Computational Fluid Dynamics in Hydraulic Francis Turbine
Dr. Tikendra Nath Verma
Author / Research Scholar
About the Author(s)
Dr. Tikendra Nath Verma has completed B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, M.Tech. in Thermal Engineering and PhD in Thermal Engineering (CFD). He is currently working as Assistant Professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Manipur. His areas of interest include Heat Transfer, CFD, I.C. Engines and Renewable Energy et
Synopsis & Scholarly Abstract
A turbine is a device which converts the energy from flowing water into mechanical energy producing hydroelectricity in a dam. The first record of water wheels dates back to ancient Greece and over the next several centuries the technology spread all over the world. The process of arriving at the design of the mode Francis runner lasted from 1848 to approximately 1920. The ancient Greeks were the first recorded society to successfully develop a form of hydropower– the water wheel. The inefficiency was observed in the Greek water wheel as it was designed as a work of art rather than science. However, the torque from the simple water wheel was successfully used to grind wheat into flour. The Romans, by 500 A.D have developed the Greek flour mill was later adopted as an invention that had spread throughout the known world [3]. By the 1700's, water wheels were used extensively for milling. Saw mills, textile mills, paper mills, and flour mills formed an important role in local economies where any amount of moving water was available. The Mining industry also utilizes water wheels to lift ore, personnel and water. As industrial power requirements continued to increase, water wheel efficiency became an important conce . The first scientific evaluation of the water wheel in the mid 1700's was performed by a British civil engineer called, John Smeaton.