Influence of guide vane skirt structure on sediment erosion of high-head turbine in high hardness and sandy river.

This article focuses on improving the anti-abrasion design of guide vanes in high-head Francis turbines operating in the sediment-rich and high-hardness waters of the Kezilesu River Basin, China. By numerically analyzing sand-water flow and sediment erosion using the standard k-ε turbulence model and the Tabakoff–Grant erosion model, the study evaluates the effect of varying the ratio Δ (guide vane height to skirt maximum diameter) on erosion resistance. Results indicate that an optimal Δ value of 1.511 minimizes sediment velocity and erosion area under both rated and low flow conditions, outperforming the original and more reduced skirt designs. The findings provide a technical basis for designing guide vanes with enhanced abrasion resistance in similar sediment-laden hydropower environments, and the Δ = 1.511 design has been successfully adopted at the Xiate Hydropower Station.