Research Article

Analysis of Effect of Cavittion In Hydraulic Turbines

Sahil Bhagat1
Abstract
Cavitation is basically a process which occurs when the liquid pressure falls below the atmospheric vapor
pressure. Due to this process, the performance of the material is effected, the efficiency of the machine
also decreases and also there is damage to the material. In this paper, I analysed the effect cavitation in
the hydraulic turbine, its effect, causes and how to minimize this effect it is believed that cavitation cannot
be avoided but it can be minimized to some extent. There is also a literature review in which the work of
the different researcher has been mentioned.

Keywords: Cavitaion, Hydraulic turbine, Classification, Effect etc

Introduction
As we all know that today is the era of science and technology and with the increase with the growth of science and
technology the demand of the energy is the form of electricity is increased. There are various methods of generation
of electricity but one of the best method of generating the electricity by using hydraulic power and the place where
the generation of power is done is called as a hydraulic plant as shown in figure.

Figure 1.layout of hydraulic power plant

P.G Student Mechanical Engineering Dept. Rayat Bahra University Kharar, India.
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E-mail Id: Sahilbhagat2811@gmail.com

Orcid Id: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5814-3360

How to cite this article: Bhagat S. Analysis of Effect of Cavittion In Hydraulic Turbines. J Adv Res Appl Mech Compu Fluid Dyna.
2017; 4(3): 5-8.

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© ADR Journals 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Bhagat S
In hydraulic plant two types of turbines are used:
• Impulse turbine
• Reaction turbine
The turbine which comes under impulse category is Pelton
wheel and the two types of Reaction turbine are Kaplan
and Francis turbine.
Kaplan and Francis`s turbine are mostly used and among
these two Francis is mostly preferred because of its
efficiency. Now the question arises what is the problem. The
problem is cavitation. Cavitation is the process which can be
seen in many power system and is a process which occurs
Classification of Cavitation
It is categorized into 4 categories
1. Hydrodynamic Cavitation: This type of cavitation can
Figure 2.Cavitating vortex in the draft tube of Francis Turbine
2. Acoustic Cavitation: This type of cavitation includes
nucleation, the collapse of bubbles and growth under
acoustic waves. This type of cavitation has affected
different disciples e.g. sonochemistry, sonoluminescence,
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J. Adv. Res. Appl. Mech. Compu. Fluid Dyna. 2017; 4(3)
when the pressure of the fluid falls below atmospheric
vapor pressure. It cannot be avoided in hydraulic turbine
but that can be minimized. It also decreases the efficiency
and also effects the overall performance of the system. It
should be noted that cavitation is mostly shown in Francis
Turbine because around 90% plants uses this type of turbine
because the hydrolic & mechanical efficiency of the Francis
turbine is better as compare to the Pelton wheel and Kaplan
turbine. Also the main advantage of this turbine is that it
can be designed after the site selection where the hydraulic
plant is going to be set up. Moreover the cavitation in
Francis turbine begin where the blades moves faster and
at the exit of the draft tube.
be seen when the pressure of the liquid system drops
below the saturated vapor pressure. It cause several
damage to the material. It cannot be avoided but can
be minimized.
sonoporation. Moreover, it is also used in the lithotripsy
gene transfer and also used in the treatment of non-
invasive cancer.
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J. Adv. Res. Appl. Mech. Compu. Fluid Dyna. 2017; 4(3) Bhagat S

Figure 3.Photograph of the light emitted by a trapped positionally stable bubble

3. Optic Cavitation:This is also one of the types of Some of the effects of cavitation are mentioned
cavitation and is occur when the medium is radiated below:
by high-intensity laser pulses. Due to this breakdown
of the medium happen and bubbles are formed. In • The surface of the metals got affected and
order to record the behavior of the system, high-speed cavities are formed.
camera and holography are used. • Noise and vibration are produced due to sudden
4. Particle Cavitation: This is just like the optic cavitation collapse.
the difference is that in the particle cavitation due to • The efficiency of the machine decreases.
ionization and rapid heating the tiny bubbles forms.
Ionization and heating are because of the high energy Precautions
particles when they passed the medium.
Some of the parameters should be taken into
Causes of Cavitation consideration in order to avoid the cavitation:

As we all know that the liquid enters the hydraulic turbine
at high pressure. This pressure is basically the combination
of static pressure and dynamic pressure.
Dynamic pressure is due to the flow velocity and the other
components. The static velocity is basically the actual fluid
pressure. Cavitation basically occurs near the fast
moving blades and at the one exit of the turbine
because of one drop of the pressure head.
Effect of the cavitation
It is believed that cavitation is actually not the
problem but the bubbles forms in cavitation when
collapsesgenerate pressure waves which are of very
high frequency and it causes not damaged to the
machine. The bubbles collapse near the surface
causes more damage to the machine and also causes
erosion which is known as cavitationerosion. Also, it
should be noted that among the smaller and larger
bubbles the smaller bubbles causes more damage
to the machine.
• In order to avoid cavitation, the pressure of the
flowing fluid should not fall below the vapour
pressure.
• The pressure head should not be below 2.5m
if the flowing fluid is water.
• Coatings such as aluminum-bronze and stainless
steel, which are cavitation resistance material
should be used.
Literature Review
Francois Avellan
FrancoisAvellan is a professor at Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology,Luasanne,Switzerland. He basically worked on
the effect of cavitation in hydraulic machines which include
hydraulic turbine and pumps. He performs many tests
such as general model tests, standard cavitation test and
comes to the various conclusion of cavitation. According to
the Francois Avellan, the cavitation occurs in the rotating
runner-impellor or the stationary part.

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Bhagat S
Rajinder Kumarkaushik`s, Prakash Kumarsen
There work to focus on the leading edge cavitation due
to its erosive power, which effects the performance of
the machine. Cavitation plays an important role in Francis
and Kaplan turbine which comes under the category of
reaction turbine. The difference between the Kaplan and
Francis turbine is the design of their runner. In the case
of Kaplan turbine the design of runner is axial and in the
case of Francis turbine the design of runner is radial. They
work on the leading edge cavitation which basically occurs
when the operation is being performed at the high head
than the actual machine design head.
S Khurana
The worked on the effect of cavitation in the hydraulic
turbine. According to him, cavitation is a severe problem
which overall effect the performance of the machine.
According to the theoretical investigation of S Khurana
cavitation can be observed in various propulsion and power
system likepumps, nozzles, injectors, marine propellers,
hydrofoils and under water bodies. Cavitation can be seen
in hydraulic turbines in various forms such as leading edge
cavitation, traveling bubble cavitation, von-Korman vortex
cavitation, and draft tubes swirl. He focuses on the concept
of Thomas cavitation proficient.
REA Arndt
His work or research is basically focused on to give
experience by having a review a current research at the
Saint Anthony falls laboratory. In his research physics of
cavitation which is basically influenced by water quality
is taken into consideration i.e. the strength of the water
is influenced by the free and dissolved gas and also the
various dynamic factors such as turbulence. He takes e.g.
from. The early research and also from the current research.
Xavier Escales
Xavier Escales basically work on the detection of cavitation
in hydraulic turbine. He investigatedone Kaplan, two
Francis, and one pump turbine. He performed experimental
investigation in order to detect cavitation in actual hydraulic
turbine.Cavitation in being formed in the turbine according
to the type of the turbine, either Kaplan or Francis.
According to his study, the main difference between the
two is that in Kaplan the design of the runner is axial and
in Francis the design of the runner is radial.
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G. Pavic, F. Chenillote
Their work also focus on the detection of the cavitation in a
fluid pipe .according to their study cavitation is characterized
by the collapse of gas bubble in a liquid. If the pressure of
the liquid goes below its vapor
pressure bubble formation starts and a reaching the region
having higher pressure collapse. After 1980’s
attention have been paid to detect the cavitationbecause
it effect the overall performance of the machine and also
decrease the hydraulic efficiency of the system.
Conclusions
• This study is to understand the concept of cavitation
in better way by going through the research of various
researcher.
• Cavitation cannot be avoided in hydraulic turbine but
can be minimize to some extend.
• Investigation were carry out in order to detect the
occurrence of cavitation in hydraulic turbine.
References
1. http:google.com
2. Francois AVELLAN,Introduction to cavitation in hydraulic
machinery,The 6th International Conference on Hydraulic
machinery and hydrodynamics Timisoara,Romania.
October 21-22,2004.[3]. Xavier Escaler,_, Eduard
Egusquiz, Mohamed Farhat Franc-oisAvellanb,
Miguel Coussirat “Detection of cavitation in hydraulic
turbines” Laboratoire de Machines Hydrauliques (LMH-
IMHEF), EcolePolytechniqueFe´de´rale de Lausanne
(EPFL),Avenue de Cour 33bis, CH-1007 Lausanne,
Switzerland.
4. [G.Pavic, F.Chevillote, Cavitation in piping
system,ISMA2012-USD2012
5. R.E.A. Arndt, Recent advances in cavitation research,
in: Advances in Hydroscience, vol. 12, Academic Press,
New York, 1981, pp. 1–72.
6. S. Khuranaa, Navtejb and HardeepSinghC Effect of
Cavitation on Hydraulic Turbines- A Review Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Baddi University of
Emerging Sciences and Technology Baddi
7. Ahmed SM, Hokkirigawa K, Kikuchi K, Higuchi J, Oba R
Sem (1993), Studies of particles produced by cavitation
erosion. JSME Int. J., Ser. B, 36940, pp.517-523.
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