Hydro-abrasive erosion on coated Pelton runners: Partial calibration of the IEC model based on measurements in HPP Fieschertal

At medium- and high-head hydropower plants (HPPs) on sediment-laden rivers, hydro-abrasive erosion on hydraulic turbines is a major economic issue. For optimization of such HPPs, there is an interest in equations to predict erosion depths. Such a semi-empirical equation suitable for engineering prac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2016-11, Vol.49 (12), p.122009
Main Authors: Felix, D, Abgottspon, A, Albayrak, I, Boes, R M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abrasive erosion
Buckets
Calibration
Coatings
Empirical equations
Field investigations
Field tests
Hydraulic turbines
Hydroelectric plants
Hydroelectric power
Mathematical models
Optimization
Parameters
Research projects
Semiempirical equations
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Summary:At medium- and high-head hydropower plants (HPPs) on sediment-laden rivers, hydro-abrasive erosion on hydraulic turbines is a major economic issue. For optimization of such HPPs, there is an interest in equations to predict erosion depths. Such a semi-empirical equation suitable for engineering practice is proposed in the relevant guideline of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 62364). However, for Pelton turbines no numerical values of the model's calibration parameters have been available yet. In the scope of a research project at the high-head HPP Fieschertal, Switzerland, the particle load and the erosion on the buckets of two hard-coated 32 MW-Pelton runners have been measured since 2012. Based on three years of field data, the numerical values of a group of calibration parameters of the IEC erosion model were determined for five application cases: (i) reduction of splitter height, (ii) increase of splitter width and (iii) increase of cut-out depth due to erosion of mainly base material, as well as erosion of coating on (iv) the splitter crests and (v) inside the buckets. Further laboratory and field investigations are recommended to quantify the effects of individual parameters as well as to improve, generalize and validate erosion models for uncoated and coated Pelton turbines.
ISSN:1755-1307
1755-1315
DOI:10.1088/1755-1315/49/12/122009