Analysis of the Mode Shapes of Kaplan Runners

To prevent lifetime shortening and premature failure in turbine runners, it is of paramount importance to analyse and understand its dynamic response and determine the factors that affect it. In this paper, the dynamic response of a Kaplan runner is analysed in air by numerical and experimental methods. First, to start the analysis of Kaplan runner mode shapes, its geometry is simplified and modelled as a bladed disk. Bladed disks with different blade numbers are investigated, by numerical simulation, in order to understand the influence of this parameter on its modal characteristics. Then, mode shapes extracted are characterized and a classification is proposed. Second, an existing Kaplan runner is simulated by Finite Elements Method (FEM) and its mode shapes are extracted. The obtained results are contrasted with the bladed disks mode shapes, in order to validate the classification proposed. The simulated Kaplan runner is also experimentally studied. A numerical modal analysis is carried out in the real runner. Different, global and local, mode shapes are identified. The global mode shapes extracted by numerical and experimental modal analysis are compared and discussed. Finally, the local mode shapes identified are commented and explained by means of numerical simulation.