Two different design methods and simulations of axial-flow hydraulic turbine runner

Abstract

This paper discusses the runner blade design of axial-flow hydraulic turbine type propeller using two different methods. The first method is considered with no-swirl flow at runner exit, while the second method with swirl flow at runner exit. The design results show that both methods produce the different stagger angle at each blade section of the runner blade. The numerical simulation was performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach to calculate the performance characteristic of the runner blade designs. Commercial software ANSYS CFX was used as CFD solver. From the operating simulation results in conditions, no-swirl flow assumption at runner exit achieved the greater power than the swirl flow assumption at runner exit. The maximum runner efficiency of swirl flow assumption at runner exit is higher than no-swirl flow assumption. However, it would be more beneficial for using the design condition that achieve the greater power in operating conditions. Thus, no-swirl flow at runner exit design assumption is recommended during the design phase of the runner blade of axial flow hydraulic turbine type propeller.