Hydraulic machines test platform (IEC 60193)

Validate your reduced scale models with our independent laboratory

Supporting your new hydropower projects or turbine refurbishments with our state-of-the-art hydraulic test rig and experienced team.

Our hydraulic test rig is the only independent hydraulic test laboratory in France able to perform development and acceptance tests meeting the latest IEC standards.

Meeting the latest IEC standards

IEC standards ensure global consistency and safety in engineering. IEC 60193 specifically defines the methods for model testing of hydraulic turbines, pump-turbines and storage pumps in laboratories.

Our hydraulic test rig offers a complete solution for performing acceptance tests on Francis turbines and reversible pump-turbines, in accordance with the IEC 60193 standard. By following the IEC standard, we guarantee reliable, high-precision results that support efficiency and support the development of your hydroelectric projects in a fully independent structure.

IEC 62097 introduces a new standardised approach for converting model test data into real-world turbine performance, with a particular focus on surface roughness.

Our experts can help you analyse and scale your model test results in accordance with IEC 62097, ensuring high-quality analysis and reliable full-scale performance predictions for the hydroelectric industry, with full independence.

SuperGrid Institute hydraulic machine test platform is the only independent hydraulic test laboratory in France able to perform development and acceptance tests meeting the latest IEC 60193
With over 10 years of experience, our multidisciplinary team has supported global industry leaders through successful client projects and collaborative initiatives, while actively contributing to research and publications in the field.

Our references

Our team of hydraulic engineers has over 10 years’ experience supporting global industry leaders through successful projects and collaborative initiatives. We also contribute actively to research and publications in this area.

SuperGrid Institute's references.

Le Cheylas

Variable speed PSP
(1 x 240 MW, France)

Performance of development, preliminary and acceptance tests for ALSTOM POWER HYDRO (turbine manufacturer) and ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE (plant owner).

Variable speed reversible Francis runners.

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Kokhav Hayarden

PSP
(2 x 172 MW, Israël)

Performance of development, preliminary and acceptance tests for GE HYDRO (turbine manufacturer) and STAR PUMPED STORAGE Ltd. (plant owner).

Reversible Francis runners.

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Francis turbine

Scale model test for turbine design validation

Francis reduced scale model of Global Hydro for preliminary tests and customer acceptance test according to IEC60193 standards.

Turbine hill chart to measure the efficiency and the pressure pulsation with a tolerance below 0.3%.

Cavitation limits and the part load vortexes analysis.

Hydraulic tests to validate the turbine design.

Bilasurf project

Boost turbine efficiency & flexibility

Our experts assess the influence of riblets on the hydraulic behaviour of a hydro turbine.

We are also leading a task to translate the results from our demonstrator into recommendations for full-scale turbines, contributing to existing industry standards.

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Scientific publications

Pumped Storage Plants (PSP) using reversible pump-turbines offer the possibility to store large amounts of energy with high efficiency and at reasonable cost. For reversible high head pump-turbines, the characteristic curves exhibit an S-shape in the turbine, turbine break and reverse pump quadrants. This S-shape leads to unstable behavior of the turbine when coupling to the grid (for small guide vane opening) or to surge transient phenomena in case of emergency shutdown (for large guide vane opening). Typically the piping system can be exposed to severe pressure oscillations. Furthermore, the flow inside the pump-turbine is characterized by unsteady complex hydrodynamic phenomena. These phenomena have to be deeply investigated to improve the behavior of the pump-turbine in such operating conditions.

This paper focuses on the numerical analysis of the flow in a reversible pump-turbine in the S-shape region. For this application, we used unsteady computation applying the SAS-SST turbulence model and considered a full computational domain that includes all the component of the pump-turbine. The study highlights the evolution of the flow behavior for a large range of operating conditions: from the optimal efficiency point to the zero discharge condition, for a given constant guide vane opening.

Presented at AIRH 2016 Grenoble

This paper focuses on the set up and the validation of a numerical model for the analysis of the flow in reversible Francis pump-turbines in the S-Shape region. For such operating conditions the flow inside the pump-turbine is characterized by highly unsteady flow separations and complex rotor/stator interactions. Unsteady numerical computations were performed on scale model pump-turbines. Turbulence modelling was achieved by the SAS-SST turbulence model which allows the resolution of the largest flow instabilities.

Three different configurations of pump turbine with the same specific speed (nq≅40) were considered in this study. Several operating conditions from an operating point close to the maximum of power output to zero discharge condition for a given large guide vane opening were computed. Validation of the computational methodology was done by comparison of the CFD results with the existing model test results.

For all the considered configurations and operating conditions, the numerical model gave accurate results for the estimation of quantities such as the head of the pump-turbine or the torque on the runner. Moreover, the pressure fluctuations and the forces acting on the rotating part of the pump-turbine were also evaluated (or predicted). The analysis of the numerical results allows more in depth knowledge of the instabilities of the flow in pump-turbine in the S-Shape region.

Presented at SimHydro 2017

For a given hydraulic design and a given guide vane opening, pump-turbine S-shape description in the turbine quadrant can be different depending on whether measurements are performed from the high discharge to the low discharge area or vice versa. A specific device for visualizing the flow field inside the runner has been developed in a scaled model of a medium head pump turbine machine in order to analyze and understand this hysteresis phenomenon. Windows, lights, high-resolution cameras and tracers have been combined to visualize the flow field.

Flow field behavior has been studied in the runner and in the vaneless area located between the guide vanes and the runner. Two different methods of analyzing the flow field in the runner have been tested. Depending on the localization of the operating points and the direction of the S-shape description, different flow structures have been directly observed. In parallel, a study of the impact of this hysteresis on transient behavior in turbine mode has been carried out. Understanding this phenomenon is important to improve future design and to accurately measure the S-shape during model tests.

Presented at IAHR 2020

Automating test sequences

Our test rig operates in all four quadrants with fully automated operational mode settings. Test operations and mode changes are carried out directly from the control room via automated valves, enabling fast and repeatable testing.

The modular facility can accommodate different vertical shaft runners for a wide range of hydraulic models.

Equipped with high-precision measuring instruments, the platform is suitable for both development and acceptance tests. Automated systems and supervision software ensure rapid and reliable performance assessment.

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SuperGrid Institute has installed a brand-new test configuration for hydraulic profiling

Hydraulic blade profiling

This setup is located in the low-flow measurement section of the SuperGrid Institute’s IEC hydraulic platform. It enables dual flow measurement with an accuracy of 0.2%, without affecting normal operation.

Key characteristics:

  • Squared section 110 x 110 mm
  • Flow velocity from 0 to 16 m/s
  • Absolute pressure adjustment for cavitation studies
  • Variable angular position of ± 25 degrees
  • Safe, quick and easy access to the profile

A unique testing method to…

  • Evaluate hydraulic profiles

  • Study & anticipate Karman’s vortex on the training edge

  • Detect or measure cavitation

Your input is valuable

We would very much appreciate your input on the following questions:

Camille Prud'Homme - Business Development Manager

Contact our expert

Camille Prud’Homme, Business Development Manager

• Mitigate the risks of implementing new flexibility solutions, at a reasonable price

Discover our
HydroPHIL test plateform

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

We provide comprehensive characteristic diagrams of reduced-scale models, enabling us to offer an extremely detailed characterisation of your new hydraulic design. By understanding the real operating limits of your machines, we put you in a position to target new market opportunities.

Development, acceptance test and investigation tests

Francis turbines, storage pumps, PSP, reversible pump-turbines