The analysis of unsteady flow structure and low frequency pressure pulsations in the high-head Francis turbines

The paper presents results of numerical simulation of unsteady three-dimensional flow in the two high-head hydraulic turbines. The numerical technique for calculating of low-frequency pressure pulsations in a hydraulic turbine is based on the DES turbulence model and the approach of rotated reference frame. The paper also presents the analysis of the flow structure behind the runner of the turbines, as well as shows the effect of the flow structure on the frequency and intensity of non-stationary processes in the turbines. Besides, the behavior of the pulsations in the hydraulic turbines was defined. Comparison of the calculation results with the experimental data has shown close agreement between theory and experiment.