Abstract
An experimental analysis of water pressure in the spiral casing of a Francis turbine is presented. Measurements are conducted to analyze the pressure variation in a radial section of the spiral casing in correlation wtih changes in electric generator output power. The equipment and the software used for signal acquisition and analysis are described. Pressure transducer selection and preparation are carried out to ensure acceptable accuracy for this specific experiment. Existing connectors for turbine monitoring devices are utilized as pressure measurement points in this experiment. Output power is monitored indirectly through the electric signal of the guide vanes opening, with power values used in post-processing from SCADA logs. Hydraulic pressure and pressure differences across different output power levels and operating conditions are discussed.