Numerical Simulation of Cavitating Flow in a Francis Turbine

The 3-D unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-tokes equations based on the pseudo-homogeneous flow theory and a vapor fraction transport-equation that accounts for non-condensable gas are solved to simulate cavitating flow in a Francis turbine. The calculation results agreed with experiment data reasonably. With the decrease of the Thoma number, the cavity first appears near the centre of the hub. At this stage the flow rate and the efficiency change little. Then the cavity near the centre of the hub grows thick and the cavities also appear on the blade suction side near outlet. With further reduce of the Thoma number the cavitation extends to the whole flow path, which causes flow rate and efficiency decrease rapidly.Copyright © 2008 by ASME