Abstract

A model turbine for low-head applications, utilizing a novel flowpath design, was designed and built to meet speciflc design assumptions formulated for low-output hydraulic power plant design. Power-output and cavitation testing has been carried out, and the universal characterstic for the turbine obtained. The innovative design has been patented and is available as an offer for low-output hydraulic power installations. The design possesses significant advantages - with regard to turbine construction, operation, and emplacement - over the standard designs currently offered by leading world manufacturers. On the basis of velocity fields determined to exist within the rotor chamber of the turbine, a representative optimization procedure has been applied to rotor parameters. The procedure is here proposed as an effective and practical method for optimizing the performance of new rotor designs, as well as existing rotors under actual operating conditions.