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Optimal design of J-groove shape on the suppression of unsteady flow in the Francis turbine draft tube

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Abstract

The flow in the draft tube of a Francis turbine is highly complex and unstable when the turbine operates far from its design point. To extend the Francis turbine operation range to meet the variable energy demand, a J-groove technology is introduced on the turbine draft tube wall to stabilize the unsteady flow in the draft tube. However, J-groove contributes to energy losses in the draft tube. In this study, the J-groove shape optimization process is proposed based on steady flow analysis using the response surface method. The energy loss and swirl intensity in the draft tube are selected as objectives for the optimization design. The flow characteristics in the draft tube without J-groove and with initial J-groove and optimized J-groove shape are compared. Results show that the swirl intensity in the draft tube with the optimized J-groove is suppressed effectively with the low energy loss in the draft tube. Moreover, the pressure fluctuation in the draft tube with the optimized J-groove is mitigated significantly to stabilize the Francis turbine operation under the off-design point condition.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Zhejiang, 325035, China

    Zhenmu Chen

  2. CAE Team, DNDE Inc, Ace Hightech21, Centumjungang-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, 48059, Korea

    Seok-Heum Baek

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mokpo National University, Muan, 58554, Korea

    Hyunkyoo Cho

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of New and Renewable Energy Technology Research, Mokpo National University, Muan, 58554, Korea

    Young-Do Choi

Authors
  1. Zhenmu Chen
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  2. Seok-Heum Baek
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  3. Hyunkyoo Cho
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  4. Young-Do Choi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Young-Do Choi.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Weon Gyu Shin

Zhenmu Chen received his Ph.D. from Mokpo National University, Korea. He currently is a Lecturer in College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, China. His research interest includes fluid machinery as well as new and renewable energy.

Young-Do Choi received his Ph.D. from Yokohama National University, Japan. He has been a Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering of Mokpo National University, Korea since 2009. His research interests include fluid machinery as well as new and renewable energies, such as ocean energy, wind and hydro power.

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Chen, Z., Baek, SH., Cho, H. et al. Optimal design of J-groove shape on the suppression of unsteady flow in the Francis turbine draft tube. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 2211–2218 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0423-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0423-x

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