Design of Francis Turbine and OpenFOAM Methods

This book provides a comprehensive guide for academics and industry professionals on designing and optimizing hydraulic turbines, with a particular focus on Francis turbines. The book covers the main dimensions of Francis turbines, including runners, guide vanes, and distributors. The authors have selected OpenFOAM, a free, open-source CFD software, for readers to perform simulations. While there is some existing literature on the topic, this book distinguishes itself by going into detail on the three phases of CFD methods. The authors also describe, step-by-step, how to create a new solver for hydraulic machines to account for sediment erosion. The content is presented in an easy-to-understand manner to help readers quickly grasp the material. The book is accessible to specialists in relevant fields, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and other professionals interested in designing a suitable Francis turbine or simulating multiphase flow fields for rotating machines.

Dr. Zhiwei Guo received his B.E. degrees from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2007, and the Ph.D. degree from University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, in 2012. Since July, 2014, Dr. Guo has been in The School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, Wuhan University as an Associate Professor. Dr. Wang focuses on the research in hydraulic machines. His recent research interests include: Cavitation and Erosion, etc. Since 2007, Dr. Guo has published around 30 peer-reviewed technical papers in international journals and conferences. He is served as a reviewer of several international journals. He is the key member of the Hydropower Research Center for Himalaya Region (HRCHR).

Prof. Qian born in 1976 obtained the PhD degree in 2002 at Northeastern University, majoring in thermal engineering, then he entered Tsinghua University as a post-doctor. He was promoted associate professor in 2004 and full professor in 2009 at Wuhan University. In2008, he visited Korea Maritime and Ocean University and worked there for six months as a visiting scholar. He is the deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science since June 2016 and director of Hydropower Research Center for Himalaya Region (HRCHR) since December 2020. He published 150 research papers, more than 80 of which are indexed by SCI. He was authorized 4 International Patents and 16 National Patents.

Dr. Sailesh Chitrakar obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from HAMK University, Finland in 2011 and Master’s degree in Turbomachinery and Aeromechanics from KTH, Sweden and ULg, Belgium in 2013. He completed his PhD degree in secondary flow and sediment erosion in Francis turbines in 2018. He has published nearly 50 research papers, of which 14 are indexed in SCI. His research interests include CFD, hydropower and hydraulic turbines, as well as sediment erosion and cavitation. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Kathmandu University. He is also taking the responsibility of Faculty-In-Charge of Turbine Testing Lab of the same University.

Prof. Bhola Thapa obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering respectively from Punjab Engineering College and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India. He did his PhD in the topic of Sand Erosion in Hydraulic Machinery from Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 2004. He has been working at Kathmandu University since 1994 and currently, serving as the Vice Chancellor of the University. He has published more than 70 research papers in various renowned journals and conferences.