Hydro Alps Lab is delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Michel Cervantes, professor at Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Sweden, for a six-month scientific visit in 2026 as part of an SNSF Scientific Exchanges programme supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
The aim of this scientific mobility is to strengthen the strategic collaboration between LTU and the HES-SO Valais on a key issue for hydroelectricity: the simultaneous measurement of flow and the internal roughness of pipes and turbines under operating conditions.
An international expert in hydraulic machinery
Prof. Michel Cervantes has been a professor at LTU since 2010 and is one of the world's leading specialists in hydraulic turbines.
https://www.ltu.se/en/staff/c/michel-cervantes
In particular, he is :
- Initiator and coordinator of international workshops Francis-99, the world reference for CFD validation of Francis turbines
- European project coordinator RevHydro
- Supervisor of more than 20 doctoral students and coordinator of the Swedish Doctoral School in Hydroelectricity
His work focuses on :
- Vortex dynamics in draft tubes
- Extending the flexible operating range of turbines
- The development of innovative performance diagnosis methods
Aim of the visit: to develop and validate the RPT method
The project funded by the SNSF concerns the development and validation of a Reformulated Pressure-Time Method (RPT)
Why is this important?
In hydroelectric power stations :
- Le flow is the key parameter for calculating efficiency (IEC 60041).
- La internal roughness of pipes and turbines changes over time (sediment erosion, cavitation, deposits), having a direct impact on energy losses.
- There are currently no no standard method for simultaneously measuring flow rate and roughness in normal operation
The innovation of the RPT method
The method developed by Prof. Cervantes allows :
- Measures non-intrusive
- Without stopping the machine completely
- During normal load variations
- With simultaneous estimation of flow rate and roughness via optimisation
A three-phase experimental programme
The trip will be organised into three periods in 2026:
- Familiarisation and experimental design
- Experimental campaign on the Hydro Alps La hydraulic test benchb
- Full-scale prototype tests on Swiss hydropower plants
