The St. Anthony Falls Independent Turbine Test Facility

Abstract

In the summer of 1986, the Saint Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory (SAFHL) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the development of an independent turbine test facility (ITTF). As a cost sharing project by SAFHL and the DOE, the establishment of an ITTF in the United States provides capabilities needed to the United States hydropower industry. The SAFHL ITTF will aid in the development of improved turbine designs, as well as provide a facility for cavitation, aspiration, and draft tube studies. In addition, the ITTF can provide access to model testing for small manufacturers, as well as being available for comparative model testing [1]. Finally, the ITTF is also a significant instructional tool in training of capable young hydropower engineers.