Investigation on sediment erosion in bucket region of Pelton turbine considering cavitation

In the context of constructing high-head hydro-power stations, the Pelton turbine assumes a critical role as the primary energy converter. This study employs the Eulerian–Lagrangian method to simulate the multi-phase flow occurring within the Pelton turbine bucket. Furthermore, it introduces a novel aspect by investigating and comparing the effects of cavitation on erosion within the bucket region under varying conditions of sediment-water, involving different particle sizes and concentrations. The research findings unveiled several key insights. Primarily, cavitation predominantly influences the flow characteristics of particles at the air–liquid interface, while particles with larger sizes tend to concentrate in the center of the jet. Consequently, cavitation's impact on erosion is more pronounced in the case of smaller-sized particles. Moreover, the study revealed that cavitation can either exacerbate erosion under high particle concentration conditions or mitigate it when particle concentration is low. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted variations in the degree of erosion and the affected area of the bucket based on different position angles. Particularly, at a position angle of 65°, the presence of water vapor induced by cavitation alters particle trajectories, thereby modifying the overall erosion pattern of the bucket. These findings collectively contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between cavitation and erosion within the Pelton turbine bucket.