Numerical study of the influence of blade inlet design parameters on the internal flow characteristics and energy performance of a Francis turbine

One of the challenges of hydraulic turbine design is the creation of a conveyor with high hydraulic performance in accordance with the parameters of the hydraulic energy. The blade inlet parameters, such as blade beta angle, lean angle, and ellipse axis ratio, have an effect on the performance and cavitation characteristics of the runner, among the numerous geometric elements that regulate turbine performance. All of these parameters must be optimized to ensure that the runner inlet is matched to the guide vane under design conditions and a wider range of off-design conditions. For hydraulic designers, computational fluid dynamics based performance prediction methods can provide rapid turbine performance predictions and expedite runner development. Finding a collection of accessible parameters, meanwhile, strongly depends on the designer’s previous design work, which is frequently time-consuming. In this article, the internal flow characteristics and energy performance of a Francis turbine with moderate specific-speed, as well as the blade leading edge geometrical parameters that influence them, are investigated in depth. The Francis turbine is designed in accordance with the rated head H (m), rated flow rate Q (m), and rated speed n (rpm) within the constraints of the fixed meridional projection, including the leading-edge and trailing-edge positions. The energy performance, internal flow characteristics, velocity profile, flow angles, pressure distribution, blade loading, and cavitation characteristics are computed, analyzed, and compared. The main findings can serve as a guide for the development of Francis turbines with moderate specific-speed.