• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.28-34
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• 2013

Centrifugal pump consists of a axis, a impeller and a spiral casing. The impeller is the most important component in centrifugal pump. But to minimize flow loss in discharge passage including spiral casing, the shape of spiral casing is very important also. So, to investigate the effect of shape of the spiral casing on performance curve of pump, the characteristics of spiral casing were studied through numerical analysis for centrifugal pump used on industry field. From the results the rectangular model was showed more loss than the others because of asymmetric flow field.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.404-412
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• 2008

As a suitable volute configuration in the range of low specific speed, circular casing is suggested in this study. The internal flows in a centrifugal pump with the circular and spiral casings are measured by PIV and analyzed by CFD. The results show that the head and efficiency of the pump by a circular casing of very small radius are almost same as those by the spiral casing. Even at the best efficiency point, the internal flow of the pump by circular casing is asymmetric, and vortex and strong secondary flow occurs in the impeller passage. The radial velocity becomes higher remarkably only near the region of the discharge throat. The flow in the impeller outlet is strongly controlled by the circular casing because the velocity distribution almost does not affected by the position of the impeller blades.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.132-139
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• 2003

The effects of casing shapes on the performance and the interaction between an impeller and a casing in a small-sized centrifugal compressor are investigated. Especially, numerical analyses are conducted for the centrifugal compressor with both a circular casing and a volute one. The optimum design for each element (i.e., impeller, diffuser and casing) is important to develop an efficient and compact compressor using alternative refrigerant as working fluids. Typical rotating speed of the compressor is in the range of 40,000∼45,000 rpm. The impeller has backswept blades due to tip clearance and a vane diffuser has wedge type. In order to predict the flow pattern inside an entire impeller, vaneless diffuser and casing, calculations with multiple frames of reference method between the rotating and stationery parts of the domain are carried out. For computations of compressible turbulent flow fields, the continuity and time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are employed. To evaluate the performance of two types of casings, the static pressure recovery and loss coefficients are obtained for various flow rates. Also, static pressure distributions around casings are studied for different casing shapes, which are very important to predict the distribution of radial load. The static pressure around the casing and pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the compressor are measured for the circular casing.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.777-782
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• 2000

The flow fields in the volute casing of a small-size turbo-compressor at different flowrate (design point ${\pm}20%$) are studied by numerical analysis. The governing equations for three-dimensional steady viscous flow are solved using SIMPLE algorithm with commercial code of STAR-CD. Numerical results show that the three-dimensional flow pattern inside the volute casing of a small-size turbo-compressor is strongly influenced by secondary flows that are typically created by the curvature or the casing passages. The flow pattern in the casing also affects the performance of the turbo-compressor. In order to elucidate the loss mechanism through the volute, we prepared the secondary flow, velocity magnitude, and static pressure distribution at the four cross-sectional planes of the casing.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06e
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• pp.807-812
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• 2001

The effects of casing shapes on the interaction of the impeller and volute in a small-size turbo-compressor are investigated. Numerical analysis is conducted for the compressor with circular and single volute casings from inlet to discharge nozzle. In order to predict the flow pattern inside the entire impeller, vaneless diffuser, and casing, calculations with a multiple frame of reference method between the rotating and stationery parts of the domain are carried out. For incompressible turbulent flow fields, the continuity and three-dimensional time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are employed. To predict the performance of two types of casings, the static pressure and loss coefficients are obtained with various flow rates. Also, static pressure distributions around casings are studied for different casing shapes, which are very important to predict the distribution of radial load.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1225-1231
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• 2014

This paper presents the performance characteristic of a Francis hydro turbine with an inline casing. This turbine is designed for city water supply system. Due to large changes in ground elevation with high points and low points, some systems may experience larger-than-normal required pressures in areas with low ground elevations. One way to dissipate these excess pressures is by the use of an inline-turbine instead of an inline-pressure reducing valve. For best applicability and minimal space consumption, the turbine is designed with an inline casing instead of the common spiral casing. As a characteristic of inline casing, the flow accesses to the runner in the radial direction, showing a low efficiency. The installation of vanes improves the internal flow and gives the positive encouragement to the output power. For the power transmission to the outside of the turbine casing from the runner axis, a belt passage is designed in the inline casing, as its influence, the region after the belt passage shows a relatively low output power. The clearance gap in the runner side space is considered, in which a small volume of flow is contracted into the clearance gap, forming the leakage flow. The leakage flow leads to a decrease in the efficiency.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.5-13
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of a new type of casing for the inline Francis hydro turbine. Comparing with the traditional turbine with spiral casing, this turbine is unique for its flow passage shape at the first stage of flow to the turbine, very similar to a pipe, called inline casing. Before the commercialization of this new type of casing, a global investigation of the inline casing must be conducted. Preserving the structural characteristics of simple, compact-size and convenient for manufacture, different shapes of the belt passage, vertical corner and stay vanes are applied to investigate the influence of flow passage shape on the turbine performance. Stable and relatively high efficiency is achieved regardless of flow passage shape difference proving the feasibility of the inline casing used in a hydro turbine.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.397-402
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• 2016

This study presents the performance characteristics of a small Francis turbine with an inline casing and is a continuation of a previous study. A new runner design has been implemented using the previous facility. The specific speed of the new runner has been modified from $N_s$ 80 to $N_s$ $100m-kW-min^{-1}$. This turbine can be installed in a city water supply system. To dissipate excess pressures in the water line system an inline-turbine can be used instead of an inline-pressure reducing valve. Thus, some of the energy can be recovered by utilizing the pressure difference. For best applicability and minimal space consumption, the turbine is designed with an inline casing instead of a common spiral casing. As a characteristic of inline casing, the flow accesses to the runner are in the radial direction, showing low efficiency. The installation of vanes improves the internal flow and positively affects the output power. In contrast to the previous study, the new runner reduces the effect of the stay vanes by maintaining a higher efficiency.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.35-46
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• 2020

Recently, turbines operating in hydro power plants are required to undergo renovation and modernization due to their age exceeding 30 years. In the process of renovation or modernization, a performance test of the scaled-down model is necessary to verify the performance of the real-size model. This model test method, with criteria that is similar to that of a real turbine, is the most economical and important method. Furthermore, the shapes of the runner and guide vane can be modified or replaced easily. However, during the process of modernization, the components with the spiral casing and draft tube are impossible to repair or replace because of the buried ground. Thus, in this study, numerical analysis is conducted to investigate the hydraulic performance based on the difference between the two-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) shape and the real three-dimensional scan shape of the spiral casing and draft tube.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.45-56
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• 2015

This paper aims to develop a submerged propeller turbine for micro hydropower plant which allows to sustain high values of efficiency in a broad range of hydrological conditions (H=2~6 m, $Q=0.15{\sim}0.39m^3/s$). The two aspects to be considered in this development are mechanical simplicity and high-efficiency operation. Unlike conventional turbines that have spiral casing and gear box, this is directing driving and no spiral casing. A 10 kW class turbine which has the most high potential of the power generation has been developed. The most important element in the design of turbine is the runner blade. The initial blade is designed using inverse design method and then the runner geometry is modified by classical hydraulic method. The design process is carried out in two steps. First, the blade shape is fix and then other components of submerged propeller turbine are designed. Computational fluid dynamics analyses based on the Navier-Stokes equations have been used to obtain overall performance data for the blade and the full turbine, respectively. The results generated by performance parameters(head, guide vane opening angle and rotational speed) variations are theoretically analysed. The evaluation criteria for the blade and the turbine performances are the pressure distribution and flow's behavior on the runner blades and turbine. The results of simulation reveals an efficiency of 91.5% and power generation of 10.5kW at the best efficiency point at the head of 4m and a discharge of $0.3m^3/s$.