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Erosion of Pelton buckets and changes in turbine efficiency measured in the HPP Fieschertal

2016; IOP Publishing; Volume: 49; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1088/1755-1315/49/12/122008

1755-1307

André Abgottspon, Thomas Staubli, David Felix,

Fluid Dynamics and Mixing

Geometrical changes and material loss of Pelton turbine runners as well as changes in turbine efficiency were measured at HPP Fieschertal in Valais, Switzerland. The HPP is equipped with two horizontal axis Pelton units, with each 32 MW nominal power, 7.5 m3/s design discharge, 515 m head and two injectors. The injectors and the buckets are hard-coated. Hydro-abrasive erosion was quantified based on repeated measurements on two runner buckets using (i) 3d-scanning and (ii) a coating thickness gauge. Changes in efficiency were measured by applying the sliding needle procedure. In addition to these periodically performed measurements, efficiency was also continuously monitored.