With about 60% of the global hydropower capacity in the world, Francis turbines are the most widely used type of hydro turbine. Forward Hydro has continuously invested in R&D to increase turbine efficiency and developed specific product enhancements, to improve machine performance.
Forward Hydro has successfully completed numerous installations of Francis turbines with outputs up to 30 MW, including one of the largest Francis turbines ever made - each with a runner diameter of 6 meters
Francis turbines are very able to sustain the high mechanical stress resulting from high heads.
Characteristics of Forward Hydro Francis turbines:
Head range up to far more than 300 m
Capacity up to about 35 MW
Excellent peak, efficiency
High efficiency also at partial water flow
Compact design and low maintenance requirements by rigorous selection of best suited materials and proper design
2 or 4 bearing gen-set arrangements
Bearings rated moderately for more than 100,000 hours of operation
Guide vanes, controlled electrically or hydraulically
Runner made of high-quality and abrasion-proof stainless steel