Experimental Investigation of Fluid-added Parameters on a Kaplan Runner

In order to reach climate and environmental goals, Sweden is increasing the implementation of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power to the electricity grid. The increase of intermittent energy sources is rising power regulation requirement towards hydropower, which increasingly exposes the hydraulic turbines to high loads and fluctuating hydraulic forces. These conditions affect the turbine’s structural and rotor dynamic behavior, leading to fatigue in turbine components. Identifying the parameters that affect the dynamics of the water turbine is an essential part of analyzing and, if possible, avoiding these situations. Furthermore, accurate rotor dynamic models are necessary to design for a robust hydropower unit and improve the estimate of wear on turbine components. Added parameters (added mass, polar moment of inertia, and damping) are hydrodynamic effects occurring due to interaction between structural vibrations and surrounding fluid. Added parameters can modify the turbine’s natural frequencies and consequently its dynamic behavior. Therefore, it is of interest to study and quantify the impact of these parameters on the turbine for accurate rotor dynamic modeling and turbine design. The added parameters have been investigated by conducting experiments on a model Kaplan runner, for which the project has been divided into two consecutive parts. First, experiments were performed in a test rig, in which the runner was excited in a lateral movement to determine added mass and linear damping. Secondly, experiments were performed in a test rig similar to the first, except the runner was excited in a torsional movement to determine added polar moment of inertia and torsional damping. Force and displacement have been measured during both movements, with the runner placed in air and thereafter in quiescent water. The added parameters were quantified by comparing measurements conducted with the runner in air against those conducted in water. By varying the excitation frequency and amplitude, added parameters have been analyzed against excitation frequency, velocity, and acceleration to determine dependent variables. The dimensionless added mass ratio, γma, was investigated within a range of acceleration of 0.07m/s2 to 5.00 m/s2 and in an excitation frequency of 2-9 Hz. Results exhibited a frequency-dependent added mass ratio, leading to a mass addition variation of 1.00-1.49 times the test rig mass with a mean γma of 1.22. Similarly, the dimensionless added polar moment of inertia, γIp, was investigated within a range of angular acceleration between 2.4 rad/s2 to 29.6 rad/s2 and in an excitation frequency range of 2-10 Hz. The mean added polar inertia ratio, γIp, was obtained as 1.09 times the polar moment of inertia of the test rig, corresponding to an increase in polar inertia of about 9%, compared to the total dry polar inertia of the test rig. Results showed that the added polar inertia ratio varied by approximately 1.8% within the studied frequency range. Thus, no frequency dependence could be determined. Due to measurement uncertainties and limitations of the test rigs, added linear damping and torsional damping could not be determined in either of the existing test rigs (lateral and torsional movement)