Objectives
- Develop a method for erosion modeling in hydro turbine using an opensource tool.
- Compare the performance and erosion resistivity of Francis runner blades in variable speed operation mode.
Pawan Lal Bijukchhe
Master By Research
bijukchhepaw@gmail.com
batch 2021
Summary/ Expected Outcomes:
Conventional hydropower plants are designed with a compulsion to run turbines at a specific rotational speed to match the grid frequency. However, due to flow availability and demand-supply balance, power plants are often operated at off-design conditions. When it comes to the sediment laden flow, it
is seen that the sediment erosion is found to be aggravated at off-design operating conditions. The concept of variable speed operation arises with a hypothesis that erosion can be
minimized by operating turbines at different speed than synchronous speed, as with varying rotational speed the streamlined flow of designed condition can be achieved even at off-design operating conditions. In this work the use of opensource tool is emphasized in the field of research. OpenFOAM is used to conduct numerical study of the sediment laden flow. Two different designs of Francis runner blades for Jhimruk hydropower plants were taken under study, and their
performance, and sediment erosion resistivity is being compared. Steady state efficiency and
volume of material eroded by particles is calculated for both the blade designs. Design
parameters contributing to favorable or adverse effects on efficiency and erosion are being
analyzed.
Supervisors from host and Partner Universities
Hari Prasad Neopane, Prof., Kathmandu University, Nepal
Sailesh Chitrakar, Asst. Prof., Kathmandu University, Nepal
Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug Prof., Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway