A Numerical Study on the Effect of Inlet Guide Vane Angle on the Performance of Francis Hydraulic Turbine

The objective of this study is an understanding of the effect of inlet flow angle on the output power performance of a Francis hydraulic turbine, An optimum induced angle at the inlet of the turbine is one of the most important design parameters to have the best performance of the turbine at a given operating condition, In general. rotating speed of the turbine is varied with the change of water mass flowrate in a volute, The induced angle of the inlet water should be properly adjusted to the operating condition to have maximum energy conversion efficiency of the turbine, In this study. a numerical simulation was conducted to have detail understanding of the flow phenomenon in the flow path and output power of the model Francis turbine. The indicated power produced by the model turbine at a given operating condition was found numerically and compared to the brake power of the turbine measured by experiment at KIER. From comparison of two results, turbine efficiency or energy conversion efficiency of the model turbine was estimated. From the study, it was found that the rotating power of the turbine linearly increased with the rotating speed. It means that the higher volume flow rate supplied. the bigger torque on the turbine shaft generated. The maximum brake efficiency of the turbine is around 46$\%$ at 35 degree of induced angle. The difference between numerical and experimental output of the model turbine is defined as mechanical efficiency. The maximum mechanical efficiency of the turbine is around 93$\%$ at 25$\∼$30 degree of induced angle.