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A study of swirl flow in draft tubes

Abstract

This thesis presents measurements performed inside conical diffuser and bend, draft tubes of model hydro turbines, and draft tube of a prototype hydro turbine. Experimental results for swirling flow in conical diffuser and bend are presented in three different geometries. The axial velocity decreases at the centre of the tube at high swirl numbers because of an axial pressure gradient set up by the downstream frictional damping of the tangential velocities and the pressure increase downstream of the diffuser. Analytical models of the tangential velocity profiles are found and the radial pressure distribution calculated. Good correlation to the measured pressure distribution was achieved. Diffuser efficiency was calculated based on the equations for velocity and pressure profiles, which gave a qualified estimate of the diffuser hydraulic performance. The calculation shows that the bend reduces the efficiency by more than 30%. For a straight tube followed by a diffuser, numerical calculations were done, using K{epsilon}, RNG and RSM turbulence models for all measured swirl numbers. The K{epsilon} model gave best results for the forced vortex profile at low swirl numbers, while the RSM model gave best results at high swirl number. The turbulent kinetic energy at high swirl numbers gave the largest  More>>
Publication Date:
Dec 31, 1997
Product Type:
Thesis/Dissertation
Report Number:
NEI-NO-969
Reference Number:
SCA: 130700; PA: NW-98:005462; EDB-99:028879; SN: 98002040306
Resource Relation:
Other Information: TH: Thesis (Dr.ing.); PBD: 1997
Subject:
13 HYDRO ENERGY; TURBINES; MACHINE PARTS; HYDRAULIC TURBINES; VORTEX FLOW; DESIGN; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
OSTI ID:
316586
Research Organizations:
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige univ., Trondheim (Norway)
Country of Origin:
Norway
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE99717709; ISBN 82-471-0169-6; TRN: NO9805462
Availability:
OSTI as DE99717709
Submitting Site:
NW
Size:
121 p.
Announcement Date:
Mar 16, 1999

Citation Formats

Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar. A study of swirl flow in draft tubes. Norway: N. p., 1997. Web.
Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar. A study of swirl flow in draft tubes. Norway.
Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar. 1997. "A study of swirl flow in draft tubes." Norway.
@misc{etde_316586,
title = {A study of swirl flow in draft tubes}
author = {Dahlhaug, Ole Gunnar}
abstractNote = {This thesis presents measurements performed inside conical diffuser and bend, draft tubes of model hydro turbines, and draft tube of a prototype hydro turbine. Experimental results for swirling flow in conical diffuser and bend are presented in three different geometries. The axial velocity decreases at the centre of the tube at high swirl numbers because of an axial pressure gradient set up by the downstream frictional damping of the tangential velocities and the pressure increase downstream of the diffuser. Analytical models of the tangential velocity profiles are found and the radial pressure distribution calculated. Good correlation to the measured pressure distribution was achieved. Diffuser efficiency was calculated based on the equations for velocity and pressure profiles, which gave a qualified estimate of the diffuser hydraulic performance. The calculation shows that the bend reduces the efficiency by more than 30%. For a straight tube followed by a diffuser, numerical calculations were done, using K{epsilon}, RNG and RSM turbulence models for all measured swirl numbers. The K{epsilon} model gave best results for the forced vortex profile at low swirl numbers, while the RSM model gave best results at high swirl number. The turbulent kinetic energy at high swirl numbers gave the largest difference between the calculated and the measured values. Measurements on draft tubes in model turbines show the importance of good draft tube design. Prototype measurements on a Francis turbine show how the outlet draft tube flow should be measured for prototype draft tube evaluation. 54 refs., 118 figs., 2 tabs.}
place = {Norway}
year = {1997}
month = {Dec}
}