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Pa Hu Project – Hight output Horizontal Francis Units

Introduction
This article aims at describing the sturdy design of High Output Horizontal Francis turbine for the PA HU Project in Vietnam.

Parameters
The PA HU HPP supply is equipped with two units of  Horizontal Francis machines running at synchronous speed of 600 rpm, operating under rated net head of 231.48 m. This unit can generate output of 13.000 kW + 15% continuous overload. The powerhouse is situated at an elevation of 327.3 m above mean sea level. Type of project is run of the river.

Plant parameters

Number of units: 02
Type of turbine: Horizontal Francis
Runner diameter: 925 mm
Maximum Head: 240.5 m
Rated Head: 231.48
Minimum Head: 214.6
Design pressure: 3,54 N/mm²
Rated turbine output: 13.500 kW + 15% COL
Synchronous speed: 600 rpm
Runaway speed: 925 rpm
Speed rise: 50%
Pressure rise: 50%

Horizontal turbine arrangement
Francis turbines are suitable for application in the range of medium to high head, roughly in between 10 to 400 m. Francis turbines are the most used water turbine by number of existing installations.

When we analyse the type of shaft arrangement, horizontal and vertical units are possible to be layout. The advantages of choosing a horizontal Francis arrangement is the design made very compact, assembly and maintenance access facilitated by the position of equipment and, as main consequence, the cost of the unit can be offered very competitive when compared with vertical one.

However, this type of configuration has limited capacity and size, in high-powered machines the vertical layout is the only possible. As a guideline in FLOVEL design, the limit for a Francis unit with horizontal shaft shall be specially checked for 15+ MW output, which is considered as high output for this configuration. Globally very few turbine manufacturers have the operational references for horizontal Francis turbines with high power output.

Design challenges
The design of PA HU Francis units can be situated in a borderline between the two possible layouts, horizontal and vertical. The maximum power output of more than 15 MW combined with the runner diameter of 925 mm and 2,8 t, in overhang mounting on generator shaft, demanded a stiff shaft line system to be designed.

To maintain the guaranteed high efficiency performance, the runner clearances must be kept to a minimum. The consistency of this requirement with the movement of the shaft was an important object of study in this project.

During the analysis of the shaft movement, the following possibilities should be checked and their overlap in the different operating conditions should be considered: bending deflection of the shaft line, fluid film dynamics in the oil film of bearings, stiffness of the generator bearings in different directions, thermal expansion from the cold stand still condition to the hot steady state condition and other possible movements.

The characteristics of high head turbine, with unit speed of 36 rpm, determined the selection of a Francis runner with radial shape, high ratio outlet/inlet diameter. In this configuration, runner design is provided with double buckets (14+14 buckets) to reduce blade pitch at the inlet and stabilize the flow, avoiding recirculation of water. This type of design also leads to high efficiency levels. Due to high mechanical stresses, it was welded fabricated, from integral forged and CNC machined crown with buckets, and separate forged skirt.

The very high design pressure required a sturdy design of the static structures as well as distributor mechanism. The verification of main structures was performed using FE analysis software.

Pa-HU-(4)_web
Pa-Hu-(5)_web

Observations and Conclusions
After the successful commissioning of machines in the PA HU HPP in October 2020, the design validation was done based on the observation that:

  •  Regarding the mechanical structural analysis, the integrity of the components can be attested after the completion of the test program during the acceptance phase of the project.
  • Runner clearances were appropriately designed, to keep efficiency values within guarantee and avoid mechanical interference in any operational condition.
  • The smooth commissioning and excellent operational parameters are a testimonial of FLOVEL’s robust and reliable technology for high power output horizontal Francis units.

About FLOVEL:

FLOVEL name has been synonymous with the hydro power sector for over four decades. FLOVEL is a full-line supplier of electromechanical equipment and services for small and medium size hydro power plants manufacturer of hydraulic turbines, valves and turnkey supplier of electro mechanical packages for hydro power projects and ranks amongst the leading players globally. FLOVEL manufacturers complete range of Pelton, Francis, Kaplan, Axial Flow turbines and Valves for hydropower projects. The strength of FLOVEL is in its ability to offer all-inclusive solutions (Electro Mechanical-Turnkey Packages).

Kontakt

FLOVEL Energy Private Limited
Vatika Mindscapes,
Suite 101-A, Tower-B,
12/3, Mathura Road,
Faridabad – 121 003,
Haryana, INDIA
Fax: +91 129 4090650