AFC system experimentally investigated on a 10 MW Kaplan prototype turbine and a 200 MW Francis prototype turbine

Abstract

The Active Flow Control (AFC) system is a multifaceted integration of distinct subsystems, including the Injection of Pulsating Momentum (IPM), Injection of Continuous Momentum (ICM), Structural Health Monitoring System (SHM), and the controller. Initially developed independently on smaller scales across diverse institutions, the project progressed through the upscaling of these subsystems and their subsequent integration. This document presents experimental measurements conducted on prototypes specifically focusing on the IPM, ICM, and SHM subsystems. Although the controller developed and tested at smaller scales was ready to be tested at the prototype scale, it was not feasible to run the complete AFC system due to severe time constraints arising from turbine-related issues and safety requirements. Nevertheless, the results obtained from the tested subsystems are encouraging, underscoring the potential of the AFC system despite the aforementioned limitations.