Turbine and hydroelectric power plant for very low head
First Claim
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1. A turbine for a hydroelectric power plant intended to equip a water stream at the level of a very low head lower than 10 meters comprising:
- a helix-shaped wheel,a carter crossed by an opening comprising a cylindrical portion, the wheel comprising blades arranged at the level of the cylindrical portion,a hub on which the blades are assembled,a fixed box, the hub being rotatably assembled on the fixed box, anda distributor upstream of the wheel with respect to the water flow and comprising profiles connecting the fixed box to the carter,wherein the opening comprises a converging portion upstream of the cylindrical portion with respect to the water flow and a diverging portion downstream of the cylindrical portion with respect to the water flow, the ratio between the thickness of the carter according to the rotation axis of the wheel and the wheel diameter being smaller than 0.5, and whereinthe wheel comprises a diameter and rotational speed configured to produce a target ratio (K) between the kinetic energy of the water flow having a velocity (V) coming out of the wheel and the potential energy of the head (H) of the water stream entering the wheel is defined by the relationship K=(100V2)/2 gH, wherein K is smaller than 20%.
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Abstract
A turbine for a hydroelectric power plant intended to equip a water stream at the level of a very low head lower than 10 meters, and preferably from 1 to 5 meters, comprising a helix-shaped wheel, the ratio between the kinetic energy of the water flow coming out of the wheel and the potential energy of the head being smaller than 20%.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A turbine for a hydroelectric power plant intended to equip a water stream at the level of a very low head lower than 10 meters comprising:
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a helix-shaped wheel, a carter crossed by an opening comprising a cylindrical portion, the wheel comprising blades arranged at the level of the cylindrical portion, a hub on which the blades are assembled, a fixed box, the hub being rotatably assembled on the fixed box, and a distributor upstream of the wheel with respect to the water flow and comprising profiles connecting the fixed box to the carter, wherein the opening comprises a converging portion upstream of the cylindrical portion with respect to the water flow and a diverging portion downstream of the cylindrical portion with respect to the water flow, the ratio between the thickness of the carter according to the rotation axis of the wheel and the wheel diameter being smaller than 0.5, and wherein the wheel comprises a diameter and rotational speed configured to produce a target ratio (K) between the kinetic energy of the water flow having a velocity (V) coming out of the wheel and the potential energy of the head (H) of the water stream entering the wheel is defined by the relationship K=(100V2)/2 gH, wherein K is smaller than 20%. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hydroelectric power plant intended to equip a water stream at the level of a very low head lower than 10 meters, comprising:
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a turbine (30) comprising a helix-shaped wheel, a support delimiting a flow passage in which the head is created and in which the turbine is arranged, and comprising means for displacing the turbine with respect to the support between a first position where the turbine completely closes the passage and at least one second position where the turbine partially closes the passage, wherein the wheel comprises a diameter and rotational speed configured to produce a target ratio K between the kinetic energy of the water flow having a velocity (V) coming out of the wheel and of the potential energy of the head (H) of the water stream entering the wheel is defined by the relationship K=(100V2)/2 gH, wherein K is smaller than 20% such that the turbine avoids having a draft tube arranged downstream of the turbine.
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8. A method of operating a turbine of a hydroelectric power plant in a low head water stream, the method comprising:
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configuring the turbine to achieve a target ratio (K) between the kinetic energy of the water flow exiting the turbine and the potential energy of the head to be less than 20%, wherein the ratio is defined by K=(100V2)/2 gH, where g is the gravitational constant, V is the velocity of the water stream output from the turbine and H is the head height, wherein when operating the turbine in the low head water stream of height H, the target ratio is achieved, and displacing the turbine with respect to a support between a first position where the turbine completely closes a passage and at least one second position where the turbine partially closes the passage, wherein the support delimits the flow passage in which the head is created and in which the turbine is arranged. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification