The particle induced energy loss mechanism of Pelton turbine

As hydraulic resource is widely developed in high mountainous area, design and optimization of Pelton turbine have attracted more and more academic attention especially in ultra-high hydraulic head condition. Computed Fluid Dynamics (CFD), as an effective tool to simulate flow in Pelton turbine has been proved to be practical and used widely. Mechanism of the energy loss produced by erosion is investigated through numerical simulation. Simulation is then confirmed by is then by comparing with the experimental results in clean water flow condition. Through CFD, under Eulerian-Eulerian methodology, three-phase erosion flow is then calculated and complex flow in runner region are analysed. Comparing with clean water condition, the hydraulic efficiency of the turbine decreases in erosion condition, the particle mixed in the flow will disturb the water distribution on the working side of the bucket. Finally, the torque produced by water and particle are then distinguished quantitatively. As the erosion phenomenon exists which confirmed by the experiment in the literature, the particle disturbs the water distribution and then decreases the total torque and definitely decreases the hydraulic efficiency around 9%. It reveals that the energy loss caused by the erosion phenomenon plays an important role in power plant.