From these measurements, optimized operational schemes and prototype behaviour will be determined. Such information will be beneficial for existing and refurbished prototype turbines by allowing them to operate with greater flexibility without jeopardizing their expected life and thus higher productivity.
Furthermore, the formation and mitigation of the vortex rope in the draft tube is of interest. Also known as vortex breakdown, this phenomenon is induced by centrifugal and shear instabilities which mechanism is not still completely elucidated. The control of this canonical flow will help to improve the operating range of hydraulic turbines under any type of operations.
