Sediment erosion of Francis turbine runners in the Himalayan region of India

摘要

Hydropower is the major source of energy in the northern Himalayan belt of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, with an estimated potential of 20 000 MW. Because of the mountainous topology in the region, a large volume of sediment is present in the river water and sediment erosion of hydro turbines a challenging problem for hydro plants in the area. The erosion of the turbine components causes an increase in maintenance related issues, and also a reduction of power generation. This paper presents a detailed comparison of two sediment-laden rivers and the effect on the runners at their respective power stations.