An Innovative Showcase of Similarity Methods for Accelerated Turbine Design Processes and Cost-Effective Solutions

Abstract

This study aims to design a containerized Francis-type turbine for installation on drinking water pipelines equipped with pressure-reducing equipment, enabling energy recovery from untapped hydraulic resources. The turbine, designed to operate unmanned and housed within a container, represents an innovative approach to harnessing residual energy in drinking water pipelines. The research methodology leverages similarity laws derived from a previously developed high-efficiency turbine facility as a foundation for the preliminary design. This approach diverges from conventional turbine design methods, offering significant time and cost efficiencies. It should be noted that similarity laws were used only for the preliminary dimensioning of the scale turbine. Following this initial design, design optimizations were carried out based on CFD, focusing on components such as the runner, to enhance performance and achieve the required power output without cavitation at the specified flow rate and head. The results demonstrate that the application of similarity laws expedites the design process while maintaining high efficiency, effectively addressing the unique constraints of the operational environment. Additionally, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and limitations of employing similarity in turbine design. In conclusion, this research not only exemplifies a novel turbine design methodology that ensures operational similarity but also serves as a practical guide for reducing costs and design timelines in small hydropower applications.This now clearly states that similarity was used for the preliminary dimensioning, followed by optimization based on CFD.