Francis turbines

• Examples
• Losses in Francis turbines
• NPSH
• Main dimensions
Traditional runner X blade runner
SVARTISEN

P = 350 MW
H = 543 m
Q* = 71,5 m3/S
D0 = 4,86 m
D1 = 4,31m
D2 = 2,35 m
B0 = 0,28 m
n = 333 rpm
La Grande, Canada

P = 169 MW
H = 72 m
Q = 265 m3/s
D0 = 6,68 m
D1e = 5,71m
D1i = 2,35 m
B0 = 1,4 m
n = 112,5 rpm
Outlet Outlet Inlet Outlet Inlet
draft tube runner runner guide vane guide vane
 Hydraulic efficiency
 c12   c 32 
 g ⋅ h1 + + z1  −  g ⋅ h 3 + + z 3  − losses
c1u ⋅ u1 − c2u ⋅ u 2  2   2 
ηh = =
g ⋅ Hn  c12   c 32 
 g ⋅ h1 + + z1  −  g ⋅ h 3 + + z 3 
 2   2 

1
 Losses in Francis Turbines

Draft tube
Hydraulic Efficiency [%]

Output Energy

Head [m]
Hydraulic Efficiency [%]
Losses in Francis Turbines

Output Energy

Output [%]
Friction losses between runner
and covers

Friction losses
 Gap losses

Gap losses
 Friction losses

Friction losses in
the spiral casing
and stay vanes

Guide vane losses

Gap losses

Runner losses

Draft tube losses

 Absolute path without
the runner installed
Relative path

Absolute path with the runner installed

Velocity triangles
 Net Positive Suction Head, NPSH
c 22 c 32 c 32
h2 + + z 2 = hb + h3 + + z3 + ζ ⋅ h2 = hb + h2'
2⋅g 2⋅g 2⋅g
c 32
− H s = h3 + + z3 − z 2
2⋅g
c 22 c 32
h2 + + z2 = h b − Hs + z2 + ζ ⋅
2⋅g 2⋅g
J
c 22
h2 + = h b − Hs + J
2⋅g
1
 NPSH
 c 22 
h2 = hb − H s −  − J  > hva
 2⋅g 
NPSH
NPSH = h b − h 2 − H s

NB:
HS has a negative
value in this figure.
 NPSH required

NPSH R < h b − h va − H s = NPSH A

2 2
c u
NPSH R = a ⋅ m2
+b⋅ 2
2⋅ g 2⋅ g

Turbines Pumps
a 1.05 < a < 1.15 1.6 < a < 2.0
b 0.05 < b < 0.15 0.2 < b < 0.25
 Main dimensions

• Dimensions of the outlet

• Speed
D1
• Dimensions of the inlet

D2
 Dimensions of the outlet
We assume cu2= 0 and choose β2 and u2 from NPSHR:

a ⋅ ( u 2 ⋅ tan β 2 ) + b ⋅ u 22
2 2 2
c u
NPSH R = a ⋅ +b⋅
m2
= 2
2⋅ g 2⋅ g 2⋅ g

13o < β2 < 22o (Lowest value for highest head)

35 < u2 < 43 m/s (Highest value for highest head)
1,05 < a < 1,15
0,05 < b < 0,15
 Diameter at the outlet
c m 2 = u 2 tan β 2

Connection between cm2and choose D2 :

D 22 Q⋅4 D1
Q = π⋅ ⋅ cm2 ⇒ cm2 =
4 π ⋅ D 22

4⋅Q
⇒ D2 =
π ⋅ cm 2

D2
 Speed
Connection between n and choose u2 :

π ⋅ D2 ⋅ n u 2 ⋅ 60
u2 = ⇒ n=
60 π ⋅ D2
 Correction of the speed
The speed of the generator is given from the
number of poles and the net frequency

3000
n= for f = 50Hz
zp
 Example
Given data:
Flow rate Q = 71.5 m3/s
Head H = 543 m

We choose:
a = 1,10
b = 0,10
β2 = 22o
u2 = 40 m/s

NPSH R =
( )
 2
1,1⋅ 40 ⋅ tan 22 + 0,1 ⋅ 40 2
= 22,8 m
2⋅g
Find D2 from:

4⋅Q 4⋅Q
D2 = =
π ⋅ cm 2 π ⋅ u2 ⋅ tan β 2

4 ⋅ 71,5
D2 = = 2.37 m
π ⋅ 40 ⋅ tan 22 
Find speed from:

u2 ⋅ 60 40 ⋅ 60
n= = = 322 rpm
π ⋅ D2 π ⋅ 2.37
Correct the speed with synchronic speed:

3000
zp = = 9.3
n
3000
choose z p = 9 ⇒ n K = = 333 rpm
9
 We keep the velocity triangle at the outlet:

u2 u2K
β2
c2 w2 4⋅Q 4⋅Q
cm 2 cmK π ⋅ D22 π ⋅ D22 K
tan β 2 = = = =
c2K u2 u2 K π π
⋅ n ⋅ D2 ⋅ nK ⋅ D2 K
60 60
⇓
nK ⋅ D23K = n ⋅ D23
⇓
n ⋅ D23 322
D2 K =3 = 2.373 ⋅ 3 = 2.35m
nK 333
 Dimensions of the inlet

u 1 ⋅ c u1 − u 2 ⋅ c u 2
ηh = = 2 ⋅ ( u 1 ⋅ c u1 − u 2 ⋅ c u 2 )
g⋅H
At best efficiency point, cu2= 0

u 1 ⋅ c u1
ηh ≈ 0,96 = = 2 ⋅ u 1 ⋅ c u1
g⋅H

ηh 0,96
c u1 = =
2 ⋅ u1 2 ⋅ u1
 Diameter at the inlet
We choose: 0,7 < u1 < 0,75

D1 n ⋅ 2 ⋅ π D1
u1 = ω ⋅ = ⋅ D1

2 60 2
⇓
u1 ⋅ 60
D1 =
n⋅π
D2
 Height of the inlet
Continuity gives:

c m1 ⋅ A1 = c m 2 ⋅ A 2

We choose: cm2 = 1,1 · cm1

1.1 ⋅ π ⋅ D 2
B1 = B0
B1 ⋅ D1 ⋅ π = 2
4
 Inlet angle
cu1 u1
β1
cm1
w1
c1

c m1
tan β 1 =
u1 − c u1
 Example continues
Given data:
Flow rate Q = 71.5 m3/s
Head H = 543 m

We choose:
ηh = 0,96
u1 = 0,728
cu2 = 0

ηh 0.96
η h = 2 ⋅ u 1 ⋅ c u1 ⇒ c u1 = = = 0,66
2 ⋅ u1 2 ⋅ 0,728
 Diameter at the inlet

u1 = u1 ⋅ 2 ⋅ g ⋅ h = 0,728 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 9,81⋅ 543 = 75,15 m s

u1 ⋅ 60 75,15 ⋅ 60
D1 = = = 4,31 m
n ⋅π 333 ⋅ π

D1
 Height of the inlet
1,1⋅ π ⋅ D2
1,1⋅ 2.35
2
B1 = 2
= = 0,35 m
4 ⋅ D1 ⋅ π 4 ⋅ 4,31

B1
 Inlet angle
cu1 u1
β1
cm1
w1
c1

cm 2 sin β 2 ⋅ u2 sin 22 ⋅ 40,9 m s

cm1 = = = = 13,9 m s
1,1 1,1 1,1
c m1 13,9
c m1 = = = 0,135
2⋅g ⋅h 2 ⋅ 9,81 ⋅ 543

 c m1   0,135 
β1 = arctan  = arctan  = 62.9
 u 1 − c u1   0,728 − 0,659 
SVARTISEN

P = 350 MW
H = 543 m
Q* = 71,5 m3/S
D0 = 4,86 m
D1 = 4,31m
D2 = 2,35 m
B0 = 0,28 m
n = 333 rpm