HPT Lab

The lab is constituted by a closed-loop rig for experimental tests and studies on hydraulic pumps, turbines and PAT (Pumps As Turbines). Due to the possibility to test pumps both in direct and reverse mode, two hydraulic circuits can be set by acting ON/OFF valves. The turbo machinery under investigation is installed in the test section where it is directly coupled with a DC motor controlled by a four-quadrant converter. The electric machine works as motor during “pump test” and generator during “turbine test”. The test section is provided by a special platform with a rail system, allowing the investigation of turbomachinery of different size.
During “turbine tests”, a booster pump, driven by another DC motor, supplies the hydraulic energy through pipelines to the turbine. In this case, the motor that drives the booster pump is partially powered by the turbine.
The operating range of the test rig is defined by H-Q characteristics of the booster pump and the constant power line corresponding to the maximum capacity of the loading generator.
-    Turbine tests:
•    Max test head equal to 280 mH2O.
•    Max discharge equal to 650 m3/h.
•    Max rotational speed of the testing machine: 2400 RPM
•    Max power equal to 480 kW
-    Pump tests:
•    Max test head equal to 270 mH2O.
•    Max discharge equal to 350 m3/h.
•    Max rotational speed of the testing machine: 2400 RPM
•    Max power equal to 480 kW

The test rig is equipped with a surge tank with a capacity of 8 m3 and an air pressure control system that can increase the absolute pressure up to 11 bar(abs). In the case of cavitation tests, a vacuum pump can reduce the absolute tank pressure to 0.2 bar(abs);
During machine characterization, a closed loop cooling system controls the water temperature in the test rig (25 ± 0,1 °C);
The test rig is equipped by a control and the data logging system, installed in a control room.
Another open-loop hydraulic circuit is used to study and test turbines for low head hydropower applications.