Vibration Characteristics of a Tubular Turbine Prototype at Different Heads with Considering Free Surface and Water Gravity

Abstract

Tubular turbines are widely used in low water head and tidal power development due to their straight flow path, simple structure, and wide efficient area. However, the severe vibration during actual operation greatly affects the safe operation of the tubular turbine. This study performs a numerical calculation of the tubular turbine, which meets the actual machine conditions considering the free surface and water gravity; compares and analyzes the flow characteristics and pressure fluctuation spectrum characteristics in the tubular turbine under different water heads; and verifies the comparison with the actual machine test results to explore the vibration characteristics and vibration mechanism of the tubular turbine. Research results show that a large pressure difference is observed between the top and bottom of the runner chamber, and the runner needs to experience large periodic pressure fluctuations during rotation due to the combined effect of hydrostatic pressure and hydrodynamic pressure. Under different water heads, obvious flow turbulence and high turbulent kinetic energy areas are observed in the runner and draft tube due to the influence of the shape of the blade wake vortex. The vibration in the tubular turbine is mainly concentrated in the runner and draft tube and influenced by the water gravity and the runner structure of the transverse cantilever beam. The amplitude of pressure fluctuation is the largest when the frequency inside the runner is the blade passing frequency at each water head, so the maximum vibration position is located at the runner. The research results serve as a guide for the design and operation of the horizontal tubular turbine.