Hydraulic Turbine Design Software |
 TURBOdesign Suite

The inverse design method can be applied to hydraulic turbines. Our software enables design of high efficiency stages at multiple operating points with direct control of cavitation.

 
 

Our TURBOdesign Suite software applies the 3D Inverse Design method to the design of hydraulic turbines. Using 3D Inverse Design will allow you to optimize performance, increase component and stage efficiency, and reduce development time.


Breakthrough Runner, Spiral Casing and Vane Designs

 

The 3D Inverse Design method allows direct control of the 3D flow field, so can be used to eliminate regions of potential cavitation or separation throughout the stage in all the stationary and rotating components. This can lead to significant performance improvements and the mitigation of component damage, instability or vibration.


See below a comparison between conventional design versus 3D Inverse Design

Hydraulic Turbine Applications

 

A brief summary introduction to the different hydraulic turbine applications you can use TURBOdesign Suite for

Case Studies

 

Success Stories - how customers overcame design challenges by using TURBOdesign

Consultancy Summaries

 

ADT's Engineering turnkey turbomachinery solutions for leading manufacturers across key industries

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Frequently Asked Questions

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The 3D Inverse Design methodology enables optimization of Kaplan, and Francis type turbines, which covers the full range of specific speed and head ranges seen in hydraulic turbine applications. These machines can be tailored for specific operating conditions, including cavitation performance, efficiency across varying heads and flows, and noise reduction.

Design capabilities extend to multi-stage configurations, pump-turbine combinations for energy storage applications, and custom hydraulic machinery for industrial processes requiring precise flow and pressure characteristics.

TURBOdesign Suite produces optimized blade shapes and volutes to maximize efficiency, reduce cavitation risk, and extend equipment lifespan. It also enables precise control over pressure loading distributions and flow characteristics, allowing engineers to design hydraulic components that operate smoothly across a wide range of conditions. The integrated CFD analysis capabilities validate performance predictions and identify potential issues early in the design process, while the optimization algorithms automatically refine geometries to meet specific performance targets such as maximum efficiency or minimum NPSH requirements.

Francis and Kaplan turbines are all supported. We focus on optimizing flow passage and blade form for hydro applications. Francis turbines are designed for medium-head applications with emphasis on runner blade optimization and spiral casing geometry to maximize efficiency across varying loads. Kaplan turbines feature adjustable blades for low-head, high-flow conditions, requiring careful design of both runner and guide vanes to maintain performance flexibility. 

Designs from TURBOdesign Suite exports geometries seamlessly for simulation and validation in platforms such as Ansys, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, and Cadence Fine Turbo. This direct integration enables engineers to quickly transition from turbine design to comprehensive CFD analysis, allowing for efficient flow validation, cavitation assessment, and performance optimization using industry-standard simulation tools. The streamlined workflow eliminates manual geometry conversion steps, saving time and reducing potential errors in the design-to-analysis process.

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