Evolution of discharge and runner rotation speed along no-load curves of Francis turbines

In hydraulic turbines, no-load operation is among the most damaging conditions since unextracted swirl leads to the creation of highly energetic flow structures causing high pressure and strain fluctuations on the turbine components. To date, experimental and numerical studies typically focus on flow characteristics for a specific no-load condition of a specific turbine. However, for a given turbine, a unique no-load condition exists for every single guide vane opening, forming what is called a no-load curve. Few studies describe the evolution of engineering quantities such as discharge and speed along the no-load curve even if those quantities may highlight trends in no-load behavior that can be used to tailor numerical simulations according to specific flow conditions. This paper presents results from a project underway at Andritz Hydro Canada Inc., in collaboration with Université Laval, to analyze the extensive database of experimental no-load tests performed at model scale in order to identify the evolution of discharge and runner rotation speed following the guide vane opening.