Francis Turbines

Noelle Fillo, Kimberly Fridsma, Callen

Hecker
 History

● Developed by James B. Francis in

Lowell, Massachusetts
○ Founded ASCE
○ Locks and Canals company
○ 1848
● The first Francis turbine was
housed in the Pawtucket
Gatehouse in Lowell, MA.
● He based his designs off of other
turbines that were designed around
that time. Pawtucket Gatehouse
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/22/1/012020/pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_turbine
 History

● Design based off of Benoit Foureyron’s outward-

flow turbine and Jean-Victor Poncelet’s inward-
flow turbine.
● Can be used in a variety of hydraulic heads and
flow levels
● Francis Turbines are a reaction turbine
● First hydraulic turbine with radial inflow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_turbine, http://turbinegenerator.org/hydro/hydropower-types/francis-turbine,
http://www.brighthubengineering.com/fluid-mechanics-hydraulics/27407-hydraulic-turbines-francis-turbine/,
History

● Many different design changes

over the years from 1848 to
1920.
○ First stock turbine
○ Newer designs included
adjustable guide vanes

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/22/1/012020/pdf
Elevation and Plan View of a Francis turbine

http://hopshop.net/tours/electric-
utility/images/francis-turbine.jpg
http://www.bflhydro.com/img/img-modal-francis.jpg
The Physics of a Francis Turbine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BCiFeykRzo
Physics Cont.

● Water flows through spiral

casing, runners, guide
vanes and exits out turbine
eye
● Pressure differences
caused by blade shape
allow for rotation and
draws water towards
center
● Guide vane angles are
manipulated to optimize
flow
CFD images showing high velocities near
eye and blade edges

http://www.cfdsupport.com/water-turbine-cfd- http://www.e3k.com/images/CFDfrancis02.png
manual/francis-turbine-cfd-openfoam-rotor-
results-velocity-1.png
Preventing Cavitation

● Pressure differences caused by flow create

vortices that damage surfaces
● Indicated by a popping noise
● Static pressure must not go below vapor
pressure
● Flow separation at turbine exit must be
avoided to avoid draft tube damage
● Must control for:
○ Pressure head
○ Flow rate
○ Exit Pressure
Advantages of Francis Turbines

● Francis turbines work best for medium to

high range heads
● Easily controlled operating head
● Francis turbines operate over the largest
range for both flow and head parameters
● Large range in size to meet different
power requirements
○ Range from 0.25 MW to 1000 MW
● High efficiency
○ Generally around 94%
Operative ranges of different turbines

http://www.gunt.
de/networks/gunt/sites/s1/mmcontent/produktbilder/07036531/Datenblatt/07036531%202.
pdf
Advantages

● Francis turbines are mixed flow designs

● Francis turbines have the highest
maximum power for turbines
● Francis vs. Pelton
○ Smaller and more economical than a
Pelton wheel capable of the same
power generation
○ More resistant to wear than the
Pelton wheel
○ Francis turbines have higher levels
http://www.gunt.
of efficiency de/networks/gunt/sites/s1/mmcontent/produktbilder/07036531/Datenblatt/07036531%202.
pdf
Disadvantages

● Unclean water can cause rapid wear in

Francis turbines
● Cavitation is always a possibility Effects of cavitation on runner
http://authors.library.caltech.edu/25019/1/chap6.htm
○ Runner erosion
○ Losses in efficiency
● Difficult to maintain and clean
● Low acceptance of head variation
● Constant adjustment of guide vanes and
runners
● Francis turbines are generally limited to
large hydroelectric systems

Possible cavitation areas on the runner

http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:741702/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Disadvantages

● Francis turbine efficiency significantly

decreases with turbine flow rates below
40%
○ Decreased flow also greatly increases
cavitation risk
● Water hammer effect can cause harmful http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_transmission/index.htm

effects
○ Occurs when runners are forced from high
speed to stopping
○ Build up of overpressures can cause
catastrophic results

http://www.plumbingmart.com/water-hammer-information.html
Calculations/Relevant Equations

● Blade Velocity ● Specific Speed

● Guide vane angle

● Power Generated
Example

A Francis turbine is to be operated at a speed of 600 rpm and with a discharge of

4.0 m3/s. If r1 = 0.60 m, β1 = 110⁰, and the blade height B is 10 cm, what should
be the guide vane angle α1 for a nonseparating flow condition at the runner
entrance?
Case Study I- Itaipu Dam in Brazil/Paraguay

● Located on the Parana River between

Brazil and Paraguay
● One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern
World
● Second largest hydroelectric power plant
● 87.8 TWh generated in 2014
● 118m of hydraulic head
● 20 Francis turbines
○ 700 MW each
○ 16 m diameter
● Average reservoir capacity
○ 19x109 m3

http://www.solar.coppe.ufrj.br/itaipu.html
 Case Study II- Guri Hydroelectric Power
Plant in Orinoco, Venezuela

● On the Caroni River in Necuima

Canyon in Orioco, Venezuela
● Installed capacity of 10,200 MW
and provides 12,900 GW/h to the
country
● Ten 730MW Francis Turbines
● Third largest power plant in the
world

http://www.power-technology.com/projects/gurihydroelectric/, http://www.industcards.com/hydro-venezuela.htm,
Case Study III- Vertical Twin Turbines in
Australian Irrigation Dams

● Used in Wyangala, Copeton and

Burrendong irrigation dams
● Smaller turbines, but useful for
privately developed hydro schemes
● Desirable when head is too high for
a Kaplan turbine
● Ideal when:
○ 13 MW
○ 45 m head
● High efficiency and low prices
http://www.bryanleyland.co.
nz/uploads/2/9/7/1/29710909/twinfrancisturbines
.pdf
Fish-Friendly Francis Turbine Design

● Do not allow cavitation to occur

● Direct migratory fish away from
turbines
● Low number of blades with thick
edges
● Wide wicket gate-runner gaps,
● Wicket gates aligned with stay vanes
● Smooth surfaces provided
● Use advanced control system and
monitor speeds
● Minimize pressure changes
experienced by fish
http://www1.eere.energy. http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.
gov/wind/pdfs/doewater-13741. gov/images/hydropower/newandoldturbinedesign_102313.gif
pdf
Conclusions

● Francis turbines are one of the

most widely used turbines of our
time
● Extremely high efficiency at
specific flows
● Come in many sizes and are very
versatile
● Large range of power outputs
● Wanted when dealing with
relatively medium head and high
flows
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0-sfeSq1IWs/maxresdefault.jpg