The best tools

Our design engineers use CFD tools of different complexity – each of them perfectly adapted to the actual task:

• 3D Euler simulation for fast blade design
• 3D Navier Stokes simulation for loss analysis and profile improvement for all turbine components
• 3D Navier-Stokes stage simulation for performance prediction of complete machines, including the interaction of rotating and stationary components.
• 3D multiphase, time dependent Navier-Stokes for Pelton turbines.
• 3D time dependent Navier-Stokes with rotor-stator interface for the simulation of the rotor – stator interaction in Francis-, Kaplan- and Pumpturbines.

Our CFD methods are continuously validated and improved in order to meet and anticipate our customers’ increasing demand for quality and performance. Active fields of research are Pelton CFD and CFD methods for time dependent phenomena such as the draft tube vortex and the rotor stator interaction.

Design and optimisation

The hydraulic design of our turbines is developed by means of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations and experiments in test rigs. Building on our experience and know-how from extensive model and prototype testing a large proportion of turbines are now designed and optimised by use of CFD only.

Many years of experience in the evaluation and development of CFD tools enable the important flow features to be predicted with high accuracy. This allows the performance, efficiency and cavitation limits of a turbine to be predicted realistically for different operating conditions.

CFD flow simulations of rotating and stationary components are now an every day tool for the design and optimisation of a wide range of turbines.

Feasibility, Diagnosis and Analysis

The potential improvements through upgrading an existing plant can be judged quickly and efficiently by the use of CFD. Problems and limitations of the old design are clarified by a CFD diagnosis. The CFD analysis of new design solutions indicates the improvements in efficiency, output and cavitation