3. (Problem 3.

9) A francis turbine model, in a test bench, gives, in optimum operating

efficiency conditions, the following results:

Hn = 6.5 m Q = 206.5 l/s N = 750 rpm Pr = 12 kW ηo = 0.98

a) Calculate the overall efficiency and dimensional specific speed (Camerer

number).
b) Under optimal conditions, calculate Q, N and Pr if we place the model in a net
head of 26.
c) If 8 is the number of poles of the prototype turbine generator and the available
net head is 65 m, calculate Pr, and the scale λ, to operate in homologous way to
the previous cases.

SOLUTION:

a) As it is said, the Francis turbine works in optimum operating efficiency

conditions, what is the same as saying that the Volumetric Efficiency (ηv) is 1.

Taking this into account, and knowing that the Volumetric Efficiency is:
QU
ηV =
QT
We can deduce that the useful flow rate has the same value that the total:
QU =QT =206.5 l/s=0.2065 m3 /s

Knowing that the mechanical efficiency is ηO =0.98 the only missing data for
obtaining the overall efficiency is the hydraulic efficiency, which could be obtained
with the following relationship:

HE
ηh =
Hn

In which Hn is already known and He can be found out with the following
relationship:

HR H 5.93
ηO = ; H E= R = =6.09 m
HE ηO 0.98

Once we have obtained the effective head, we can calculate the effective power
using the equation below:

Pe =ρ·g·Q· H e =103 · 9.8· 206.5 ·10−3 · 6.05=12243.385 W =12.24 kW

Finally, with the effective power, we are able to obtain the Camerer number (ns):

12243.38
n S=
N· √ Pe
5
=
750 ·
√ 736
5
=294.73 r . p . m.
4 4
Hn (6.5)
 b) As it is said that the turbine is working in optimum conditions in all the
headlands, we can use both the Camerer and the Brawer numbers in all
headlands.

With the Brawer number, we can find a relationship between the N and the Q:

N· √ Q 750 · √ 0.2065 N ' · √Q'

n S= 3
= 3
=83.72; 83.72= 3
4 4 4
Hn ( 6.5 ) 26

N ' · √ Q' =963.96

And now, once we have this relationship we can obtain both the Q and the N:
3
Q' Q Q' · √Q ' Q Q2 0.2065
= ; = ; =
N N 936.96 N 936.96 750
'

Q' =413l/ s
N ' =1500 r . p . m.

HE
ηH= ; H E =η H · H N =0.93 · 26=24.2 m
HN

HR
ηO = ; H R=ηO · H E=0.98· 24.2=23.72 m
HE

Pr =ρ·g·Q U · H r =1000 · 9.8· 0.413 · 23.72=96004.328 W =96 kW

c) As we are given the number of poles and the electric frequency in Europe is
50Hz, the rotational speed is:

60 ·50
N P= =375 r . p . m .
8

With the rotational speed we can obtain prototype real power with the following
relationship:
Pm Pp P P
5 3
= 5 3
; m3 = r p3
ρ· D · ( N m ) ρ· D · ( N p ) N m ( N p )

1200 · 375
Pr p = =600 W
750