The high geometrical and functional diversity of the installations, dimensional optimization for cost reduction purposes, and necessity of validating the design and layouts, lead, in most cases, to the perfonnance of tests on reduced scale models, for the water adduction and suction installations in particular.
The CERG establishment (Design and research center of ALSTOM Fluides et Mécanique) is definitely engaged in such types of experimental studies, to cope with the requirements of the Alstom company and its external customers. The goal at stake is to optimize water collection from the following viewpoints:
- avoidance of vortex and air entrainment at pump inlet,
- homogeneous velocity profile in the suction manifold, and reduced fluctuations,
- absence of pre-rotation at pump inlet,
- study of the effects of constructive modifications.