CA3141514A1

CA3141514A1 - Turbine device

Info

Publication number: CA3141514A1
Application number: CA3141514A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Carl Stahle
Original assignee: Frideco AG
Current assignee: Frideco AG
Priority date: 2019-05-23
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2020-11-26
Also published as: HUE063780T2; DE102019113848A1; BR112021023494A2; DK3973176T3; FI3973176T3; EP3973176A1; WO2020234285A1; EP3973176B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a turbine device (10a-b), in particular a Kaplan, tubular and/or Straflo turbine device, comprising at least one line unit (12a-b) for conducting at least one fluid flow and comprising at least one impeller blade unit (16a-b) which is arranged within the line unit (12a-b), can rotate about an axis of rotation (14a-b), and has at least one impeller blade (18a-b). According to the invention, the turbine device (10a-b) has a protective unit (20a-b) which is provided to push objects flowing in the fluid flow in the direction of the axis of rotation (14a-b) in at least one operating state.

Description

TITLE: Turbine device Field of Invention: The invention relates generally to a turbine device, and more specifically to a water turbine device.
.. State of the art The invention concerns a turbine device according to the preamble of claim 1, a hydropower plant according to claim 14 with a corresponding turbine device and a method for designing a hydropower plant according to claim 15.
Document EP 2 295 808 A2 discloses a turbine device with stator vanes which are .. inclined at a flat angle in order to avoid injury to fish.
The objective of the invention is in particular to provide a generic device with im-proved characteristics regarding safety, in particular fish-friendliness, in particular while at least largely maintaining efficiency. The objective is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claims 1 and 15 while advantageous imple-.. mentations and further developments of the invention may be gathered from the subclaims.
Advantages of the invention The invention is based on a turbine device, in particular Kaplan turbine device, tubular turbine device and/or Straflo turbine device, with at least one conduction unit for a conduction of at least one fluid flow and with at least one impeller vane unit, which is arranged within the conduction unit, which is rotatable around a rota-tion axis and which comprises at least one impeller vane.
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 2 -It is proposed that the turbine device comprises a protective unit which is config-ured, in at least one operating state, to urge objects flowing in the fluid flow, in par-ticular flotsam and preferentially fish, in particular eel, in a direction toward the ro-tation axis. In this way, in particular damaging of the objects by sharp outer edges of the impeller vane is avoidable. Advantageously, a safe and/or fish-friendly im-plementation of the impeller vane can be limited on a partial zone of the impeller vane which is closest to the rotation axis.
By a "turbine device- is in particular a device to be understood which is configured to convert a kinetic energy of a fluid, in particular water, into rotational energy, in .. particular of a shaft of the turbine device. Preferably the kinetic energy is created by a conversion of a potential energy of the fluid. Advantageously a flow direction of the fluid flow runs at least partly along a gravity direction. In particular, the con-duction unit defines the flow direction of the fluid flow.
By a "conduction unit" is in particular a unit to be understood which is configured to .. conduct the fluid flow. Preferentially the conduction unit comprises at least one, in particular tube-shaped, conduction element. Preferentially the conduction unit comprises at least one entry and an exit, between which the impeller vane unit is arranged. In particular, a flow direction of the fluid flow may vary between the entry and the exit in a continuous and/or in a disconnected manner.
By an "impeller vane unit" is in particular a unit to be understood which is config-ured, in the operating state, to be subject to a rotation movement caused by a fluid flowing past. Preferentially the impeller vane unit is operatively connected to at least one generator unit of the turbine device, which converts a rotational energy of the impeller vane unit into electrical energy. In particular, the turbine device comprises at least one shaft, which defines the rotation axis. Advantageously, the impeller vane unit comprises at least one impeller vane hub that is fastened to the shaft. The impeller vane hub in particular carries the impeller vane. In particular, the impeller vane may be rotatable relative to the impeller vane hub.
Alternatively, the impeller vane could be firmly connected to the impeller vane hub.
Preferably Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 3 -the impeller vane comprises at least one mounting element, which enables a mounting of the impeller vane on the impeller vane hub and/or defines an adjust-ment rotation axis of the impeller vane relative to the impeller vane hub.
Alterna-tively or additionally, the impeller vane unit may comprise at least one blade ring which, in particular in a view along the rotation axis, encompasses all impeller vanes of the impeller vane unit. In particular, the blade ring adjoins outer edges of all impeller vanes.
The impeller vane in particular comprises at least one blade, which preferably comprises blade regions which are situated opposite each other, in particular with respect to the adjustment rotation axis. A "blade region" is in particular to mean, in this context, a portion of the blade that is different from a pure surface and which comprises at least 20 %, advantageously at least 30 % and preferentially at least 40 % of a volume of the blade. In particular, the two blade regions may form the entire blade. Advantageously, the first blade region forms a front side of the impel-ler vane and the second blade region forms a rear side of the impeller vane.
By a "front side" is in particular, in this context, a portion of the blade to be understood which is arranged closer to an entry of the conduction unit than a rear side.
Advan-tageously, the blade comprises two opposite-situated main surfaces, which are preferably defined by the two blade regions together. By a "main surface of the im-peller vane" is in particular, in this context, a surface to be understood which de-fines a side of the blade. Preferably the impeller vane comprises at least two oppo-site-situated main surfaces. It would be conceivable that both blade regions are implemented axially symmetrically to each other, in particular axially symmetrically to the adjustment rotation axis. In particular, the impeller vane comprises at least one outer edge, which preferentially defines a common outer edge of the two blade regions. In particular, the front side comprises at least one front edge that is situated opposite the outer edge. In particular, the rear side comprises at least one rear edge that is situated opposite the outer edge. The outer edge may in particu-lar be realized as a continuous edge. Alternatively, the outer edge could be inter-rupted by at least one stabilization element of the impeller vane. By a "stabilization Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 4 -element" is in particular, in this context, a component of the impeller vane to be un-derstood that is configured to stabilize the impeller vane in an operating state, preferably during a rotation of the impeller vane. Particularly preferentially the sta-bilization element is implemented integrally with the blade. In particular, the blade regions, the mounting element and the stabilization element are implemented inte-grally with one another. "Integrally" is in particular to mean at least connected by substance-to-substance bond, for example by a welding process, a gluing pro-cess, an injection-molding process and/or another process that is deemed expedi-ent by someone skilled in the art, and/or advantageously formed in one piece, like for example by a production from a cast and/or by a production in a one-compo-nent and/or multi-component injection-molding procedure, and advantageously from a single blank.
Preferably the turbine device is realized as a Kaplan turbine device. By a "Kaplan turbine device" is in particular a turbine device to be understood in which the flow direction of a fluid hitting on the impeller vane runs at least approximately parallel to the rotation axis. "At least approximately" is here in particular to mean that the flow direction and the rotation axis together include an angle of maximally 40 , ad-vantageously no more than 35 , advantageously maximally 30 and especially ad-vantageously maximally 25 . Preferentially the impeller vane of the Kaplan turbine device is realized so as to be adjustable.
The objects may preferably comprise objects occurring within water bodies by na-ture, like for example water plants and/or aquatic life forms, in particular fish, in particular eel, and/or crabs and/or shells. It would also be conceivable that the ob-jects comprise foodstuffs and/or terrestrial plants and/or terrestrial life forms. By an object being "urged" in a direction is in particular to be understood, in this context, that a movement of the object counter to the direction is encumbered, and/or a movement along the direction is facilitated, and/or the object is transported in the direction. Preferentially the protective unit is free of sharp edges, at least in a re-gion that is accessible by the objects. Advantageously, the protective unit is free of abutment surfaces extending perpendicularly to a movement direction of the Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 5 -objects. Especially advantageously the protective unit induces a continuous move-ment of the objects toward the rotation axis. It would be conceivable that the pro-tective unit is mounted on a remaining turbine device in an at least partially releas-able fashion.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the protective unit is configured to conduct the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis. Preferentially the protective unit conducts the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis by a shaping of the protective unit. In particular, the protective unit comprises subregions which, upon a contact of the flowing objects with the subregions, make the objects slide off to-ward the rotation axis. Advantageously the protective unit comprises at least one deflection element that is configured to deflect a movement direction of the ob-jects. In particular, the deflection element is embodied as a mechanical element. It would be conceivable that the deflection element is embodied as a rail, which is in particular realized separately from the impeller vane unit and steers the flowing ob-jects radially toward the rotation axis before a contact with the impeller vane unit.
In this way, in particular a movement of the flowing objects radially toward the rota-tion axis, which is gentle and easily implementable, is enabled.
Advantageously, damaging of the flowing objects is avoidable by the movement of the flowing ob-jects radially toward the rotation axis. Especially advantageously, the movement of the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis is achievable without substan-tial additional energy consumption and/or without substantial reduction of an effi-ciency of the turbine device.
Advantageously, the protective unit is implemented at least partly integrally with the impeller vane unit. By two units being implemented "at least partly integrally"
with each other is in particular to be understood, in this context, that the two units have at least one element in common. Preferentially, the protective unit is imple-mented at least partly integrally with the impeller vane. This in particular allows achieving a compact and robust implementation of the protective unit. Advanta-geously, in comparison to a separately realized protective unit, construction space Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 6 -can be saved. Particularly advantageously a loosening and/or displacement of the protective unit during operation of the turbine device can be avoided.
Beyond this it is proposed that the protective unit comprises at least one contour element of the impeller vane. By a "contour element" is in particular an element of an object to be understood which, in a view of the object along a predefined view-ing direction, defines an outer contour of the object at least partially.
Preferentially the predefined viewing direction onto the contour element is perpendicular to a main surface of the impeller vane. That the contour element, in a view along the viewing direction, "at least partially defines" the outer contour of the object, is in particular to mean, in this context, that in a view along the viewing direction, the contour element defines the outer contour of the object at least by 10%, advanta-geously at least by 20 % and especially advantageously at least by 30 %. In partic-ular, the contour element comprises at least one edge of the impeller vane. An "edge" is in particular to mean a surface zone of the impeller vane which connects the main surfaces of the blade. The edge could be implemented, for example, smooth or rounded. This in particular allows improving a protection of the flowing objects. Advantageously, damaging of the flowing objects by the impeller vane can be avoided.
In order to further increase a protection of the flowing objects, it is proposed that the contour element forms a front edge of the impeller vane at least partly, advan-tageously to a large extent and preferably completely. This in particular allows achieving a gentle implementation of the front edge, which is in the prior art partic-ularly dangerous for flowing objects. Advantageously, cutting up of the objects caused by a rotation movement of the front edge can be avoided.
It is also proposed that the front edge is implemented at least substantially in a sickle shape. By "at least substantially" is in particular to be understood that a dif-ference is within customary manufacturing tolerances. By the front edge of the im-peller vane being implemented "in a sickle shape" is in particular to be understood, in this context, that the front edge has a curvature and at least one end of the edge Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 7 -meets a further end of a further edge, in particular the outer edge, of the impeller vane, which has a further curvature, and thus contributes to the formation of a tip.
A "curvature" is in particular to mean, in this context, a local change in a course di-rection, in particular in a movement from the first end of the front edge to the sec-ond end of the front edge. By an "end" is in particular, in this context, a portion of the front edge to be understood which delimits the front edge outwardly along a course direction of the front edge, and whose length is maximally 20 %, advanta-geously maximally 15 %, preferentially no more than 10 % and particularly prefer-entially no more than 5 % of a length of the front edge. By a "tip" is in particular a portion of a body to be understood which delimits the body outwardly in at least one direction and which has a shape tapering along the direction.
Preferentially the tip is oriented such that it points away from the rotation axis. In particular, a blade region comprising the front edge is embodied as a sickle.
Advantageously, at least in a view perpendicularly onto at least one main surface of the impeller vane, the front edge is implemented in an arc shape. "In a view perpendicularly onto a surface" is in particular to mean a viewing direction which includes a right angle with a point of the surface it is intersecting with. In particular, the perpendic-ular view onto the surface may depend on a viewed point of the surface. By an "arc-shaped front edge" is in particular, in this context, an edge to be understood which has a curvature extending over the entire edge and preferably changing continuously. Preferably the front edge is curved toward the rotation axis.
This in particular allows improving a conduction of the flowing objects toward the rotation axis. Advantageously, projections and/or protruding tips and/or corners of the front edge, which could damage the flowing objects, are avoidable.
It is further proposed that in at least one operative position of the impeller vane unit, the front edge penetrates a plane extending perpendicularly to the rotation axis in at least one intersection point which, in an imaginary movement of the plane parallel to the rotation axis, is displaced in a radially non-uniform manner. In particular, the imaginary movement of the plane at least substantially describes a movement of the flowing objects. Advantageously, the intersection point is Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 8 -displaced toward the rotation axis. Preferably, with a constant movement velocity of the plane, the intersection point is displaced with an increasing, in particular continuously increasing, movement velocity. This in particular allows achieving a gentle conduction of the flowing objects toward the rotation axis. It is advanta-geously possible to ensure a conduction of the flowing objects to the rotation axis before the flowing objects pass the front edge. Especially advantageously, damag-ing of the flowing objects by too abrupt conduction of the flowing objects is avoida-ble.
For the purpose of increasing efficiency, it is proposed that in at least one view perpendicularly onto a main surface of the impeller vane and in an imaginary movement of a point from one end of the front edge to a further end of the front edge, a movement direction of the point rotates in a direction by at least 70 , in particular by at least 120 , advantageously by at least 170 , preferentially by at least 220 and especially preferentially by at least 270 . In particular, a first end of the front edge is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the rotation axis.
Prefera-bly a second end of the front edge contributes to the formation of the tip. As a re-sult of this, it is in particular possible to catch objects flowing through an individual impeller vane over a large region and to urge them toward the rotation axis.
In the perpendicular view a maximum perpendicular distance between a connect-ing line of two end points of the front edge and any remaining point of the front edge is in particular at least 15 %, advantageously at least 25 %, preferentially at least 35 % and particularly preferentially at least 45 % of a length of the connect-ing line. Advantageously the distance defines a local movement velocity of the in-tersection point to the rotation axis. This in particular allows increasing safety in an efficient manner. It is advantageously possible to provide a material-saving light-weight impeller vane with augmented safety, in particular augmented fish-friendli-ness.
The front edge advantageously has a rounding, which connects at least one first main surface of the impeller vane to at least one opposite-situated second main Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 9 -surface of the impeller vane. In particular, the rounding constitutes a concave par-tial zone of the impeller vane. Advantageously, in a view of a cross section contour of the rounding perpendicularly to the main surfaces, a maximum perpendicular distance between a connecting line of two end points of the rounding and any re-maining point of the rounding is maximally 40 %, advantageously maximally 35 %, preferentially no more than 30 % and especially preferentially maximally 25 %
of a length of the connecting line. Preferably the perpendicular distance decreases ra-dially in a direction toward the rotation axis. This in particular allows even better avoidance of a damaging of the flowing objects during conduction. Advanta-geously, cutting up of the flowing objects by the front edge is avoidable.
It is further proposed that a thickness of the front edge increases, preferably con-tinuously, radially in a direction toward the rotation axis. Advantageously the rounding of the front edge flattens in proportion to a thickness of the front edge.
Preferentially the front edge is aligned with the mounting element. In this way in .. particular damaging of the flowing objects in a proximity of the rotation axis can be avoided in a simple manner. Advantageously, in an impact of the flowing objects on an end region of the front edge that faces toward the rotation axis, impact forces can be distributed on a larger area.
Preferentially the thickness increases radially in a direction toward the rotation axis by at least 200 %, advantageously by at least 400 %, preferentially by at least 600 % and especially preferentially by at least 800 %. As a result, even better avoidance of damaging of the flowing objects in a proximity of the rotation axis is enabled. Advantageously, the rounding of the front edge can be implemented suf-ficiently flat so as to prevent a cutting up of the flowing objects by the front edge.
For the purpose of effectively increasing fish-friendliness, it is proposed that the impeller vane is implemented in a rotationally non-symmetrical manner. By a body being "rotationally non-symmetrical" is in particular to be understood that the body is free of rotational symmetries with respect to any rotation axes. In particular, both blade regions are free of rotational symmetries relative to each other.
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 10 -Advantageously, the second blade region has a rear edge extending at least sub-stantially straight in a view perpendicularly to the main surface of the impeller vane. Advantageously, an implementation of a rear edge, which will not contact the flowing objects anyway, with increased safety characteristics can be dispensed .. with. Especially advantageously, the further blade region having the rear edge may instead be implemented for an optimum energy production.
Beyond this it is proposed that the protective unit comprises at least one shielding element, which is configured to at least encumber an entry of objects into a region between a radial outer side of the impeller vane and at least one wall of the con-duction unit. In particular, the shielding element may be configured, in a view along the rotation axis, to cover a region between a radial outer side of the impeller vane and at least one wall of the conduction unit. By the shielding element "covering"
the region is in particular to be understood that the shielding element encumbers, preferably prevents, a movement of the flowing objects into the region. By a "radial outer side" is in particular a side of the impeller vane to be understood which faces away from the rotation axis. In particular, the outer edge of the impeller vane de-fines the radial outer side of the impeller vane. In particular, the blade ring could contribute to an encumbering of the entry of the objects into the region between the radial outer side and the wall. This in particular allows augmenting a safety of the outer edge. Advantageously damaging of the flowing objects by the outer edge is avoidable.
In an alternative implementation, the shielding element could be implemented as a separate additional element, which is fastened on the conduction unit.
Preferen-tially the shielding element is implemented at least partly integrally with the con-duction unit and is preferably implemented as a set-off of the conduction unit. In particular, the shielding element connects a first subregion of the conduction unit, which faces toward the entry, to the wall, which is in particular part of a second subregion of the conduction unit that faces toward the exit. In particular, the wall and/or the second subregion may have a diameter that is larger than or substan-.. tially identical to a first diameter of the first subregion. A value and/or an element Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 11 -being "at least substantially identical" to a further value and/or element is in partic-ular to mean that the value and/or the element has a deviation of maximally 20 %, advantageously maximally 15 %, preferentially maximally 10 % and especially preferentially maximally 5 % with respect to the value and/or to a shaping of the .. further element. In particular, the wall may have a straight and/or curved course.
This in particular allows augmenting a safety of the outer edge in a simple manner.
It is advantageously possible to do without additional assembly steps for a fas-tening of the shielding element.
Furthermore, a hydropower plant, in particular with augmented protection of ob-jects flowing in a fluid flow, with a turbine device according to the invention, is pro-posed. This in particular allows augmenting a safety of objects flowing through the hydropower plant, in particular flotsam and preferentially fish, in particular eel.
In a further aspect the invention is based on a method for designing a hydropower plant, in particular with augmented protection of objects flowing in a fluid flow.
It is proposed that a reduction of an efficiency due to a utilization of a turbine de-vice according to the invention is at least compensated by dispensing with at least one further protection measure for objects flowing in the fluid flow. The protection measures comprise, for example, a utilization of flotsam rakes and/or a reduction of a tine distance of flotsam rakes. In this way in particular an efficiency of the hy-dropower plant can be increased while maintaining a high safety level of the hy-dropower plant.
Herein the turbine device according to the invention shall not to be limited to the application and implementation described above. In particular, in order to fulfill a functionality that is described here, the turbine device according to the invention may comprise a number of individual elements, components and units that differs from a number given here.
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 12 -Drawings Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings two exemplary embodiments of the invention are illus-trated. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the fea-tures separately and will find further expedient combinations.
It is shown in:
Fig. 1 a schematic illustration of a hydropower plant with a turbine de-vice, Fig. 2 a close-up schematic illustration of a portion of the turbine device, Fig. 3 various schematic views of an impeller vane of the turbine device, Fig. 4 a schematic flow chart of a method for designing the hydropower plant, Fig. 5 a close-up schematic illustration of a portion of a further turbine device, and Fig. 6 various schematic views of a further impeller vane of the further turbine device.
Description of the exemplary embodiment Figure 1 shows a hydropower plant 44a. The hydropower plant 44a presents aug-.. mented protection of objects (not shown) flowing in a fluid flow (not shown). The hydropower plant 44a comprises a retaining dam 46a. The hydropower plant 44a comprises an engine house 48a.
The hydropower plant 44a comprises a turbine device 10a. A portion of the turbine device 10a is shown in more detail in figure 2. The turbine device 10a is embodied Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 13 -as a Kaplan turbine device. Alternatively, the turbine device 10a could as well be embodied as a tubular turbine device and/or as a Straflo turbine device.
The turbine device 10a comprises a conduction unit 12a. The conduction unit 12a is configured for a conduction of the fluid flow. The conduction unit 12a is imple-mented as a tube system. The conduction unit 12a comprises an entry opening 50a. The conduction unit 12a comprises an exit opening 52a. The entry opening 50a and the exit opening 52a together define a direction of the fluid flow.
The fluid flow runs from the entry opening 50a to the exit opening 52a. The turbine device 10a comprises an impeller vane unit 16a. The impeller vane unit 16a is arranged within the conduction unit 12a. The impeller vane unit 16a is rotatable around a ro-tation axis 14a. The rotation axis 14a is oriented parallel to a gravity direction. Al-ternatively the rotation axis 14a could also be oriented perpendicularly to a gravity direction. The impeller vane unit 16a comprises an impeller vane hub 58a. The im-peller vane unit 16a comprises four impeller vanes which are implemented identi-cally to each other; therefore only one impeller vane 18a has been given a refer-ence numeral and will be described below. Alternatively, the impeller vane unit 16a could comprise any other number of impeller vanes. The impeller vane 18a is con-nected rotatably with the impeller vane hub 58a. The impeller vane 18a is in an op-erative position.
The impeller vane unit 16a comprises a blade ring 80a. In a view along the rotation axis 14a, the blade ring 80a encompasses the impeller vane 18a. The blade ring 80a has recesses. The impeller vane 18a comprises a stabilization element 72a.

The stabilization element 72a is configured for a stabilization of the impeller vane 18a during a rotation of the impeller vane 18a. The stabilization element 72a en-gages in one of the recesses of the blade ring 80a.
The impeller vane unit 16a is firmly fastened to a shaft 54a. The shaft 54a is oper-atively connected to a generator 56a. The generator 56a is arranged in the engine house 48a. In an operating state, the fluid flow brings the impeller vane unit 16a Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 14 -into a rotation. The impeller vane unit 16a forwards the rotation to the shaft 54a.
The generator 56a generates an electric current using the rotation of the shaft 54a.
The turbine device 10a comprises a protective unit 20a. The protective unit 20a is configured, in the operating state, to urge objects flowing in the fluid flow toward __ the rotation axis 14a. The protective unit 20a is configured to conduct the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis 14a. Alternatively the protective unit 20a could merely prevent a movement of objects, flowing in a proximity of the rotation axis 14a, away from the rotation axis 14a.
The protective unit 20a is implemented at least partly integrally with the impeller vane unit 16a. The protective unit 20a comprises a contour element 21a of the im-peller vane 18a. The contour element 21a forms a front edge 22a of the impeller vane 18a completely. Alternatively the contour element 21a could form merely a portion of the front edge 22a. The protective unit 20a comprises two shielding ele-ments 40a which are identically to each other; therefore only one of the shielding elements 40a will be described below. The shielding element 40a is configured to at least encumber an entry of objects into a region between a radial outer side of the impeller vane 18a and at least one wall 42a of the conduction unit 12a.
The shielding element 40a is implemented integrally with the conduction unit 12a.
Al-ternatively, the shielding element 40a could be implemented as a separate ele-ment and be fastened to the conduction unit 12a. The shielding element 40a con-nects an outer subregion 78a to the wall 42a. The wall 42a has a greater diameter than the outer subregion 78a. The wall 42a is embodied straight.
Alternatively, the wall 42a could be embodied curved.
Figures 3a to 3e show different schematic illustrations of the impeller vane 18a.
The impeller vane 18a comprises a mounting element 62a. The mounting element 62a assists in a fixation of the impeller vane 18a to the impeller vane hub 58a. In a mounted state, the mounting element 62a is situated completely inside the impel-ler vane hub 58a. The impeller vane 18a comprises a blade 64a. The blade 64a has a first main surface 28a and a second main surface 38a. The main surfaces Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 15 -28a, 38a are arranged opposite each other. The impeller vane 18a comprises an outer edge 60a. The outer edge 60a connects the two main surfaces 28a, 38a to each other. The outer edge 60a defines the radial outer side of the impeller vane 18a.
The blade 64a has a first blade region 66a and a second blade region 68a. The outer edge 60a defines a common edge of the two blade regions 66a, 68a. The impeller vane 18a is rotationally non-symmetrical. The first blade region 66a and the second blade region 68a are implemented differently from each other.
Alterna-tively, the two blade regions 66a, 68a could be implemented identically to each .. other. The first blade region 66a comprises a rear edge 70a that is straight in a view perpendicularly onto the main surfaces 28a, 38a. The second blade region 68a comprises a front edge 22a.
The front edge 22a is embodied in an arc shape. Alternatively the front edge 22a could have corners and/or several different curvature directions. The front edge 22a is embodied in a sickle shape. The front edge 22a meets the outer edge 60a in a tip 74a. The second blade region 68a is implemented as a sickle. In an opera-tive position, the front edge 22a penetrates a plane 24a, which extends perpendic-ularly to the rotation axis 24a, in an intersection point 26a. In an imaginary move-ment of the plane 24a parallel to the rotation axis 14a, the intersection point 26a is displaced in a direction toward the rotation axis 14a in a radially non-uniform man-ner. Alternatively, the intersection point could be displaced in a uniform manner.
In the view perpendicularly onto the main surfaces 28a, 38a of the impeller vane 18a and an imaginary movement of a point (not shown) from one end of the front edge 22a to a further end of the front edge 22a, a movement direction of the point is rotated by approximately 80 . Alternatively the movement direction of the point could be rotated by 1000 or 200 . A first movement direction 30a of the point at the end of the front edge 22a and a second movement direction 32a of the point at the further end of the front edge 22a together include an angle of approximately 80 .
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 16 -In the view perpendicularly onto the main surfaces 28a, 38a of the impeller vane 18a, a maximum perpendicular distance 34a between a connecting line 36a of two end points of the front edge 22a and any remaining points of the front edge 22a is approximately 40 % of a length of the connecting line 36a. Alternatively, the per-pendicular distance 34a could be 60 % or 80 % of a length of the connecting line 36a.
The front edge 22a has a rounding. The rounding connects the first main surface 28a of the impeller vane 18a to the second main surface 38a of the impeller vane 18a. A thickness of the front edge 22a increases radially in a direction toward the .. rotation axis 14a. The rounding flattens in proportion to the increase of the thick-ness of the front edge 22a. The thickness of the front edge 22a increases radially in the direction toward the rotation axis 14a by approximately 1,000 %.
Alterna-tively, the thickness of the front edge 22a could increase radially in the direction to-ward the rotation axis 14a by approximately 200% or 1,200 %.
In figure 4 a schematic flow chart of a method for designing the hydropower plant 44a is shown. In a designing step 100a the hydropower plant 44a is furnished with the turbine device 10a. A reduction of an efficiency due to the utilization of the tur-bine device 10a is compensated by dispensing with a further protection measure.
In this case the further protection measure is providing the hydropower plant 44a with flotsam rakes.
In figures 5 and 6 a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.
The following description and the drawings are limited substantially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein regarding components having the same denomination, in particular regarding components having the same refer-ence numerals, principally the drawings and/or description of the other exemplary embodiment of figures 1 to 4 may be referred to. In order to distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a has been added to the reference numer-als of the exemplary embodiment in figures 1 to 4. In the exemplary embodiment of figures 5 and 6 the letter a has been replaced by the letter b.
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 17 -Figures 5 and 6a to 6e show a schematic illustration of a portion of a further tur-bine device 10b. The further turbine device 10b comprises a further impeller vane unit 16b with further impeller vanes, of which only one further impeller vane 18b will be described. The further impeller vane unit 16b is free of guiding elements.
The further impeller vane 18b is connected to a further impeller vane hub 58b in an immobile fashion.
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 18 -Reference numerals turbine device 12 conduction unit 14 rotation axis 16 impeller vane unit 18 impeller vane protective unit 21 contour element 22 front edge 24 plane 26 intersection point 28 main surface movement direction 32 movement direction 34 distance 36 connecting line 38 main surface shielding element 42 wall 44 hydropower plant 46 retaining dam 48 engine house entry opening 52 exit opening 54 shaft 56 generator 58 impeller vane hub outer edge 62 mounting element 64 blade Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

- 19 -66 blade region 68 blade region 70 rear edge 72 stabilization element 74 tip 78 subregion 80 blade ring 100 designing step Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A turbine device (10a-b), in particular a Kaplan turbine device, tubular tur-bine device and/or Straflo turbine device, with at least one conduction unit (12a-b) for a conduction of at least one fluid flow and with at least one im-peller vane unit (16a-b), which is arranged within the conduction unit (12a-b), which is rotatable around a rotation axis (14a-b) and which comprises at least one impeller vane (18a-b), characterized by a protective unit (20a-b) which is configured, in at least one operating state, to urge objects flowing in the fluid flow in a direction toward the rotation axis (14a-b).

2. The turbine device (10a-b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective unit (20a-b) is configured to conduct the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis (14a-b).

3. The turbine device (10a-b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protective unit (20a-b) is implemented at least partly integrally with the impeller vane unit (16a-b) and comprises at least one contour ele-ment (21a-b) of the impeller vane (18a-b), which forms a front edge (22a-b) of the impeller vane (18a-b) at least partly.

4. The turbine device (10a-b) according to claim 3, characterized in that the front edge 22a-b) is implemented at least substantially in a sickle shape.

5. The turbine device (10a-b) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that in at least one operative position of the impeller vane unit (16a-b), the front edge (22a-b) penetrates a plane (24a-b) extending perpendicularly to the rotation axis (14a-b) in at least one intersection point (26a-b) which, in an imaginary movement of the plane (24a-b) parallel to the rotation axis (14a-b), is displaced in a radially non-uniform manner.

6. The turbine device (10a-b) according to one of claims 3 to 5, character-ized in that in at least one view perpendicularly onto a main surface (28a-b, 38a-b) of the impeller vane (18a-b) and in an imaginary movement of a point from one end of the front edge (22a-b) to a further end of the front edge (22a-b), a movement direction (30a-b, 32a-b) of the point rotates in a direction by at least 70 .

7. The turbine device (10a-b) according to one of claims 3 to 6, character-ized in that in at least one view perpendicularly onto a main surface (28a-b, 38a-b) of the impeller vane (18a-b), a maximum perpendicular distance (34a-b) between a connecting line (36a-b) of two end points of the front edge (22a-b) and any remaining point of the front edge (22a-b) is in partic-ular at least 15 % of a length of the connecting line (36a-b).

8. The turbine device (10a-b) according to one of claims 3 to 7, character-ized in that the front edge (22a-b) has a rounding, which connects at least one first main surface (28a-b) of the impeller vane (18a-b) to at least one opposite-situated second main surface (38a-b) of the impeller vane (18a-b).

9. The turbine device (10a-b) according to one of claims 3 to 8, character-ized in that a thickness of the front edge (22a-b) increases radially in a di-rection toward the rotation axis (14a-b).

10. The turbine device (10a-b) according to claim 9, characterized in that the thickness increases radially in a direction toward the rotation axis (14a-b) by at least 200 %.

11. The turbine device (10a-b) according to one of the preceding claims, char-acterized in that the impeller vane (18a-b) is implemented in a rotationally non-symmetrical manner.

12. The turbine device (10a-b) according to one of the preceding claims, char-acterized in that the protective unit (20a-b) comprises at least one shield-ing element (40a-b), which is configured to at least encumber an entry of objects into a region between a radial outer side of the impeller vane (18a-b) and at least one wall (42a-b) of the conduction unit (12a-b).

13. The turbine device (10a-b) according to claim 12, characterized in that the shielding element (40a-b) is implemented at least partly integrally with the conduction unit (12a-b).

14. A hydropower plant (44a), in particular with augmented protection of ob-jects flowing in a fluid flow, with a turbine device (10a) according to one of the preceding claims.

15. A method for designing a hydropower plant (44a), in particular with aug-mented protection of objects flowing in a fluid flow, in particular according to claim 14, characterized in that a reduction of an efficiency due to a uti-lization of a turbine device (10a) according to one of claims 1 to 13 is at least compensated by dispensing with at least one further protection measure for objects flowing in the fluid flow.