Numerical investigation of cavitating turbulent flow in a Francis turbine runner fitted with splitter blades

The paper presents numerical investigation of cavitating turbulent flow in a high head Francis turbine runner fitted with splitter blades at part load operation. Analysis was performed by OpenFOAM code. A mixture assumption and a finite rate mass transfer model were introduced. The finite volume method is used to solve the governing equations of the mixture model and the pressure-velocity coupling is handled via a Pressure Implicit with Splitting of Operators (PISO) procedure. Simulation results show that the volume fraction of water vapor and the pressure uneven distribution on the main blade and splitter blade. It will lead to cavitation and fatigue damage.