Dynamic modal analysis during reduced scale model tests of hydraulic turbines for hydro-acoustic characterization of cavitation flows

Francis turbines operating at off-design conditions experience the development of unfavourable cavitation flows in the draft tube at the runner outlet, which induce pressure pulsations and hydro-acoustic resonances in the worst cases. The assessment of hydropower plant units at off-design conditions is possible by means of one-dimensional numerical simulation, which however requires a proper modelling of the draft tube cavitation flow. The corresponding hydro-acoustic parameters can be identified for a wide number of operating points on the reduced scale model of the machine by modal analysis of the hydraulic test rig. This identification approach is efficient but can however be time-consuming for an industrial project. The paper aims at proposing and validating a faster procedure to identify the eigenfrequencies and the corresponding eigenmodes of a hydraulic test rig featuring a reduced scale model of a Francis turbine operating in off-design conditions. The test rig is excited by injecting a periodical discharge with a rotating valve whose frequency linearly increases from 0 to 7 Hz. Based on the response of the test rig, measured by pressure sensors placed along the pipes, the eigenfrequencies and the corresponding eigenmodes are identified for several operating conditions. The hydro-acoustic parameters are then identified by using a one-dimensional numerical model of the test rig. The results are in very good agreement with those obtained with the standard procedure, i.e. with a stepwise increase of the excitation frequency. This new approach represents an important gain of time and might be applied to assess hydropower plant stability in an industrial context. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental investigation of the local wave speed in a draft tube with cavitation vortex rope

François Avellan, Arthur Tristan Favrel, Christian Landry, Andres Müller, Christophe Nicolet, Keita Yamamoto

Hydraulic machines operating in a wider range are subjected to cavitation developments inducing undesirable pressure pulsations which could lead to potential instability of the power plant. The occurrence of pulsating cavitation volumes in the runner and the draft tube is considered as a mass source of the system and is depending on the cavitation compliance. This dynamic parameter represents the cavitation volume variation with the respect to a variation of pressure and defines implicitly the local wave speed in the draft tube. This parameter is also decisive for an accurate prediction of system eigen frequencies. Therefore, the local wave speed in the draft tube is intrinsically linked to the eigen frequencies of the hydraulic system. Thus, if the natural frequency of a hydraulic system can be determined experimentally, it also becomes possible to estimate a local wave speed in the draft tube with a numerical model. In the present study, the reduced scale model of a Francis turbine was investigated at off-design conditions. In order to measure the first eigenmode of the hydraulic test rig, an additional discharge was injected at the inlet of the hydraulic turbine at a variable frequency and amplitude to excite the system. Thus, with different pressure sensors installed on the test rig, the first eigenmode was determined. Then, a hydro-acoustic test rig model was developed with the In-house EPFL SIMSEN software and the local wave speed in the draft tube was adjusted to obtain the same first eigen frequency as that measured experimentally. Finally, this method was applied for different Thoma and Froude numbers at part load conditions.

IOP Publishing Ltd2014

Experimental investigation of the local wave speed in a draft tube with cavitation vortex rope

François Avellan, Arthur Tristan Favrel, Christian Landry, Christophe Nicolet, Keita Yamamoto

Hydraulic machines operating in a wider range are subjected to cavitation developments inducing undesirable pressure pulsations which could lead to potential instability of the power plant. The occurrence of pulsating cavitation volumes in the runner and the draft tube is considered as a mass source of the system and is depending on the cavitation compliance. This dynamic parameter represents the cavitation volume variation with the respect to a variation of pressure and defines implicitly the local wave speed in the draft tube. This parameter is also decisive for an accurate prediction of system eigen frequencies. Therefore, the local wave speed in the draft tube is intrinsically linked to the eigen frequencies of the hydraulic system. Thus, if the natural frequency of a hydraulic system can be determined experimentally, it also becomes possible to estimate a local wave speed in the draft tube with a numerical model. In the present study, the reduced scale model of a Francis turbine (v=0.29) was investigated at off-design conditions. In order to measure the first eigenmode of the hydraulic test rig, an additional discharge was injected at the inlet of the hydraulic turbine at a variable frequency and amplitude to excite the system. Thus, with different pressure sensors installed on the test rig, the first eigenmode was determined Then, a hydro-acoustic test rig model was developed with the In-house EPFL SIMSEN software and the local wave speed in the draft tube was adjusted to obtain the same first eigen frequency as that measured experimentally. Finally, this method was applied for different Thoma and Froude numbers at part load conditions.

Iop Publishing Ltd2014

Modal Response of Hydraulic Turbine Runners

François Avellan, Eduard Egusquiza

The mechanical design of hydraulic turbines is conditioned by the dynamic response of the runner that is usually estimated by a computational model. Nevertheless, the runner has complex boundary conditions that are difficult to include in the computational model. One of these boundary conditions is the water in which the runner is submerged. The effect of the added mass and damping of water can modify considerably the natural frequencies of the runner. In order to analyze this effect on a Francis turbine runner, an experimental and a numerical investigation in a reduced scale model was carried out. The experimental investigations was based on modal analysis. Several impact tests with the runner in air and in water were done. The response was measured with accelerometers located in different positions of the runner. Special attention was taken to determine the most suitable positions of measurements and impacts. From the modal analysis, the natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes were determined. The simulation of the same runner was also carried out using a FEM method. First, some tests including a sensitivity analysis wee done to check the accuracy of the numerical results. Second, the runner was simulated and the frequencies and mode shapes were calculated both in air and in water like in the experiment. The simulation was compared with the experimental results to determine its accuracy especially regarding the added mass effects. Similar mode shapes and frequency reduction ratios were obtained so the simulation gave rather good results. In the paper, the frequencies, damping and mode shapes obtained in air and in water both from experiment and simulation are indicated. The same mode shapes obtained in air were obtained in water bit with lower natural frequencies and higher damping ratios. The difference in the natural frequencies is shown to be dependent basically on the added mass effect of the water and not on its added damping. This difference also depends on the geometry of the mode presenting different values for different mode shapes. Using non-dimensional values, the reduction in the natural frequencies can be extrapolated to other Francis runners presenting similar geometrical characteristics.

International Association For Hydraulic Research2006

Modal Response of Hydraulic Turbine Runners

François Avellan, Eduard Egusquiza

International Association For Hydraulic Research2006