Unsteady operation of the Francis turbine

TL;DRAbstract

Increasing interconnection of individual power systems into major grids has imposed more stringent quality assurance requirements on the modelling of hydroelectric generating plant. This has provided the impetus for the present study in which existing industry models used to predict the transient behaviour of the Francis-turbine plants are reviewed. Quasi-steady flow models for single- and multiple-turbine plants developed in MATLAB Simulink are validated against field test results collected at Hydro Tasmania's Mackintosh and Trevallyn power stations. Nonlinear representation of the Francis-turbine characteristics, detailed calculation of the hydraulic model parameters, and inclusion of the hydraulic coupling effects for multiple-machine station are found to significantly improve the accuracy of predictions for transient operation. However, there remains a noticeable phase lag between measured and simulated power outputs that increases in magnitude with guide vane oscillation frequency

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