LITERATURE REVIEW

ON
SUBMERGENCE NECESSARY FOR PUMP STORAGE POWER PLANT TURBINES

INTRODUCTION
The elevation of a hydroelectric turbine above or below the tail water level is based on the hydraulic relation
to critical sigma, the ratio of barometric pressure to the submergence depth at which cavitation commences.
Appropriate submergence is necessary to prevent excessive cavitation.
The calculations for submergence of the turbines for pump storage power plant is based on possible
configurations of the power plant, which are listed below [1]:

 Binary set: One reversible pump-turbine coupled to single motor generator.

 Turbine configuration: reversible pump-turbine of type- Francis type (Kaplan bulb,
Kaplan or Deriaz type RPT are used for low heads and are less common to Francis
RPT)
 Ternary set: One motor/generator coupled with separate turbine and pump
 Quaternary set: Separate pump/motor and generator/ turbine unit.
In ternary and quaternary set of power plant configurations where, individual turbines are used, the
submergence of a reaction type turbine can be designed in accordance to IS 12800(Part 1):1993.
For reaction turbines used, IS 12800 suggests the suction height of distributor center line above the
minimum tail water level can be determined using the following formula [2]:

Hs ≤ Hb-σH-Hv

where, Hs is suction head in metres

Hb is Barometric pressure in meters of water column
Hv is Vapour pressure head

σ is Thomas cavitation coefficient, which is a function of the specific speed of the turbine

Francis type of pump-turbine runner for pump storage power plant:

The most common type of turbine used for pump storage power plant is the Francis type reversible pump-
turbine (RPT). The impeller/runner shape bears resemblance in shape to a pump impeller that a Francis
turbine. The design and erection of reversible pump turbines is entirely similar to the ordinary Francis
turbine, except for the bearings.
Submergence requirements in case of reversible pump-turbines are more significant for pump operation
rather than turbine operation. Submergence in pump-turbines are required to prevent excessive cavitation.
Thomas sigma is used for describing the effects of cavitation on unit performance and the similarity of
cavitation conditions between machines having similar geometry and hydraulic characteristics [3].
 𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻
σ=
𝐻
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑐𝑟
σ𝑐𝑟 =
𝐻
where: H = head developed (pump) or absorbed (turbine) in meters
NPSH = net positive suction head
NPSHcr = net positive suction head value at which σcr occurs
σcr = critical sigma value at which an abrupt decrease in performance of hydraulic machine

NPSH of the pump is defined as:

NPSH=Hs + Ha-Hv-Hl
where: Hs static draft head with reference to tail water surface above impeller/runner centreline(m)
Ha is atmospheric pressure head for altitude at pump suction supply (m)
Hv is vapour pressure head
Hl is head loss in pump section line and impeller approach (m)
It was well documented that the critical sigma for pump operation of a RPT is around 2 times greater than
the critical sigma for turbine operation. This indicates that substantially more submergence is required for
the pump operation than the turbine operation of RPT. A pump-turbine that has adequate submergence for
the pump operations has sufficient submergence for the turbine operation.
Thus, it is necessary to study the available submergence of the plant designed so that the plant sigma is
greater than the critical sigma for majority of plant operation. Inadequate submergence presents problems
at the maximum and the minimum of the operating head range. However, at condition of maximum head
and minimum tail water, turbine critical sigma may be greater than pump critical sigma [3].
Brekke suggests use of an empirical formula based on the circumferential runner outlet speed u2, to find the
required NPSH of the turbine:

𝑢22
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑅 = [𝑎𝐾 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 (𝜋 − 𝛽2 ) + 𝑏]
2𝑔
where: 1 < 𝑎 < 1.2 and 0.05 < 𝑎 < 0.11 depending on the speed number and the blade geometry.
β2 is the outlet angle of the turbine runner
u2 is the circumferential runner outlet speed
Another established empirical formula used by turbine manufacturers, suggested by Brekke for determining
the NPSH of the turbine (NPSHturb) is based on the meridian velocity cm2 and the circumferential outlet
speed of the runner u2, the equation is as follows [4]:

𝑎𝑐𝑚2 2 𝑏𝑢22
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏 = +
2𝑔 2𝑔
where: 1 < 𝑎 < 1.2 and 0.05 < 𝑎 < 0.11 depending on the speed number and the blade geometry.

Here, the NPSH required by the turbine must be less than the NPSH available, which according to Brekke
is given by [4]:
𝑁𝑃𝑆𝐻𝐴 = −𝐻𝑠 + 𝐻𝑏 − 𝐻𝑣𝑎
where: Hs is the suction head in meters
Hb is the barometric pressure in meters
Hva is the vapour pressure in meters
Thus, the submergence or NPSH requirements can be summarized as [4]:
NPSHcr < NPSHR or NPSHturb < NPSHA

The formulas and methodology suggested by Brekke were utilized by Maharjan, Chitrakar and Koirala in
design of a reversible pump turbine of Francis type for pump storage hydro. A Francis type reversible
pump-turbine was designed for head of 270m and discharge of 4m3/s with speed number of 0.337 having a
net positive suction head of 11.46m, calculated utilizing above mentioned equations, to produce a power
output of 10.17MW [5].

CONCLUSION
The submergence for turbines for pump storage power plant must be selected such that it prevents excessive
cavitation. For reaction type turbines used in ternary and quaternary sets of pump storage power plant, the
submergence necessary for the turbines can be designed using IS 12800(Part 1):1993. For reversible pump-
turbines that are most commonly used in pump storage power plants, the submergence requirements are
more demanding for pump operation than turbine operation- a pump-turbine having enough submergence
for pumping operation has usually sufficient submergence for turbine operation. Empirical formulas
suggested by Brekke have been utilized to calculate the submergence required. The NPSH required by the
RPT must be less than the available NPSH and greater than the critical NPSH at which excessive cavitation
occurs.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] J. Lal, Hydraulic Machines, India: Metroplotian Book Company, 1994.

[2] I. Standards, "Guidelines for Selection of Turbines, Preliminiary Dimensioning and Layout
of Surface Hydro-electric Power Houses". Patent IS 12800 (Part 1), 1993.

[3] Engineering and Reclamation Center, "Estimating Reversible PumpTurbine Charactersitics,"

United states Department of the Interiror and Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Co, 1977.

[4] H. Brekke, Hydraulic Turbines: Design, Erection and Operation, NTNU Publication, 2000.

[5] N. Maharjan, S. Chitrakar and R. Koirala, "Design of Reversible Pump Turbine for its
prospective applicaiton in Nepal," International Journal of Scientific and Research
Publications, vol. 4, no. 7, July 2014.