Predicting cavitation in Francis turbines on the basis of scale model testing

摘要

The present paper describes an ambitious research project being conducted jointly be EDF, HQ and EPFL, with the aim of developing a method suitable for industrial use for predicting cavitation in Francis turbines on the basis of scale model testing. Results concerning the notion of erosion aggressiveness, methods to measure it (accelerometer, pressure fluctuations and pitting measurements), the correlation between measurements on models and erosion on prototypes, and validation testing done on a actual machine and its model are presented. (authors). 12 refs., 10 figs.