the height of the cylindrical area at the
d echsp 2 g exit from the spiral casing; ς = 0,1 – 0,25 – the
confuzor loss coefficient
lsp – being the length of the medium path
In a big theoretical and experimental study of
of the spiral and dech sp is equivalent diameter
losses in the spiral casing I. Fitero [5] calculates this
along the spiral
2 losses by use of a global coefficient ςcs in the form:
lsp visp
hpcs = λ (2) visp
2
4 Risp 2 g h p csc = ς cs ⋅ (8)
Which relies hypotheses of constant speed of the 2g
main current on the median sections of the spiral casing, ς cs = ς sl + ς ex + ς ms (9)
along the spiral and the coefficient λ (0,01 – 0,02).
Both in [1] and [2] the reference speak for the Index “sl”, “ex”, ms” correspond to the boundary
calculations of the hydraulic losses in the spiral layer, to the outside potential movement and to the
casing (also used in the design calculations [1]). secondary movement and recommends ςcs=0,231.
Lasenko [8] considers that the losses distributed A. Baya [3] considers the spiral casing without
through the spiral casing are determined by the stator and relates the losses hydraulic to the cylin-
relations: drical section from the exit of the spiral casing, with
a relation like:
ϕ max 4rst 0
7( + ) Q2
λK 2
C C h p csc = ς cs ⋅ 2 (10)
h pcl = ⋅ + 2π g ⋅ Decs
2
⋅ b02 ⋅ ρ st2 0
2g 2rst 0 ϕ max 4rst 0
12 ( + ) where Decs - the diameter specific to the exit from
C C C
the spiral casing; ρst0 – the obstruction factor of this
2rst 0 rst 0 ϕ ϕ 2rst 0 sections by the stay ring blade.
(7 + 12 max + 16 max ⋅ )
λK 2
C C C C C After undertaking an experimental study of the
+ ⋅
2g 2r ϕ 4rst 0 loss coefficient in the prismatic channels, he
12 st 0 ( max + ) recommends ςconfuzor = 0,235 which is in accordance
C C C with the results given by I. Fitero [5].
(3) M. Tamas [11] relates the losses to the exit section
where φmax – the winding angle of the spiral from the spiral casing by use

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 Q2 the cost of the investment of the building of the
h p csc = ς cs ⋅ power plant and on the losses of its corresponding
2π 2 g ⋅ Decs
2
⋅ b02 kinetic energy.
k Q2 ⋅ n 2 ⋅ D 2 (11) The relation of calculation of the loss coefficient
= ς cs ⋅ for the turbulent conditions is the following:
D b
2π 2 g ⋅ ( ecs ) 2 ⋅ ( 0 ) 2 11 −1 1 −9
D D λ= 25 ⋅ I1 ⋅D 5 ⋅ Pc5 ⋅ V y 10
5
where D – the diameter of the runner of the turbine
−1 −3 −1
Decs
= 1,55 ÷ 1, 7 V y 10 = I 2 − I 3 ⋅D 5 ⋅ Pc10 ⋅ V y10
5

D (12) where :
b0
= 0, 08 ÷ 0,15 I 1 = 0 ,0485
D
I 2 = 0 ,792 (20)
which can be stated for each concrete case.
Klein and Reininger [6] recommends: I 3 = 0 ,11
vi2 D = Re ⋅ PC1 / 2
h pcs = ς cs ⋅ (13)
2g R
PC =
h pcs = ς cs n D 2 2
(14) RC
from which we obtain: RC − curve radius
11 −1 1 −9

λ = 2 ⋅ I1 ⋅ D ⋅ P ⋅ V
5 5
c
5 5
y10
3. NUMERICAL RESULTS
−1 −3 −1 Real evaluation of calculation relations of hydraulic
V y10 = I 2 − I 3 ⋅ D 5 ⋅ Pc10 ⋅ V y10
5 losses from the spiral casing, stay ring and the draft
tube is possible only after their real application
As to the stators it is recommended: because: “Only reality and experience bring out the
h pst = ς cs ⋅ K ⋅ Q 2 (15) truth” (A. Einstein). For the numerical calculation
have been chosen a Francis turbine, designed and
The draft tube leads the fluid to the lower reservoir, tested in the laboratories UCM Resita, and conclusions
under the conditions of transforming the kinetic have been drawn on the calculation result by use of
energy in the potential energy. The shape of the draft the above mentioned relation.
tube depends of the type of the turbine and on the Relations (2), (13), (8) give values for the hydraulic
degree of the recovering the kinetic energy from the losses in the range of (0,45 – 0,55%) from turbine
runner exit; this shape influences the hydraulic losses head; Relations (11), (16) give values of hydraulic
which mostly are greater in the draft tube than in the losses in the range (1,2 – 1,7%) from total head. Taking
rotor [1]. In the draft tubes the total losses are made into consideration the stay ring losses which can be
of friction losses, diffusing losses, and the kinetic up to 0,05% of the total head its results that the losses
energy losses. from the spiral casing (the stay ring included too)
In this case: and the draft tube can be estimated in the range of
h pTA = h fr + h pd + h pc (16) (0,5 – 1,8%) of the total turbine head.

λ⋅L v32 − v52 4. CONCLUSIONS

h fr = ⋅ (17)
θ 2g After analyzing the relations that express the type
8 ⋅ tg ⋅D of the hydraulic losses the following conclusions
2 have been observed:
θ (v 3 − v 5 ) 2 • the numerical results confirm the tendency found
h pd = 3,2 ⋅ (tg )1, 25 ⋅ (18) in literature.
2 2g
• by considering the efficiency of the model with
v52 the optimum operating point equal with 90% the
h pc = (19) values of the hydraulic losses in spiral casing,
2g stay ring and draft tuber will represent 18 – 19%
The values V5 = f(H) and L/D = 3 are established of the turbine total losses, which is in accordance
[1] on bases of several economic studies related to with the results from [3], [11].

149
 • It is recommended to calculate the losses in each
one of these elements; any calculations which
leads to losses greater than 2% of the turbine
head asks a redimensioning of the corresponding
hydraulic elements.
REFERENCES
1. Anton, I. – Turbine hidraulice, Ed. Facla, Timi-
şoara, 1979
2. Anton, I. – Contribuţii la studiul pierderilor în
camera spirală. Buletin ştiinţific şi tehnologic,
IPT, 1956
3. Baya, A. – Studiul pierderilor hidraulice în
turbinele Francis cu aplicaţie la turbinele ce
echipează CHE – Bradul, Raul Mare, Retezat.
Teza de doctorat, UTT, 1993
4. Fachbach, M. – Flow investigation in a Francis
Turbine. Transaction of ASME 1971.
150
5. Fitero, I – Pierderile hidraulice în camera spirală
a turbomaşinilor. Teza doctorat, 1971
6. Klein, J., Reininger, J. – Loss Coefficient of
Spiral Casing and Draft Tube at Kaplan Turbine.
Conference of Fluid Mechanics, Budapest, 1969
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ances Characteristics of Hydraulic Turbines.
Journal of Hydraulic Res., vol. 27, nov. 1989
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charge singulieres dans le convergents coniques.
Le Genie Civil 147, 1986.
10. Pădurean, I. – Determinarea pierderilor hidraulice
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Petrosani, 2000
11. Tămaş, M. – Studiul experimental şi teoretic al
pierderilor hidraulice în transformatoarele hidrau-
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