https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-025-01970-9
Regular Article
Sensitivity analysis of IEC 62364 erosion model in predicting hydro-abrasive erosion in Francis turbine: a case study of Maneri Bhali-II hydropower plant, India
1
Central Workshop, Harcourt Butler Technical University Kanpur, 208002, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
2
Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, IIT Roorkee, 247667, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Harcourt Butler Technical University Kanpur, 208002, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
a
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received:
27
August
2025
Accepted:
16
September
2025
Published online:
4
October
2025
Abstract
Hydroelectric turbines are prone to hydro-abrasive erosion in hilly areas. The present study encompasses the erosion behavior of the Francis turbine installed at the Maneri Bhali-II hydropower plant in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. Site-specific parameters are investigated for real-time monitoring of hydro-abrasive erosion in turbine components. An attempt has also been made to select suitable operating conditions for the Francis turbine under different silt conditions. The range of selected parameters i.e. suspended sediment concentrations, silt size, shape factor, characteristic velocity and operating time, has been obtained for the Francis turbine. Different alternatives, P-1 to P-20, have been established based on the identified parameter range. Each alternative has been analyzed using the Preference Selection Index (PSI) algorithm as a Multiple Criteria Decision Method to rank 20 operating alternatives built from parametric ranges (concentration, silt size, shape, velocity and time). It has been observed that the maximum revenue generation and minimum erosion from the generating unit correspond to the P-2 alternative, which represents silt parameters, i.e., SSC as 1000 ppm, Silt size as 110 μm, working hours as 3000 h, characteristic velocity as 36.6 m/s, and shape factor of 0.65. The present study also predicts the accuracy of the IEC 62364 erosion model and analyze the sensitivity analysis to compute the actual amount of erosion in Francis Turbine components. The most influential parameters of silt erosion have been identified. The silt properties, mainly velocity, silt concentration, silt size, and operating time, are the most influential parameters and change more frequently during the rainy season.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
