In this study, a comparison of two different Kaplan turbine runners with differently shaped turbine blades was performed. The two turbines differed in the selection of the hydrofoil, the main hydrofoil parameters of which had been modified including, the position of maximum thickness and curvature and the inlet edge radius. Both turbines (unmodified and modified hydrofoils) were tested on a rig designed for low pressure model turbine acceptance tests. The effect of blade shape on cavitation inception, development, and intensity was demonstrated using computer aided visualization. Visualization was performed on the suction side of Kaplan runner blade where the shape of the blade determines cavitation inception and development. The modified Kaplan turbine reduced the cavitation phenomena, and as a result, both turbine performance and output increased for the selected operating points. This demonstrates that choosing the right turbine blade shape is key for optimal turbine performance.
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July 2019
Research-Article
Experimental Analysis of Cavitation Phenomena on Kaplan Turbine Blades Using Flow Visualization
Andrej Podnar,
Andrej Podnar
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: andrej.podnar@gmail.com
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: andrej.podnar@gmail.com
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Matevž Dular,
Matevž Dular
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: matevz.dular@fs.uni-lj.si
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: matevz.dular@fs.uni-lj.si
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Brane Širok,
Brane Širok
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: brane.sirok@fs.uni-lj.si
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: brane.sirok@fs.uni-lj.si
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Marko Hočevar
Marko Hočevar
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: marko.hocevar@fs.uni-lj.si
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: marko.hocevar@fs.uni-lj.si
Search for other works by this author on:
Andrej Podnar
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: andrej.podnar@gmail.com
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: andrej.podnar@gmail.com
Matevž Dular
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: matevz.dular@fs.uni-lj.si
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: matevz.dular@fs.uni-lj.si
Brane Širok
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: brane.sirok@fs.uni-lj.si
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: brane.sirok@fs.uni-lj.si
Marko Hočevar
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: marko.hocevar@fs.uni-lj.si
University of Ljubljana,
Aškerčeva 6,
Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
e-mail: marko.hocevar@fs.uni-lj.si
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received October 11, 2017; final manuscript received October 23, 2018; published online January 7, 2019. Assoc. Editor: Satoshi Watanabe.
J. Fluids Eng. Jul 2019, 141(7): 071101 (13 pages)
Published Online: January 7, 2019
Article history
Received:
October 11, 2017
Revised:
October 23, 2018
Citation
Podnar, A., Dular, M., Širok, B., and Hočevar, M. (January 7, 2019). "Experimental Analysis of Cavitation Phenomena on Kaplan Turbine Blades Using Flow Visualization." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. July 2019; 141(7): 071101. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4041985
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