Research on Unsteady Hydraulic Features of a Francis Turbine and a Novel Method for Identifying Pressure Pulsation Transmission Path

Abstract

It is of significant value to understand the unsteady hydraulic features and pressure pulsation transmission path in the flow channel through a turbine for providing technical support for turbine design and optimization, as well as laying a foundation for analysis of the stability and the coupled vibration of the hydropower house. In this paper, a three-dimensional mechanics–hydraulics–concrete structure coupled numerical model was established to accurately simulate Francis hydraulic machinery, including the high-rotating turbine runner and fixed guide vane, the unsteady flowing water, the structure of the entire flow channel, as well as the dynamic interaction between them. Turbulent hydraulic features of flow condition and pressure pulsation in design operation were explored using the detached eddy simulation (DES) turbulence model. Then, a novel method was proposed to identify the fluid pressure pulsation transmission path based on the time-delayed transfer entropy method and wavelet theory. On basis of time and frequency analysis of pressure calculation results, investigation into identification of pressure pulsation transmission path was performed using the method of traditional transfer entropy and the method adopted in this paper. The pressure pulsation transmission features in the entire flow channel were revealed during operation of the large-scale Francis turbine. The research method and results could not only lay a basis for exploring the structural vibration regularity of the hydropower house but also provide a scientific reference for vibration reduction design of the hydropower house.