Journal of Hydraulic Research

ISSN: 0022-1686 (Print) 1814-2079 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjhr20

New insight in Francis turbine cavitation vortex

rope: role of the runner outlet flow swirl number

Arthur Favrel, Joao Gomes Pereira Junior, Christian Landry, Andres Müller,
Christophe Nicolet & François Avellan

To cite this article: Arthur Favrel, Joao Gomes Pereira Junior, Christian Landry, Andres
Müller, Christophe Nicolet & François Avellan (2017): New insight in Francis turbine cavitation
vortex rope: role of the runner outlet flow swirl number, Journal of Hydraulic Research, DOI:
10.1080/00221686.2017.1356758

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2017.1356758

Published online: 15 Sep 2017.

Submit your article to this journal

Article views: 27

View related articles

View Crossmark data

Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tjhr20

Download by: [University of Sussex Library] Date: 21 September 2017, At: 06:04
 Journal of Hydraulic Research, 2017
https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2017.1356758
© 2017 International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research

Research paper

New insight in Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope: role of the runner outlet flow
swirl number
ARTHUR FAVREL, Research associate, Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,
Lausanne, Switzerland
Email: arthur.favrel@epfl.ch (author for correspondence)
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

JOAO GOMES PEREIRA JUNIOR, Doctoral student, Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines, École Polytechnique Fédérale de
Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Email: joao.gomes@epfl.ch

CHRISTIAN LANDRY, Project Engineer, Power Vision Engineering Sàrl, Ecublens, Switzerland
Email: christian.landry@powervision-eng.ch

ANDRES MÜLLER, Research associate, Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,
Lausanne, Switzerland
Email: andres.mueller@epfl.ch

CHRISTOPHE NICOLET (IAHR Member), Managing Director, Power Vision Engineering Sàrl, Ecublens, Switzerland
Email: christophe.nicolet@powervision-eng.ch

FRANÇOIS AVELLAN (IAHR Member), Professor, Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines, École Polytechnique Fédérale de
Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Email: francois.avellan@epfl.ch

ABSTRACT
At part load operation, Francis turbines experience the development of a cavitation vortex rope in the draft tube, whose precession acts as a pressure
excitation source. In case of resonance, the resulting pressure pulsations lead to unacceptable torque and power fluctuations on the prototype machine,
putting at risk the system stability. However, the accurate prediction of resonance conditions at the prototype scale remains challenging since it
requires a proper hydro-acoustic modelling of the draft tube cavitation flow. Furthermore, both the head and discharge values have an impact on the
precession frequency of the vortex and the natural frequency of the system. The present paper demonstrates for the first time that the influence of
both parameters on the frequencies of interest can be represented by a single parameter, the swirl number. Its analytical expression is derived as a
function of the operating parameters of the machine. It is used to establish empirical laws enabling the determination of both frequencies and finally
the operating parameters in resonance conditions on the complete part load operating range at the model scale. The methodology presented in this
paper represents a decisive step towards the prediction of resonances on the complete part load operating range of the prototype.

Keywords: Cavitation; Francis turbine; hydro-acoustic resonance; part load; swirl number; vortex rope

1 Introduction hydropower plants plays a crucial role in this context by ensur-

The massive penetration of the electrical power network by
new and renewable energy sources (NRE), such as wind and
solar, compromises the grid stability because of their intermit-
tent and stochastic nature. The flexible operation capability of
ing primary and secondary grid control and the balance between
electrical energy production and consumption. This however
requires operation of the generating units in off-design con-
ditions, from low load to full load conditions, to adjust their
output power. Such operating conditions are characterized by

Received 20 December 2016; accepted 6 July 2017/Currently open for discussion.

ISSN 0022-1686 print/ISSN 1814-2079 online

http://www.tandfonline.com
1
 2 A. Favrel et al.
the development of unfavourable flow patterns involving cavi-
tation and pressure fluctuations, which can lead to output power
swings (Rheingans, 1940). The resulting mechanical vibrations
can also reduce the life expectancy of the machine (Lowys,
Andre, Ferreira da Silva, Duarte, & Payre, 2014).
In the case of Francis turbines operating at part load condi-
tions, i.e. with a discharge lower than the value corresponding to
the best efficiency point (BEP), a cavitation vortex rope devel-
ops at the runner outlet in the draft tube. It rotates around the
cone centreline with a precession frequency of between 0.2 and
0.4 times the runner frequency (Arpe, Nicolet, & Avellan, 2009;
Nishi, Matsunaga, & Kubota, 1984; Fig. 1). The periodical pre-
cession of this vortex in the elbow of the draft tube acts as a
pressure excitation source for the hydraulic circuit, leading to
the propagation of pressure pulsations at the same frequency. In
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017
the draft tube, the pressure fluctuations induced by the vortex
precession can be decomposed into two different contributions
(Duparchy, Guillozet, De Colombel, & Bornard, 2014; Nishi
et al., 1984). The convective component, i.e. asynchronous, is
a local pressure fluctuation observed only in the draft tube and
corresponds to the rotation of the pressure field with the vortex
core precession. A second one, called synchronous component,
has equal phase and amplitude in a given horizontal cross-
section of the cone and propagates through the entire hydraulic
circuit, including the upstream pipes of the machine. It is iden-
tified as the response of the hydraulic circuit to the pressure
excitation source (Dörfler, 1982).
The presence of cavitation within the vortex core strongly
decreases the wave speed in the draft tube and therefore the
eigenfrequencies of the hydraulic system (Jacob, 1993; Landry,
Favrel, Müller, Nicolet, & Avellan, 2016). In case of reso-
nance, pressure fluctuations are dramatically amplified, leading
to pressure and output power surges (Favrel, Landry, Müller,
Yamamoto, & Avellan, 2014; Fritsch & Maria, 1988) which
can put at risk the stability of the hydro-mechanical system
(a) (b) (c)
(d) (e) (f)
Figure 1 Visualizations of the vortex rope in the draft tube cone over
one precession cycle from t = 0 (a) to t = TPVC (f) for a speed factor
equal to the value at the BEP and a discharge factor equal to 64% of
the value at the BEP
Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)
and of the electrical transmission system in the worst case. As
the extension of hydropower plants operating range is increas-
ingly required in the current energetic context, the accurate
assessment of their stability and the prediction of resonance
conditions at the prototype scale is crucial. Experimental tests
are commonly performed on reduced scale physical models,
enabling the prediction of the hydraulic behaviour of the pro-
totype machine in terms of efficiency and cavitation with a good
confidence level. However, although both geometric homology
and kinematic similarity between model and prototype scales
are fulfilled according to IEC Standards (1999), the amplitude
of pressure fluctuations cannot be directly transposed from the
model to the prototype as the eigenfrequencies of the system
depend on both the cavitation volume and the characteristics
of the hydraulic circuit. To predict and simulate resonance
conditions, one-dimensional (1-D) hydro-acoustic models have
therefore been developed by Dörfler (1982), Couston and Philib-
ert (1998) and more recently Alligné, Nicolet, Tsujimoto, and
Avellan (2014). In these models, which also include the tur-
bine characteristic and the inertia and elasticity of the whole
piping system filled with water, the draft tube cavitation flow
is often modelled by a set of parameters representing the local
momentum excitation source and the additional compressibility
introduced by the presence of a cavitation volume, as the cav-
itation compliance (Brennen & Acosta, 1976). The equivalent
compliance of the draft tube, including the effect of the wall
elasticity and the compressibility of both the water and cavi-
tation volumes, is often reduced to the cavitation compliance,
since its order of magnitude is much higher than that of the
compliance of both the water volume and the wall in case of
development of a cavitation vortex rope (Landry et al., 2016).
These parameters have been recently identified by Yamamoto
et al. (2015) on a simplified test configuration by using the
transfer matrix method and by Landry et al. (2016) for the
same test case as presented in this paper. An external exci-
tation system was used to identify the first eigenfrequency
of the test rig. Other analytical and theoretical investigations
focused on the modelling of the swirling flow and the pre-
cessing vortex core in the draft tube (Kuibin, Susan-Resiga,
& Muntean, 2013; Susan-Resiga, Dan Ciocan, Anton, & Avel-
lan, 2006). In particular, Fanelli (1989) developed a theoret-
ical model of the pressure excitation source induced by the
vortex rope and highlighted excitation mechanisms involving
the presence of an elbow, which confirmed the experimental
observations made by Nishi, Matsunaga, Kubota, and Senoo
(1982).
Despite the numerous contributions dealing with the part
load issues (the reader can refer to Nishi & Liu, 2013 for a
partial review), the accurate prediction of hydro-acoustic res-
onances at the model and prototype scales remains challenging
(Alligné, Landry, Favrel, Nicolet, & Avellan, 2015). The draft
tube hydro-acoustic parameters and the vortex precession fre-
quency must be determined at the model scale and transposed
to the prototype scale for a large number of operating points
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017) Swirl number for Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope 3

to take into account the influence of both the head and dis- 2 Case study
charge values. The present paper aims at demonstrating that
the influence of these two parameters on the precession fre- 2.1 Reduced scale physical model
quency and the natural frequency of the hydraulic circuit can
The test case is a 1:16 reduced scale physical model of a Francis
be represented by a single parameter, the swirl number, whose
turbine featuring 16 blades and a specific speed of ν = 0.27.
analytical expression as a function of the operating parameters
The prototype generating unit is located in Canada and fea-
of the machine is developed. For this purpose, both frequen-
tures a rated output power of 444 MW. It experiences serious
cies are determined by pressure fluctuations measurements on
pressure surges at full load conditions and extensive experi-
a reduced scale physical model of a Francis turbine at sev-
mental investigations have been performed on the same test
eral operating points. Specifically, the discharge factor is varied
case at both part load and full load conditions (Favrel, Müller,
for different values of the speed factor and three values of the
Landry, Yamamoto, & Avellan, 2015; Müller, Dreyer, Andreini,
Thoma number corresponding to the range observed on the pro-
& Avellan, 2013; Müller, Favrel, Landry, & Avellan, 2017). The
totype. For each value of the speed factor, the influence of
reduced scale physical model is installed on the closed-loop test
the discharge factor on both the vortex precession frequency
rig of the EPFL Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines. The upper
and the system natural frequency is determined and the reso-
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

part of the hydraulic circuit is shown in Fig. 2, including the

nance conditions are investigated. An analytical expression of
reservoir, the draft tube, the spiral casing and the upstream pipe.
the swirl number characterizing the intensity of the swirling flow
The test rig features two axial double-volute pumps of 400 kW
at the runner outlet, which is the main parameter driving the
to generate the specified head by adjusting the pumps speed
precessing vortex rope dynamics (Cassidy & Falvey, 1970), is
while the discharge is adjusted by changing the opening angle
derived. It is finally used to establish empirical laws enabling
of the guide vanes. The turbine shaft is connected to a gener-
the determination of the precession frequency and the natu-
ator, which enables the control of the runner speed. The test
ral frequency on the complete part load operating range of the
rig allows for accurate performance tests of the reduced scale
model.
model of hydraulic machines within an accuracy better than
The test case is first presented in Section 2, as well as the dis-
0.3% according to IEC Standards (1999). The calibration of the
tinction between different draft tube flow regimes observed at
test rig instrumentation is performed according to IEC Standards
part load depending on the discharge value. The methodology,
(1999). The measurements of the flow discharge Q, the torque T
including the investigated operating points, the determination
applied to the shaft, the runner speed n and the specific hydraulic
of both precession and natural frequencies and the identifi-
energy at the turbine inlet gHI and at the draft tube outlet gHI
cation of resonance conditions, is described in Section 3. It
enable the determination of the turbine efficiency and the com-
also includes the derivation of an analytical expression of the
putation of the speed factor nED and the discharge factor QED
swirl number as a function of the discharge and speed fac-
corresponding to the tested operating points. These dimension-
tors. The results of the influence of the speed factor on the
less factors are defined according to IEC Standards (1999) as
flow transitions and the resonance conditions are presented in
follows:
Section 4. The empirical laws for the determination of both
the precession frequency and the system natural frequency are nD Q
nED = √ , QED = √ (1)
finally presented in Section 5, enabling the prediction of reso- E D2 E
nance conditions on the complete operating range at the model where D is the runner diameter and E = gHI − gHI is the spe-
scale. cific hydraulic energy of the turbine. The pressure level in the

Figure 2 Reduced scale physical model of a Francis turbine installed on EPFL test rig and cut-view of the cross-section of the draft tube cone
located 0.39 × D downstream the runner (section A-A), together with the location of the pressure sensors p 1 , p 2 , p 3 , p 4 (cone), p 5 and p 6 (upstream
pipe)
 4 A. Favrel et al.
draft tube can be modified by changing the pressure over the
free surface in the downstream reservoir with a vacuum pump.
The pressure level in the draft tube is defined by the Thoma
number σ = NPSH / H, where H is the net head of the turbine
and NPSH is the Net Positive Suction Head defined as follows:
pB̄ − pv C2
NPSH = − hs + Ī
gρ 2g
where pB is the pressure in the downstream reservoir above
the free surface level, pv is the vaporization pressure, hs is the
setting level of the machine with respect to the downstream
reservoir level and CI is the flow velocity at the draft tube outlet.
The draft tube cone is made of Plexiglass to visualize the
cavitation vortex rope. Wall flush-mounted piezo-resistive pres-
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017
sure transducers are placed in the model to measure the absolute
wall pressure. The location of the pressure sensors is given in
Fig. 2. A set of four pressure sensors regularly spaced by 90°
is placed in a horizontal cross-section of the draft tube cone
located 0.39 × D downstream of the runner outlet to enable
the decomposition of the pressure fluctuations into convec-
tive and synchronous components (Dörfler & Ruchonnet, 2012;
Duparchy et al., 2014). Two other pressure sensors, p 5 and p 6 ,
are installed in the upstream pipe of the machine to directly mea-
sure the synchronous pressure component and to evaluate the
hydro-acoustic response of the system to the pressure excitation
source.
(a)
Regime 3 Regime 2
0.4
0.35
fPVC / n (-)
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.5 0.6 0.7
* *
QED / QED (-)
Figure 3 Influence of the discharge factor on the precession frequency fPVC (a) and on the coherence of pressure fluctuations measured in the cone
at the locations p 1 and p 3 (b) – nED = 0.288, σ = σ rated = 0.11
(a)
Figure 4 Visualization of the cavitation vortex rope at QED /Q∗ED = 0.80 (a), QED /Q∗ED = 0.64 (b) and QED /Q∗ED = 0.55 (c) with nED = 0.288
and σ = σ rated = 0.11
Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)
2.2 Flow regimes in cavitation conditions
For a given value of the speed factor nED , decreasing the dis-
charge factor QED affects the precession frequency of the vortex
rope, as well as the amplitude of the pressure fluctuations. For
the same test case, Favrel et al. (2015) highlighted flow regimes
in cavitation-free conditions depending on the value of the dis-
(2) charge factor, as well as a transition in the flow structure beyond
a certain value of QED , which is characterized by a loss of
coherence and periodicity in the vortex dynamics. In cavita-
tion conditions, similar flow regimes are highlighted as shown
in Fig. 3, which includes the influence of the discharge factor on
the precession frequency and the value of the coherence func-
tion at this frequency between pressure signals measured at the
locations p 1 and p 3 . The coherence function Cxy is computed by
using the auto-spectral and cross-spectral density functions of
the corresponding pressure signals estimated with the Welch’s
procedure (Bendat & Piersol, 2011). For this example, the speed
factor is set at the value at the BEP, i.e. nED = 0.288, and the
Thoma number is equal to the prototype value σ rated = 0.11.
The discharge factor is normalized by the value at the BEP, i.e.
Q∗ED = 0.20. Visualizations of the cavitation vortex rope are also
given in Fig. 4 for three different values of the discharge factor
corresponding to the different flow regimes.
Within the first regime, for high values of the discharge
factor, the cavitation vortex rope is not yet completely devel-
oped and its precession motion is quasi-axial in the upper part
(b)
Regime 1 Regime 3 Regime 2 Regime 1
1
0.9
Cxy( fPVC ) (-)
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.8 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
QED / QED (-)
(b) (c)
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017) Swirl number for Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope 5

of the draft tube cone. The precession frequency is almost Moreover, the measurements are repeated for three values of
constant when the discharge is decreased (Fig. 3a), while the the Thoma number σ corresponding to the minimum, aver-
coherence between the pressure fluctuations increases (Fig. 3b). age and maximum NPSH values on the prototype, respectively.
Within flow regime 2, for values of discharge factor between The parameters of the investigated operating conditions are
QED /Q∗ED = 0.78 and QED /Q∗ED = 0.58, the precession fre- summarized in Table 1 and a total of 200 configurations are
quency increases linearly when the discharge is decreased and tested.
the cavitation vortex is well developed, as illustrated in Fig. 4b. The discharge factor is modified by steps of QED = 0.005,
Below the value QED /Q∗ED = 0.58, the vortex rope precession which corresponds to a guide vanes opening angle step of
loses its periodicity and coherence, which is illustrated in Fig. 3b γ = 0.5°, approximately. The measurements are refined with
by the sudden drop in the value of the coherence function. It steps of QED = 0.0025, i.e. γ = 0.25°, around the reso-
is also confirmed by the visualization of the cavitation vortex nance conditions and the transitions between the flow regimes
given in Fig. 4c: the cavitation volume within the vortex core is to capture them accurately.
not well defined and fluctuates in an incoherent manner. Favrel
et al. (2015) showed that this flow regime is also character-
ized by a sudden drop in the intensity of the pressure excitation 3.2 Experimental investigation of resonance conditions
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

source induced by the vortex precession.

3 Methodology
3.1 Operating conditions
To cover the head variations on the prototype over one year,
pressure measurements are performed for four different val-
ues of the speed factor, from nED = 0.268 to nED = 0.300. The
speed factor is modified by changing the runner speed whereas
the turbine head value is kept constant to minimize the influ-
ence of the Froude number, as a change in its value can affect
the pressure gradient along the draft tube and therefore the
shape of the cavitation vortex rope (Franc et al., 1995). For
each value of the speed factor nED , a wide range of discharge
values is surveyed, from the first value for which pressure fluc-
tuations are observed to a value corresponding to flow regime 3.
An example of cross-spectral analysis between two pressure
signals measured in the same cross-section of the cone is pre-
sented in Fig. 5. It includes the coherence function (Fig. 5a), the
amplitude of the cross-spectrum (Fig. 5b) and the corresponding
phase (Fig. 5c) plotted as a function of the frequency.
As shown in Fig. 5a, two frequencies with a coherence
level above 0.95 are noticed. The frequency fPVC corresponds
to the precession frequency of the vortex. A frequency f0 with
a high level of coherence is also noticed. In Fig. 5b, a sharp
peak is observed at the frequency fPVC , which results from the
high-periodicity of the pressure fluctuations at this frequency.
Conversely, a wide-band peak is observed at the frequency f0 ,
which unveils a stochastic component in the pressure fluctua-
tions at this frequency. As illustrated in Fig. 5c, the phase shift
at f0 equal to 0 reveals the synchronous nature of the pressure
fluctuations at this frequency, which is identified as the first nat-
ural frequency of the hydraulic system (Favrel, Müller, Landry,

Table 1 Investigated operating points

nED (–) n (Hz) H (m) QED (–) QED /Q∗ED (–) σ rated (–) σ min (–) σ max (–)

0.268 12.40 26.7 0.16 → 0.08 0.80 → 0.40 0.095 0.083 0.111
0.277 12.82 0.16 → 0.08 0.80 → 0.40 0.102 0.088 0.119
0.288 13.33 0.18 → 0.10 0.90 → 0.50 0.110 0.095 0.128
0.300 13.88 0.18 → 0.10 0.90 → 0.50 0.119 0.103 0.139

(a) f0 fPVC (b) × 10−4 (c)

1 4

3 fPVC f0
|Gxy | (Hz -1)

0.9
(rad)
Cxy (-)

2 0
xy

0.8 f0
1 fPVC

0.7 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
f / n (-) f / n (-) f / n (-)
Figure 5 Coherence (a), amplitude (b) and phase (c) of the cross-spectrum between pressure signals measured in the cross-section of the cone
(positions p 2 and p 3 ) for the operating point nED = 0.288, QED = 0.13 and σ = σ rated = 0.11
 6 A. Favrel et al.
Yamamoto, & Avellan, 2016). It is therefore possible for this
particular test case to identify the natural frequency without
external excitation system, as it was used by Landry et al.
(2016). In the following, this feature will be exploited to deter-
mine the natural frequency of the system for all the investigated
operating points.
The influence of the discharge factor on both the preces-
sion frequency and the system natural frequency is presented
in Fig. 6 for a constant value of the speed factor, together with
the influence on the value of the auto-spectrum amplitude at
the frequencies fPVC and f0 measured at the location p 6 . The
amplitude at the frequencies fPVC corresponds directly to the
hydro-acoustic response of the system to the pressure excitation
source, as only the synchronous pressure component is observed
in the upstream pipe.
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017
As shown in Fig. 6a, the natural frequency f0 rapidly
decreases when the discharge is decreased within flow regime
1. Within regime 2, the frequency value f0 slowly decreases
and remains quasi-constant for low values of discharge. Beyond
the transition from regimes 2 to 3, the natural frequency
starts increasing. This is a consequence of the incoherent
fluctuations of the cavitation volume within the vortex core
arising from the loss of coherence in the vortex structure
beyond the transition from regimes 2 to 3. It is more dif-
ficult to determine accurately the frequency f0 by a cross-
spectral analysis within regime 3, since the corresponding
peak is not very clear in the cross-spectrum of the pressure
fluctuations.
When the discharge is decreased within flow regime 1,
the value of the natural frequency f0 approaches that of the
precession frequency fPVC . As a consequence, the amplitude
at the frequencies fPVC is amplified (Fig. 6b). The amplitude
reaches its maximum in resonance conditions at QED /Q∗ED =
0.78 when the natural frequency matches with the precession
frequency. By decreasing again the discharge factor, the natural
frequency decreases while the precession frequency increases,
which results in a weakening of the system’s hydro-acoustic
response. No notable influence of the discharge factor on the
amplitude at the frequency f0 is observed in Fig. 6b: the value
(a) Regime 3 Regime 2 Regime 1
0.4
fPVC
f0
0.3
f / n (-)
0.2
0.1
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
* (-)
QED / QED
Figure 6 Influence of the discharge factor on both the precession frequency and the natural frequency (a) and on the auto-spectrum amplitude at the
precession frequency measured in the upstream pipe (location p 6 ) (b) – nED = 0.288, σ = σ rated = 0.11
Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)
Gxx (f0 ) has the same order of magnitude regardless of the
discharge conditions.
3.3 Swirl number
The phenomenon of precessing vortex core is well known and
encountered in a wide range of engineering applications involv-
ing swirling flows (the reader can refer to Escudier, 1987 and
Syred, 2006 for a review). It has been identified as a mani-
festation of the vortex breakdown instability which occurs in
swirling flows beyond a certain value of swirl intensity (Lucca-
Negro & O’Doherty, 2001). Moreover, it has been shown that
the dynamics of the precessing vortex core mainly depend on
the swirl intensity of the incoming flow, whereas they can be
assumed independent of viscous effects for high values of the
Reynolds number (Cala, Fernandes, Heitor, & Shtork, 2006;
Cassidy & Falvey, 1970). In the case of Francis turbines oper-
ating at part load, it is thus safe to assume that the vortex
precession frequency and the natural frequency of the system,
which is influenced by the cavitation volume within the vortex
core, are strongly dependent on the swirl intensity of the flow
exiting the runner.
The swirl intensity is commonly characterized by the swirl
number S, which is defined by the ratio between the axial flux
of angular momentum and the axial flux of axial momentum
(Gupta, Lilley, & Syred, 1984) as follows:
R
Cm · Cu · r2 · dr
S = 0 R (3)
R 0 C2m · r · dr
where Cm and Cu are the time-averaged axial and tangential
velocity components, respectively, and R is the radius of the
section. In the following, an analytical expression of the swirl
number as a function of the operating parameters is derived by
considering the velocity diagrams and a simple representation of
the flow at the runner outlet. The velocity diagrams at the run-
ner outlet are represented in Fig. 7 when the machine operates
at part load (Q < Q0 ), swirl-free (Q = Q0 ) and full load condi-
tions (Q > Q0 ) with the same runner angular speed. The angle
β between the runner blade trailing edge and the relative flow
(b)
Regime 3 Regime 2 Regime 1
10-2
fPVC Resonance
f0
10-3
Gxx( f ) (Hz-1)
10-4
10-5
0.9 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
* (-)
QED / QED
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017) Swirl number for Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope 7

The axial flow velocity is expressed as a function of the dis-

charge Q and the speed and discharge factors are introduced in
Eq. (9). The following expression for the swirl number is finally
obtained:

 
π2 1 1
S = nED · − 0 (10)
8 QED QED
Figure 7 Velocity diagrams at the runner outlet of a Francis turbine
for Q < Q0 , Q = Q0 and Q > Q0 , i.e. part load, swirl-free and full where Q0ED is the discharge factor in swirl-free conditions for a
load conditions, respectively
given speed factor. The influence of the discharge factor on the
swirl number computed with Eq. (10) is given in Fig. 8, together
velocity W is considered as a constant, since it is imposed by the with experimental values measured by laser Doppler velocime-
runner design. try (LDV) along the diameter of one horizontal cross-section
For a given value of the runner frequency, i.e. for a given of the draft tube cone (Favrel, 2016). The experimental results
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

nED -value, there is a value of discharge Q0 for which the flow at are in good agreement with the analytical law for QED > 0.12,
the runner outlet is theoretically axial. In such conditions, called although a slight offset is observed. Beyond the transition from
swirl-free conditions in the following, the relative flow angle β regime 2 to regime 3, i.e. for QED < 0.12, the experimental data
at a given radial position r can be expressed as follows: do not follow the analytical law anymore. The latter predicts a
value of swirl number tending toward +∞ when the discharge
C0m C0 factor value approaches zero, which lacks physical meaning.
tanβ = = m (4)
U ωr The discrepancy between the experimental results and the ana-
lytical law within regime 3 might be explained by the occurrence
where C0m is the axial flow velocity corresponding to the dis-
of flow separations in the runner blade channels, resulting
charge Q0 , U is the runner circumferential velocity and ω is the
in different values of the relative flow angle β at the run-
angular speed of the runner. When the discharge is decreased
ner outlet. For values QED /Q0ED > 1 (full load conditions), the
below the value Q0 , the machine operates in part load condi-
swirl number is negative since the flow rotates in the opposite
tions and a tangential flow velocity component Cu appears at
direction.
the runner outlet, as illustrated in Fig. 7. At these conditions, Cu
A theoretical value of the swirl number can be determined
can be expressed for a given radial position r as a function of
by using Eq. (10) for all the tested operating points (nED , QED ).
the axial velocity component Cm and the angular speed of the
However, this requires the value of the discharge factor Q0ED in
runner ω:
swirl-free conditions. These conditions are commonly identified
Cm Cm C0 during model tests by determining the limits of the cavitation-
tanβ = = = const. = m (5) free zone with visualizations of the flow in the draft tube cone.
U − Cu ω r − Cu ωr
Although LDV measurements might enable a more accurate
  determination of the value Q0ED , a similar procedure is used,
Cm Cm since the final objective of the present paper is to propose a sim-
Cu = ω r − = ωr 1− 0 (6)
tan β Cm ple and relevant methodology for the prediction of frequencies
The above expression is, then, introduced in the definition of of interest in an industrial context.
the swirl number. By considering that the axial flow velocity is
independent of the radial position, i.e. Cm = 4 Q / π D2 , the
swirl number can be computed and expressed as a function of 2
analytical law
the axial flow velocity Cm and the angular speed of the runner ω: 1.5 experimental values (LDV)

R 1
Cm · ω · r · (1 − (Cm /C0m )) · r2 · dr
S (-)

S= 0
R (7)
R 0 C2m · r · dr 0.5

0
  R 3
ω 1 1 r · dr -0.5
S= · − 0 · 0 R (8) 0.1 0.15
QED (-)
0.2 0.25 0.3

0 r · dr
R Cm Cm 0
QED = 0.245

  Figure 8 Comparison between the analytical law of the swirl number

ω·R 1 1 and values of the swirl number determined by LDV measurements in
S= · − 0 (9) cavitation-free conditions at nED = 0.288
2 Cm Cm
 8 A. Favrel et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)

4 Experimental results Table 2 Value of the discharge factor corresponding to

the resonance conditions for each value of the speed factor
4.1 Swirl-free conditions and flow regime limits Qres
ED (–)
The limits of the cavitation-free zone are first determined for nED (–) σ min σ rated σ max
each investigated value of the speed factor (see horizontal
dashed lines in Fig. 9). The value Q0ED is, then, considered as 0.268 0.1471 0.1401 0.1320
0.277 0.1542 0.1502 0.1398
being the average of the values corresponding to the upper and 0.288 0.1629 0.1552 0.1452
lower limits of the cavitation-free zone. For any given nED - 0.300 0.1700 0.1624 0.1524
value, the difference between the guide vane opening angles
corresponding to the upper and lower limits of this zone does
not exceed γ = 2°.
The limits of the flow regimes are determined according to
their description given in Section 2.2. The transitions between
the flow regimes and the swirl-free conditions are reported in
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

Fig. 9 for σ = σ rated . The value Q0ED corresponding to the

swirl-free conditions increases linearly when the speed factor
is increased. Moreover, the QED -values corresponding to the
transitions between flow regimes 1 and 2 increase when the
speed factor is increased, and appear to follow the shift of the
swirl-free conditions. This suggests that the transition is mainly Figure 10 Resonance and swirl-free conditions as a function of the
driven by the swirl intensity of the flow exiting the runner. Con- speed and discharge factors
versely, the QED -value corresponding to the transition between
flow regimes 2 and 3 is almost constant, suggesting that addi-
The resonance conditions experimentally identified are given
tional parameters have to be considered to explain the loss of
in Fig. 10 as a function of the speed and discharge factors for the
coherence and periodicity in the vortex dynamics beyond this
three σ -values, together with the swirl-free conditions. Similar
transition. Consequently, the operating range corresponding to
to the transition between flow regimes 1 and 2, the value Qres ED
regime 2 grows when the speed factor is increased. Since the
linearly increases in a similar way to the value Q0ED when the
vortex is highly coherent and the intensity of the pressure exci-
speed factor is increased. This suggests that the resonance con-
tation source is elevated within this regime (Favrel et al., 2015),
ditions occur for a given value of the swirl intensity of the flow.
the risk of resonances inducing synchronous pressure pulsations
From a theoretical point of view, this result can be explained
of high amplitude is potentially higher for higher values of the
as follows. The dynamics of the precessing vortex rope mainly
speed factor, i.e. for lower values of the turbine head on the
depend on the swirl intensity of the flow while the natural fre-
prototype.
quency of the system is strongly affected by the presence of
cavitation in the draft tube. The cavitation volume depends on
4.2 Resonance conditions
the pressure within the vortex core, which is directly related to
The resonance conditions are identified for all the investigated the vortex circulation and the swirl intensity of the flow. Con-
nED -values by using the methodology described in Section 3. sequently, both the precession frequency and the system natural
They correspond to the value of discharge factor Qres
ED for which frequency are directly dependent on the swirl intensity of the
the amplitude of the synchronous pressure pulsations reaches its flow and it can be expected that they match at a given value
maximum. The uncertainty on this value is equal to QED = of the swirl number. It is also observed that the corresponding
±0.0025. The results are given in Table 2. ED decreases when the Thoma number σ is increased
value of Qres
for a given value of the speed factor.
0.32
Finally, the influence of the speed factor on the pressure pul-
Transition Transition Swirl-free
regimes 2-3 regimes 1-2 conditions sations amplitude measured in resonance conditions is shown
0.3 nED = 0.300 in Fig. 11a for the three σ -values. A comparison between the
nED (-)

nED = 0.288 pressure signals measured at the location p 6 in resonance con-

0.28 ditions for two values of speed factor for the case σ = σ rated is
nED = 0.277
also given in Fig. 11b. For a given σ -value, the amplitude of the
nED = 0.268
pressure pulsations in resonance conditions is hardly affected by
0.26
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 a change in the value of the speed factor. This indicates that the
QED (-) excitation source intensity and the cavitation flow parameters in
Figure 9 Flow regime limits and swirl-free conditions as a function resonance conditions are not influenced by the value of the speed
of the speed and discharge factors – σ = σ rated factor. For higher values of the Thoma number, the amplitude of
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017) Swirl number for Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope 9

(a) (b)
0.04 0.08
nED = 0.268 nED = 0.288

0.03 0.04
RMS (-)

Cp (-)
0.02 0

min
0.01 -0.04
rated

max

0 -0.08
0.26 0.27 0.28 0.29 0.3 0 10 20 30 40
nED (-) n × t (-)

Figure 11 Influence of the speed factor on the RMS value of the pressure signals measured at the location p 6 in resonance conditions (a) and
pressure signals measured at the same location in resonance conditions for two values of the speed factor for the case σ = σ rated (b). The pressure
signals are made dimensionless by E, the turbine hydraulic specific energy
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

the pressure pulsations in resonance conditions increases, since f0 D 3

resonance occurs at lower values of the discharge factor, for
which the intensity of the pressure excitation source is higher
(Favrel et al., 2015).
5 Resonance prediction at the model scale
5.1 Empirical laws for frequency prediction
The experimental results described in the previous section sug-
gest that, for a given σ -value, both the precession frequency
and the natural frequency of the system mainly depend on the
swirl intensity of the flow exiting the runner. Moreover, hydro-
acoustic resonances, corresponding to a matching between these
frequencies, seem to occur for a given swirl intensity of the flow.
That would imply that the influence of both the speed and dis-
charge factors on the precession and natural frequencies could
be reduced to simple dimensionless laws linking both frequen-
cies with the swirl number. The Strouhal numbers StPVC and
St0 corresponding to the precession frequency and the natural
frequency of the system, respectively, are therefore introduced:
fPVC D3
StPVC =
Q represented only by the swirl number, thus drastically reducing
St0 = (12)
Q
For all the operating points within flow regimes 1 and 2, the
vortex precession frequency and the system natural frequency
are determined by cross-spectral analysis and the corresponding
Strouhal numbers are computed. The theoretical swirl number
corresponding to the operating point is computed by using Eq.
(10). Both Strouhal numbers are, then, plotted as a function of
the swirl number in Fig. 12 for the case σ = σ rated . For the pre-
cession frequency, all experimental data collapse to one single
linear function (Fig. 12a). In case of the natural frequency, they
collapse to one power function, as shown in Fig. 12b. Linear
and power regression laws fitting the experimental data are also
given in Fig. 12. Concerning the precession frequency, equiva-
lent results were highlighted by Cassidy and Falvey (1970) in
the case of a swirling flow created by swirl vanes. The same
behaviour is observed for all the σ -values, as shown in Fig. 13.
The standard deviations of the experimental data with respect to
the regression laws are also included in Fig. 13.
In conclusion, for a given σ -value, the influence of both the
speed and discharge factors on the frequencies fPVC and f0 can be
(11)

(a) (b)
1.5 1.5
nED = 0.268 nED = 0.288 regression law nED = 0.268 nED = 0.288 regression law
nED = 0.277 nED = 0.300 nED = 0.277 nED = 0.300
fPVC D3 / Q (-)

f0 D3 / Q (-)

1 St PVC = 0.429 S + 0.120 1 St 0 = 0.012 S -8.382 + 0.426

0.5 0.5

0 0
0.5 1 1.5 2 0.5 1 1.5 2
S (-) S (-)
Figure 12 Strouhal number for the precession frequency (a) and the natural frequency (b) as a function of the swirl number computed analytically
– σ = σ rated
 10 A. Favrel et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)

(a) (b)
1.5 1.5
f0 D3 / Q (exp.) Regression
laws with
fPVC D3 / Q (exp.)
std. deviation
1 1

f D3 / Q (-)
f D3 / Q (-)

0.5 0.5

0 0
0.5 1 S (-) 1.5 2 0.5 1 S (-) 1.5 2
Sres = 0.76 ± 0.10 Sres = 0.84 ± 0.09

(c)
1.5

1
f D3 / Q (-)
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

0.5

0
0.5 1 S (-) 1.5 2
Sres = 0.97 ± 0.06

Figure 13 Determination of the value of the swirl number corresponding to the occurrence of hydro-acoustic resonance at the model scale for
σ = σ min (a), σ = σ rated (b) and σ = σ max (c)

the number of operating points required for the investigation of linearly with the value of the speed factor. This can be approx-
the vortex rope dynamics during model tests. imated by the linear relation Q0ED = 0.7252 · nED + 0.0355
(Fig. 14). Finally, the following relation is obtained:
5.2 Validation by prediction of resonance conditions  
8 · Sres 1
The empirical laws presented in Fig. 13 enable the prediction of Qres = 1 − (15)
ED
π 2 nED 0.7252 · nED + 0.0355
both the vortex precession frequency and the system natural fre-
quency on the complete part load operating range of the Francis
turbine at the model scale. Moreover, the swirl number Sres for For each investigated value of the speed factor, the value Qres ED

which hydro-acoustic resonance occurs, i.e. with f0 = fPVC , can is computed with Eq. (15). The uncertainty on the value Sres
be determined for each investigated σ -value by using Fig. 13. induced by the standard deviation of the experimental data with
Based on the expression of the swirl number, a relation linking respect to the regression laws is taken into account and leads to a
the speed factor and the discharge factor in resonance conditions prediction of resonance conditions over a range of discharge fac-
is, then, derived: tors for a given nED -value. The results are reported in Fig. 14 and
compared with the values obtained experimentally. An excellent
  agreement is obtained between the analytical prediction and the
π2 1 1
nED · − 0 = Sres (13) experiments. To validate the methodology, the resonance condi-
8 QED QED
tions are experimentally identified for an additional speed factor
For a given speed factor, the value of discharge factor for which nED = 0.317 and are compared with those predicted by using
a resonance is expected to occur can be determined by the Eq. (15). The results are also given in Fig. 14 and show once
following expression: again an excellent agreement.
The most important difference is obtained for the lowest
 
8 · Sres 1 value of speed factor nED = 0.268 for the case σ = σ rated
Qres =1 − 0 (14)
ED
π 2 nED QED and is equal to QED = 0.0058. This difference corresponds
approximately to a variation of guide vanes opening angle of
However, this expression requires the value of the discharge fac- γ = 0.5°, which is an acceptable error in comparison to the
tor Q0ED in swirl-free conditions. As the latter depends on the total variation necessary for completely covering the part load
value of the speed factor, it must be determined experimentally. flow regimes 1 and 2, running from about γ = 11° to 18° for
However, according to Fig. 9, the value Q0ED increases almost the present test-case.
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)
(a)
0.34
0.32
swirl-free conditions
0.3 exp. resonance
nED (-)
pred. resonance
0.28
0.26
0.24
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
QED (-)
(c)
0.34
0.32
0.3
nED (-)
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017
0.28
0.26
0.24
0.05
Figure 14 Comparison between the predicted and experimental values of discharge factor in resonance conditions for σ = σ min (a), σ = σ rated (b)
and σ = σ max (c)
5.3 Possible applications
For a given σ -value, it is demonstrated that the influence of
both the speed and discharge factors on the vortex precession
frequency fPVC and the system natural frequency f0 can be rep-
resented by a single parameter, which is the swirl number. If
the frequencies fPVC and f0 are determined for a limited number
of part load operating points and expressed as a function of the
swirl number, the resulting empirical laws enable the prediction
of both frequencies on the complete part load operating range
at the model scale. As a consequence, the resonance conditions
can also be predicted at the model scale for the complete part
load operating range. The empirical laws presented in the article
are only valid for the present test case, including the hydraulic
machine and the hydraulic circuit, but the same methodology
can be applied to any test case since the dependence on the swirl
number is a physical characteristic of the precessing vortex rope.
The prediction of resonance conditions on the corresponding
real machine requires the determination of the hydro-acoustic
parameters describing the draft tube cavitation flow at the model
scale. This can be realized by using a proper 1-D hydro-acoustic
modelling of the test rig, including elasticity and inertia of the
whole piping system filled with water, and by determining the
natural frequency of the system (Landry et al., 2016). At part
load conditions, the system natural frequency is strongly influ-
enced by the characteristics of the draft tube cavitation flow.
As the natural frequency shows a strong dependence on the
swirl number, as highlighted in Section 5.1, it is suggested that
similar laws can be derived for the hydro-acoustic parameters
modelling the draft tube cavitation flow at part load. By trans-
posing these laws to the prototype scale and by using a proper
Swirl number for Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope 11
(b)
0.34
0.32
0.3
nED (-)
0.28
0.26
0.24
0.3 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
QED (-)
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
QED (-)
1-D representation of the hydropower plant unit, the prototype
natural frequency could be predicted on the complete part load
operating range by expressing its value as a function of the swirl
number.
6 Conclusions and perspectives
A new approach for predicting the vortex precession frequency
and the natural frequency of the hydraulic circuit on the com-
plete part load operating range of a Francis turbine is introduced.
It is based on an analytical expression of the swirl number as
a function of the operating parameters of the machine, i.e. the
speed and discharge factors, which is derived in the present arti-
cle. Pressure measurements are carried out on a reduced scale
physical model of a Francis turbine for several part load oper-
ating points and three different values of the Thoma number,
covering the complete operating range observed on the proto-
type. It is demonstrated for the first time that the impact of both
the speed and discharge factors on the precession frequency
and the system natural frequency, which is mainly influenced
by the cavitation volume within the vortex rope, can be repre-
sented only by the swirl number, the main parameter driving the
dynamics of the precessing vortex rope.
Empirical laws linking both frequencies with the swirl num-
ber can be established for a given Thoma number by mea-
surements at only a limited number of operating points, which
enables the prediction of their value on the complete part load
operating range. However, the results are only valid for the
given test case, which includes the machine and also the test rig
used for model tests since the natural frequency depends on the
 12 A. Favrel et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)

hydraulic circuit. Nevertheless, the methodology can be applied pv = vaporization pressure (Pa)
to different test cases, which might however require the use of Q = discharge (m3 s−1 )
an external excitation system for the determination of the natural QED = IEC discharge factor (–)
frequency. S = swirl number (–)
More generally, the results presented in this paper suggest St = Strouhal number (–)
that the hydro-acoustic parameters modelling the draft tube cav- T = period (s)
itation flow can be predicted on the complete part load operating T = torque (N m)
range if they are determined at only a limited number of operat- U = runner rotating velocity (m s−1 )
ing points and, then, expressed as a function of the swirl number. W = relative flow velocity (m s−1 )
By transposing their value to the prototype scale and by using a β = relative flow angle (rad)
proper 1-D modelling of the hydropower plant unit, the determi- γ = guide vanes opening angle (rad)
nation of the prototype natural frequency on the complete part ν = specific speed (–)
load operating range will be possible. This paves the way to ρ = water density (kg m−3 )
the prediction of the resonance conditions on the complete head σ = Thoma number (–)
range of the prototype. This procedure is however only appli- ω = angular speed (rad s−1 )
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017

cable for the cases of resonance at the first natural frequency of NPSH = net positive suction head (m)
the system, excited by a precessing vortex core. Further inves- BEP (suffix) = best efficiency point
tigations will focus on the determination of the hydro-acoustic LDV (suffix) = laser Doppler velocimetry
parameters and their transposition to the prototype scale to pre-
dict the occurrence of resonance conditions on the real machine References
as the ultimate objective. Measurements on the prototype will
validate the complete methodology. Alligné, S., Landry, C., Favrel, A., Nicolet, C., & Avellan, F.
(2015). Francis turbine draft tube modelling for prediction
Acknowledgements of pressure fluctuations on prototype. Journal of Physics:
Conference Series, 656(1), 012056. doi:10.1088/1742-
The authors would like to thank BC Hydro (CA) for mak- 6596/656/1/012056
ing available the reduced scale model, in particular Danny Alligné, S., Nicolet, C., Tsujimoto, Y., & Avellan, F. (2014).
Burggraeve and Jacob Losfin. Moreover, the authors would Cavitation surge modelling in Francis turbine draft tube.
like to acknowledge the commitment of the Laboratory for Journal of Hydraulic Research, 52(3), 399–411.
Hydraulic Machines’ technical staff, especially Raymond Fazan, Arpe, J., Nicolet, C., & Avellan, F. (2009). Experimental evi-
Georges Crittin, Alberto Bullani, Alain Renaud and Vincent dence of hydroacoustic pressure waves in a Francis turbine
Berruex. elbow draft tube for low discharge conditions. Journal of
Fluids Engineering, 131(8), 081102–081109.
Bendat, J., & Piersol, A. (2011). Random data: Analysis and
Funding measurement procedures (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Brennen, C., & Acosta, A. J. (1976). The dynamic transfer func-
The research leading to the results published in this paper is tion for a cavitating inducer. Journal of Fluids Engineering,
part of the HYPERBOLE research project, granted by the Euro- Transactions of the ASME, 98 Ser, 98(2), 182–191.
pean Commission [ERC/FP7-ENERGY-2013-1-Grant 608532]; Cala, C. E., Fernandes, E. C., Heitor, M. V., & Shtork, S. I.
Seventh Framework Programme. (2006). Coherent structures in unsteady swirling jet flow.
Experiments in Fluids, 40(2), 267–276.
Notation Cassidy, J. J., & Falvey, H. T. (1970). Observations of
unsteady flow arising after vortex breakdown. Journal of
C = absolute flow velocity (m s−1 ) Fluid Mechanics, 41(4), 727–736.
Cm = axial absolute flow velocity (m s−1 ) Couston, M., & Philibert, R. (1998). Partial load modelling of
Cu = tangential absolute flow velocity (m s−1 ) gaseous Francis turbine rope. The International Journal on
D = diameter (m) Hydropower and Dams, 1, 146–158.
E = specific energy (J kg−1 ) Dörfler, P. (1982). System dynamics of the Francis turbine
f = frequency (Hz) half load surge. Proceedings of the 11th IAHR Symposium
g = gravity acceleration (m s−2 ) on Operating Problem of Pump Stations and Powerplants,
H = head (m) Amsterdam, Netherlands.
n = runner frequency (Hz) Dörfler, P., & Ruchonnet, N. (2012). A statistical method
nED = IEC speed factor (–) for draft tube pressure pulsation analysis. IOP Conference
p = static pressure (Pa) Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 15.
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2017)
Duparchy, A., Guillozet, J., De Colombel, T., & Bornard,
L. (2014). Spatial harmonic decomposition as a tool for
unsteady flow phenomena analysis. IOP Conference Series:
Earth and Environmental Science, 22.
Escudier, M. (1987). Confined vortices in flow machinery.
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 19, 27–52.
Fanelli, M. (1989). The vortex rope in the draft tube of Francis
turbines operating at partial load: A proposal for a mathemat-
ical model. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 27(6), 769–807.
Favrel, A. (2016). Dynamics of the cavitation precessing vortex
rope for Francis turbines at part load operating conditions
(Doctoral dissertation). EPFL, Lausanne.
Favrel, A., Landry, C., Müller, A., Yamamoto, K., & Avellan, F.
(2014). Hydro-acoustic resonance behaviour in presence of a
precessing vortex rope: Observation of a lock-in phenomenon
Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 06:04 21 September 2017
at part load Francis turbine operation. IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 22.
Favrel, A., Müller, A., Landry, C., Yamamoto, K., & Avellan,
F. (2015). Study of the vortex-induced pressure excitation
source in a Francis turbine draft tube by particle image
velocimetry. Experiments in Fluids, 56(12), 215–230.
Favrel, A., Müller, A., Landry, C., Yamamoto, K., & Avellan, F.
(2016). LDV survey of cavitation and resonance effect on the
precessing vortex rope dynamics in the draft tube of Francis
turbines. Experiments in Fluids, 57(11), 168–182.
Franc, J., Avellan, F., Belahadji, B., Billard, J., Briançon-
Marjollet, L., Fréchou, D., ... Michel, J. (1995). La cavita-
tion: mécanismes physiques et aspects industriels. Collection
Grenoble Sciences. Paris: Presses universitaires de Grenoble.
Fritsch, A., & Maria, D. (1988). Dynamic behaviour of a
partial load Francis water turbine: model/prototype com-
parison [comportement dynamique d’une turbine Francis à
charge partielle: comparaison modèle-prototype]. La Houille
Blanche, 3(3–4), 273–282.
Gupta, A. K., Lilley, D. G., & Syred, N. (1984). Swirl flows
(Vol. 1).
IEC Standards. (1999). 60193: Hydraulic turbines, storage
pumps and pump-turbines – model acceptance tests (2nd ed.).
Geneva: International Commission.
Jacob, T. (1993). Evaluation sur modèle réduit et prédiction de
la stabilité de fonctionnement des turbines Francis (Doctoral
dissertation). EPFL, Lausanne.
Kuibin, P., Susan-Resiga, R., & Muntean, S. (2013). A model for
precessing helical vortex in the turbine discharge cone. IOP
Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 22.
Swirl number for Francis turbine cavitation vortex rope 13
Landry, C., Favrel, A., Müller, A., Nicolet, C., & Avellan, F.
(2016). Local wave speed and bulk flow viscosity in Fran-
cis turbines at part load operation. Journal of Hydraulic
Research, 54(2), 185–196.
Lowys, P., Andre, F., Ferreira da Silva, A., Duarte, F., & Payre,
J.-P. (2014). Hydro plant operating range extension trans-
verse approach for increasing turbine flexibility. Proceedings
of Hydrovision, Nashville, USA.
Lucca-Negro, O., & O’Doherty, T. (2001). Vortex breakdown: A
review. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 27(4),
431–481.
Müller, A., Dreyer, M., Andreini, N., & Avellan, F. (2013).
Draft tube discharge fluctuation during self-sustained pres-
sure surge: Fluorescent particle image velocimetry in two-
phase flow. Experiments in Fluids, 54(4), 1–15.
Müller, A., Favrel, A., Landry, C., & Avellan, F. (2017). Fluid-
structure interaction mechanisms leading to dangerous power
swings in Francis turbines at full load. Journal of Fluids and
Structures, 69, 56–71.
Nishi, M., & Liu, S. (2013). An outlook on the draft-tube-surge
study. International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems,
6(1), 33–48.
Nishi, M., Matsunaga, S., & Kubota, T. (1984). Surging charac-
teristics of conical and elbow- type draft tubes. Proceedings
of the 12th IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and
System, Stirling, Scotland.
Nishi, M., Matsunaga, S., Kubota, T., & Senoo, Y. (1982). Study
on swirl flow and surge in an elbow type draft tube. Proceed-
ings of the 10th IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery
and System, Tokyo, Japan.
Rheingans, W. (1940). Power swings in hydroelectric power
plants. Transactions of the ASME, 62, 171–184.
Susan-Resiga, R., Dan Ciocan, G., Anton, I., & Avellan, F.
(2006). Analysis of the swirling flow downstream a Francis
turbine runner. Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions
of the ASME, 128(1), 177–189.
Syred, N. (2006). A review of oscillation mechanisms and the
role of the precessing vortex core (PVC) in swirl combustion
systems. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 32(2),
93–161.
Yamamoto, K., Müller, A., Ashida, T., Yonezawa, K., Avel-
lan, F., & Tsujimoto, Y. (2015). Experimental method for
the evaluation of the dynamic transfer matrix using pres-
sure transducers. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 53(4),
466–477.