Small Hydropower | Hydraulic Machinery Laboratory

LAMH
Turbine testing at the Hydraulic
Machinery Laboratory

Laval University, Quebec, Quebec
CanmetENERGY and its project partners use LAMH for the testing and development of low-head and medium-head hydraulic turbines. With its universal test bench, the LAMH can offer a wide range of experimental testing conditions, including the testing of a wide range of different types of hydraulic turbines (Francis, Kaplan, propeller and bulb). Instrumentation equipped with well-established procedures and attended by highly qualified platform engineers ensures that laboratory tests meet the IEC International Standards.
Tests that can be carried out in the facility, for a variety of turbine types and sizes, are as follows:

  • Performance tests and evaluation of the efficiency curve of the turbine under both part and full load conditions and visualization of the cork screw vortex
  • Evaluation of the onset of cavitation and flow visualizations at different Thoma numbers
  • Measurements of the velocity and pressure fields
  • Vibration studies
  • Axial and radial thrust measurements
  • Static and dynamic thrust measurements on the guide-vanes
  • Torque, force and pressure measurements on the runner-blades
  • Runaway tests

NRCan supports LAMH through project-directed funding. The Hydraulic Machinery Laboratory (LAMH) External Hyperlink is an independent hydro turbine-testing laboratory.