High Head Francis Turbines - HiFrancis 

For the HiFrancis project the primary objective is secure reliable operation and lifetime for high head Francis turbines operating in the future energy market.

Secondary objectives:

1. Determine how water parameters such as vapour and gas content influences the pressure propagation speed and the damping of pressure oscillation in high head Francis turbine components such as a guide vane cascade and in a Francis model turbine.
2. Determine how the water parameters and velocity field impacts the dynamic coupling between fluid and structure for a high head Francis turbine. This includes impact of the water on the natural frequency but may also include new coupled modes as well as change in the modal response.
3. Evaluation of fatigue loads of a high head Francis turbine during steady state and transient operation.
4. Ensure that the project outcome is in line with the industry's best interest and optimize theindustrial value through innovative usage of the project results.