Francesco Albicini
54 Vannkraftlaboratoriet Gløshaugen, Trondheim
Research
I’m working on developing a more accurate and dynamic methodology for estimating the fatigue life of hydro turbine runners operating under off-design conditions.
My research focuses on understanding why conventional fatigue assessment methods fail to capture the variable and transient loads experienced by turbines as a consequence of modern electrical grids with high renewable penetration.
The goal is to enhance the accuracy of fatigue life predictions to better reflect real operational dynamics, enabling optimised maintenance planning, greater reliability, and improved flexibility in hydropower plants.