We have successfully completed model testing of the reversible Francis turbine being developed for the modernization of the Orlík Hydropower Plant. At our Hydraulic Laboratory in Blansko, we verified the hydraulic performance, efficiency and operational stability of the new turbine before moving to manufacturing of the full-scale unit.
Testing before manufacturing
Before we manufacture a new turbine, we need to thoroughly verify its hydraulic performance. For the Orlík project, we developed a scaled model of the reversible Francis turbine and tested it under a range of operating conditions at our Hydraulic Laboratory in Blansko.
The model was built at a 1:13 scale, with a runner diameter of approximately 421 mm, representing the full-scale turbine with a runner diameter of around five metres. During the testing programme, we simulated the operating conditions that the full-size machine will face once installed at Orlík.
Up to 3,000 measurements
Over approximately two months of testing, we verified the key hydraulic parameters of the turbine, including efficiency, hydraulic characteristics and operational stability. Our extensive measurement programme allowed us to assess the turbine's behaviour across its operating range and confirm the design parameters before moving into full-scale manufacturing.
Model testing is a critical step in the development of the new reversible turbine. The data we obtained from the physical model allows us to further optimize the hydraulic design and ensure that the full-scale machine delivers the required performance.
Engineering the future of Orlík
The model testing is part of our wider scope as the EPC contractor for the Orlík modernization. Our responsibilities include hydraulic development, model testing, mechanical engineering and the design and delivery of four turbine runners.
The modernization will replace the original Kaplan turbines from 1961 with two Francis turbines and two reversible Francis pump-turbines, transforming Orlík into one of the Czech Republic's largest pumped-storage hydropower plants. The upgraded facility will provide up to 750 MWh of energy storage while maintaining electricity generation throughout the phased modernization.
From model to full-scale turbine
With model testing now successfully completed, we have reached another important milestone on the way to manufacturing the full-scale turbine. The results provide us with the engineering foundation for delivering a machine designed specifically for the demanding operating conditions of the modernized Orlík power plant.
For us, the successful completion of the model tests marks another important step in delivering one of the most significant pumped-storage projects in the Czech energy sector.
