Francis turbine
All-rounder among water turbines
Francis turbines can be used universally. After all, spiral turbines have a higher efficiency (up to 95 percent) than turbines without spiral housing and are used at heads of up to 700 meters and medium flow rates. However, efficiency is lower when water volumes fluctuate greatly - for example, in low-pressure power plants on rivers at heads of up to 700 m.
Francis turbine: Principle of operation and possibilities
Designed in 1849 by the American engineer James B. Francis, the Francis turbine is the most widely used type of water turbine. The turbine is a successor to the Fourneyron turbine; the water flows radially from the outside, through a mostly spiral-shaped inlet pipe, via a fixed guide wheel with adjustable blades onto the runner. A draft tube acting as a diffusor diverts the water after it has passed through the runner. With the aid of the guide vanes at the inlet, the flow rate and thus the output of the overpressure turbine can be controlled - this requires an enormous amount of design work.
Stellba Hydro is able to realize tailor-made solutions for every location. Our experienced specialists make it possible to maintain existing turbines as far as possible: We replace worn parts and inefficient components and use flow simulations to tap previously unused potential. In this way, we increase the annual output of your Francis turbine in the long term in a cost-effective manner.
Your plant operates with a Francis turbine?
The efficient use of water turbines requires decades of expertise. Let us accompany you - from revision to optimization.
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You are aiming to increase the performance of your power plant?
The Stellba flow simulation shows you exactly by what percentage you can increase the efficiency of your plant or what savings potential exists for your operating costs. Contact us and convince yourself of the efficiency of our innovative process. The costs for the simulation will be credited to your order value.
Would you like to learn more about our services?
Revise, modernise, optimise: Take a look at our references. There you will find out how to increase the efficiency of your Francis turbine.
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Stellba Hydro GmbH & Co KG I Eiffelstr. 4 I D-89542 Herbrechtingen I Tel. +49 7324 96 80 0 I Fax +49 7324 96 80 66 I E-mail: info@stellba-hydro.de