Objectives:
Analyze the erosion models applicable to Francis turbine and study their sensitivity using numerical simulations.
Validation of the erosion obtained from numerical techniques with experiments in the simplified test rig.
Investigate the erosion in the turbine at various operating conditions and comparison with actual turbine erosion.

Research Work:
The issue of sedimentation is a global concern that manifests in rivers across diverse regions, notably in the Himalayan region of China, Asia, and the Andes in South America. The Himalayan Mountain range in Nepal, endowed with abundant water resources from its snow-clad peaks and glaciers, holds considerable
hydropower potential. However, hydropower plants relying on river flow encounter a formidable challenge in the form of sediment erosion, a phenomenon that significantly hampers the efficient utilization of hydropower. In the Himalayan region, rivers predominantly carry hard particles, which, in turn, inflict wear and damage upon turbine components, leading to diminished turbine efficiency and a
curtailed lifespan. The erosion process in turbines is intricate and influenced by various factors, including the characteristics of sediment particles (such as their shape, size, and hardness), particle concentration, particle velocity, and collision angles with surfaces. Erosion models play a pivotal role in turbine component design, sediment settling basin planning, and the optimization of hydropower plant operations, particularly in rivers with a notable sand content. Typically, these models leverage the analysis of individual particle behavior to formulate effective erosion predictions. Several erosion models for hydraulic machinery have been developed based on empirical and statistical relationships derived from
experiments and field measurements. This research study is primarily focused on an in-depth examination and analysis of different erosion models as applied to Francis Turbines. Numerical simulations
are conducted using the OpenFOAM open-source computational fluid dynamics software. The open-source nature of OpenFOAM enables users to customize and modify the code to align with specific requirements. The investigation extends to assessing the turbine’s performance under various operational conditions, including part load, full load, and BEP conditions. Erosion patterns obtained from diverse
load conditions using different erosion models will be meticulously compared with actual turbine erosion. Furthermore, the numerical results will undergo validation against experimental data collected from tests conducted at the erosion test rig facility located in the Turbine Testing Lab at Kathmandu University. The
overarching goal of this comprehensive analysis is to discern the erosion model that most accurately mirrors the erosion patterns observed in Francis Turbines in real-world scenarios.
Supervisors from host and Partner Universities:
Kathmandu University Wuhan University
Bhola Thapa Zhongdong Qian
(Prof. Kathmandu University) (Prof. Wuhan University)
Sailesh Chitrakar Zhiwei Guo
(Asst. Prof. Kathmandu University) (Asso. Prof. Wuhan University)
Suprim Shrestha
Masters by Research
suprim78@gmail.com
Batch: 2021