Numerical Simulation of Flow Fields and Sediment-Induced Wear in the Francis Turbine

Based on the solid–liquid two-phase flow model and the Realizable k-ε Turbulence model, numerical simulations of the sediment–water flow in the flow components of the turbine were conducted. The distribution of sediment-induced wear within the turbine was obtained by analyzing the sediment volume fraction (SVF) and the erosion rate. The results revealed that sediment-induced wear on the stay and guide vanes was primarily distributed along the water inlet edge of the stay and guide vanes. For the runner blades, wear was predominantly localized along the water inlet edge and near the lower ring. The sediment-induced wear patterns on these flow components were found to be consistent with the sediment volume fractions (SVFs) on their surfaces.