Design of a test rig for hydraulic turbines

The humanity's need for energy is rising up day by day. Besides, in order to avoid natural destruction and to create a sustainable life style, the importance of renewable energy is increasing. In this regard, hydraulic energy steps forward with being a renewable energy source, providing high efficient manufacturing, satisfying a huge range of production, low operating costs and short time of start-up and cut-out processes. However, high efficiency values can only be achieved by providing better design. In this sense, experimental methods should be used in order to optimize the turbine design. Turbine tests can only be performed in certain test centers which are liable to specific standards. In Turkey, there is no such test center which fulfils these requirements. As a consequence of this need, a hydraulic turbine test center is being constructed in TOBB University of Economics and Technology with the support of Ministry of Development. The context of this thesis is the design of an experimental test set up for Francis turbines in the forenamed test center. This center is designed according to the international standards. The performance analysis of hydraulic turbines will be performed by measuring specific values such as flow rate, head, power, torque and efficiency. Besides, cavitation will be formed by compulsorily on the turbine, which will be examined and evaluated. The mentioned test set up is capable of performing model tests with a head of 205 m. and a flow rate of 2,5 m3/s, up to 2400 rpm and 2000 kW power. In this point, the designed experimental set up will perform higher capacity rather than its compeers in the world and provide added value in national and international means.