Runner upgrading: Learning from Ontario Hydro`s experience

Planning, design, and implementation of turbine runner replacement at Ontario Hydro is described in the article. The use of fully homologous modeling for upgrade projects, including both francis and propeller runner types, is outlined. Confirmation of physical model efficiency is obtained through numerical modeling. Inlet connections, setting cavitation-erosion guarantees, and other guarantees included in tender documents are also described in some detail.