A vertical bulb turbine unit with elbow type draft tube has been developed due to avoidance of complicated assembling and long standstill period at overhaul in comparison with conventional horizontal bulb turbine unit. Before designing the prototype vertical bulb unit, a hydrographic model test was carried out to establish the ideal design concept for this innovative generating unit. Froude similarity is not available for vortex occurrence. Consequently, an intake structure without air entraining vortices under all the flow conditions is developed, and it is confirmed that the surge wave at load rejection is not affected harmful influence for other constructions.