Effect of temperature, suction head and flow velocity on cavitation in a Francis turbine of small hydro power plant

Under the present study, an attempt has been made to carry out a numerical analysis to investigate the effect of temperature, suction head and flow velocity on cavitation in a Francis turbine by using CFX code. The experimental investigation has been carried out to validate the numerical method by visualization technique. Using numerical data obtained during analysis for different considered parameters, correlations are developed for efficiency loss and cavitation rate in Francis turbine as a function of these parameters i.e., temperature, suction head and flow velocity.