Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
  • F03B17/06—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
  • F03B17/061—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
  • F03B13/08—Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor, e.g. diffusors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B3/00—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
  • F03B3/12—Blades; Blade-carrying rotors
  • F03B3/126—Rotors for essentially axial flow, e.g. for propeller turbines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B3/00—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
  • F03B3/12—Blades; Blade-carrying rotors
  • F03B3/14—Rotors having adjustable blades
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/20—Hydro energy
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/16—Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a hydraulic power station turbine for very low fall and a hydraulic power station for very low fall.
• a hydroelectric plant potential energy stored in the water accumulated in a dam or diverted into a water intake is used to drive the wheel of a turbine. The potential energy is then transformed into mechanical energy. The turbine, in turn, drives a generator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
• Hydraulic power plants differ according to the characteristics of the sites equipped. In particular, a distinction is made between low-head power plants for which the height between the water level upstream of the hydraulic power station and the water level downstream of the hydraulic power station, or head of fall, is less than about 30 meters, and more particularly, very low head hydraulic power plants for which the head is less than about 10 meters.
• FIG. 1 and 2 each diagrammatically represent a partial section of a conventional hydraulic power station 5 equipping a very low head. It comprises a water inlet pipe 10, the inlet of which is protected by a grid 12. A screen, not shown, is generally provided to prevent clogging of the grid 12.
• the water inlet conduit 10 has the overall shape of a convergent which guides the water towards a wheel 13 of a turbine 14 d axis D.
• a distributor 16 is provided in the water inlet conduit 10 upstream of the turbine 14 to properly orient the flow of water relative to the blades 17 of the wheel 13 of the turbine 14.
• the turbine 14 of a hydraulic unit 5 for low fall or very low fall is generally a Kaplan turbine which has the shape of a propeller and which generally comprises adjustable blades 17.
• a vacuum cleaner 18 guides the water from the outlet of the turbine 14 to a leakage channel 9.
• the turbine 14 can be stopped by means of the closure of the distributor 16 generally equipped with movable steerers.
• the axis D of the turbine 14 is arranged substantially vertically.
• the turbine 14 drives an electric generator 20 disposed out of the flow.
• one axis D of the turbine 14 is substantially horizontal.
• the electric generator (not shown) is arranged in a bulb-shaped casing 22 placed in the flow.
• a Kaplan type turbine generally has an optimal efficiency for a specific rotation speed of the wheel 13.
• the purpose of the water inlet duct 10 is to accelerate the flow of water to a speed adapted to the optimum speed of rotation of the wheel 13.
• the speed of the water leaving the wheel 13 is higher than the speed of the flow upstream of the hydraulic unit 5.
• the purpose of the vacuum cleaner 18 is to slow down 1 flow at the outlet of the wheel 13 and thus allows to recover as much as possible of the kinetic energy remaining in the flow at the outlet of the turbine 14.
• a characteristic K is defined for a turbine 14 of a given type of hydraulic power station corresponding to the ratio between the kinetic energy of the flow leaving the wheel 13 and the potential energy of the fall.
• the ratio K is representative of the energy still contained in the flow in kinetic form at the outlet of the wheel 13, relative to the energy made available to the turbine and is therefore representative of the energy to be recovered by l vacuum cleaner 18.
• Mr. Joachim Raabe in his work entitled “Hydro Power, indicates that the ratio K is worth 30%, 50% and 80% respectively for falls of 70 meters, 15 meters and 2 meters.
• the significant kinetic energy to be recovered in turbines with very low falls at the outlet of the wheel 13 leads to the construction of large vacuum cleaners because their divergence is limited by the risks of detachment of the liquid stream.
• the present invention aims to provide a turbine for this ntrale hydraulic adapted to very low falls with a water inlet pipe and a vacuum cleaner of small dimensions, even nonexistent.
• the present invention provides a turbine for a hydraulic power station intended to equip a watercourse at a very low drop of less than 10 meters, and preferably from 1 to 5 meters, comprising a wheel in helical form, the ratio between the kinetic energy of the water flow at the outlet of the wheel and the potential energy of the fall being less than 20%.
• the diameter of the wheel is greater than 3 meters.
• the speed of rotation of the wheel is less than 50 revolutions per minute.
• the turbine comprises a casing traversed 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 mounted; a fixed box, the hub being rotatably mounted 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 casing.
• 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 flow of water, the ratio between the thickness of the casing along the axis of rotation of the wheel and the diameter of the wheel being less than 0.5.
• the distributor comprises sections distributed in a star around the fixed box, the turbine comprising a screen upstream of the distributor with respect to the water flow and comprising at least one arm mounted to rotate around the fixed box to separate bulky bodies held against the dispenser.
• the turbine comprises means for orienting the blades so as to adapt the flow rate of the turbine to the flow rate of the waterfall and / or to close off the opening of the casing.
• the turbine comprises a hydraulic pump driven by the wheel.
• the present invention also provides a hydraulic power station intended to equip a watercourse at a very low drop of less than 10 meters, for example between 1 and 5 meters, comprising a turbine comprising a propeller-shaped wheel, the ratio between the kinetic energy of the water flow at the outlet of the wheel and the potential energy of the fall being less than 20%.
• the central unit comprises a support delimiting a passage channel in which the fall is created and in which the turbine is arranged, and means for moving the turbine relative to the support between a first position where the turbine completely closes the passage and at least a second position where the turbine partially closes the passage.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 previously described, schematically represent sections of conventional hydraulic power plants for very low falls;
• FIG. 3 schematically represents a section of a hydraulic power station according to the present invention;
• Figure 4 shows in more detail a section of an exemplary embodiment of a hydraulic power plant according to the present invention;
• Figure 5 shows a top view of the hydraulic power unit of Figure 4;
• FIG. 6 represents a more detailed section of the turbine of the hydraulic power station of FIG.
• FIG. 3 schematically represents a section of a hydraulic power station 25 according to the present invention substantially on the same scale as the hydraulic power stations 5 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the hydraulic power station 25 equips a very low drop whose drop height is substantially the same as the fall height in Figure 1 or 2, that is to say less than 10 meters and preferably 1 to 5 meters.
• the hydraulic unit 25 according to the invention provides for the use of a turbine 30 of axis D comprising a casing 32 in which is disposed a wheel 34 having a large diameter and being adapted to operate at a speed of rotation of a few tens of revolutions per minute, for example from 10 to 50 revolutions per minute.
• a speed of rotation is compatible with a flow speed close to the normal speed of the flow upstream of the hydraulic power station 25. This makes it possible to minimize the dimensions of the water inlet pipe and of the vacuum cleaner provided at the casing 32.
• the casing 32 can therefore be included in a thin parallelepiped maintained by a concrete support 36 whose dimensions are reduced compared to the civil engineering works to be provided for conventional hydraulic power stations.
• the hydraulic power station 25 makes it possible to obtain an electrical power of 280 K, for a turbine 30 whose diameter is about 5 meters and rotating at about 20 revolutions / min.
• the ratio K is then equal to 11%.
• Housing 32 is then substantially included in a parallelepiped whose thickness along the axis D is equal to about 1.9 meters, whose width, corresponding to the distance between the vertical walls 40, 41, is equal to about 6.4 meters, and whose height in the direction perpendicular to the axis D, is equal to approximately 6.9 meters.
• the turbine 30 according to the invention can equip a hydraulic power station on very low falls less than 10 meters.
• the ratio K of the turbine 30, as previously defined, is less than 20% for such falls.
• Figures 4 and 5 respectively show a section and a top view of a more detailed embodiment of the hydraulic power station 25 according to the present invention. The direction of water flow is indicated by arrows.
• the casing 32 of the turbine 30 is held in position relative to the flow by the support 36 comprising a base 38 and two vertical walls 40, 41.
• the casing 32 is adapted to slide in grooves 42, 43 parallel and inclined by relative to the vertical, made in the vertical walls 40, 41.
• the angle of inclination of the axis D of the turbine 30 relative to the vertical depends on the angle of inclination of the grooves 42, 43 relative to the vertical. This angle is chosen in particular as a function of the height of fall, the depth of the watercourse, the diameter of the wheel 34 and the thickness of the casing 32.
• the axis of rotation of the wheel 34 is inclined by approximately 34 ° relative to the vertical.
• Two hydraulic cylinders 44, 45 are adapted to slide the casing 32 in the grooves 42, 43.
• the position of the casing 32 in FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponds to the normal operation of the hydraulic power station 25.
• a gangway 46 (partially shown in FIG. 4) allows the spanning of the turbine 30, in particular for maintenance purposes.
• the wheel 34 of the turbine 30 comprises orientable blades 48 connected to a hub 50.
• the means 50 is rotatably mounted about the axis D relative to a fixed box 52 connected to the casing 32 by a distributor 54.
• the distributor 54 comprises a set of fixed sections 56 which radiate from the fixed box 52 to the casing 32. The sections 56 direct the flow towards the blades 48 so that the flow reaches the blades 48 in a suitable orientation.
• FIG. 6 represents a more detailed section of the turbine 30 of FIG. 4.
• the casing 32 is crossed by an opening 62 which comprises a converging upstream portion 64, for example conical, playing the role of an inlet duct for water, a cylindrical central portion 66 and a divergent downstream portion 68, for example conical, playing the role of a vacuum cleaner.
• FIGS. 7 and 8 show views of the turbine 30 of FIG. 6 in the direction F, the distributor 54 not being not shown in FIG. 8.
• the casing 32 consists of a parallelepipedal front unit 70 comprising two studs 72, 74 for the connection of the hydraulic cylinders 44, 45.
• the wheel 34 comprises eight orientable blades 48 which can be oriented to partially overlap as illustrated by the dotted lines.
• the hub 50 comprises an internal cylindrical portion 78 rotatably mounted on a fixed tubular element 80 by means of a bearing device 82.
• the internal cylindrical portion 78 is connected to an external portion 84 through front and rear annular plane walls 86, 87.
• Each blade 48 is supported by the hub 50 via a first bearing 88 at the external portion 84 and a second bearing 90 at the internal cylindrical portion 78.
• the bearings 88, 90 define an axis for each blade 48 pivot E.
• the hollow tubular element 82 is fixed to the fixed box 52 by screws 91.
• a hydraulic pump 92 is arranged in the fixed box 52.
• the hydraulic pump 92 is driven by a rotary shaft 94 whose end is fixed to the rear wall 87 of the hub 50 by means of screws 96.
• the hydraulic pump 92 is connected to a hydraulic motor (not shown) by lines (not shown) transporting hydraulic fluid under pressure.
• the hydraulic pump and motor assembly constitutes a conventional hydrostatic transmission.
• the hydraulic motor drives an electric generator (not shown).
• the hydraulic motor and the electric generator are advantageously separated from the turbine 30.
• the lines connecting the hydraulic pump 92 to the hydraulic motor are in particular arranged in the fixed sections 56 of the distributor 54 to connect the hydraulic pump 92 to the casing
• FIG. 9 represents a more detailed view of the hub 50 mounted for rotation about the axis D on the hollow tubular fixed element 78. Only one blade 48 is partially shown.
• the bearing 88 at the level of the external wall 84 of the means 50 includes grooves 98 for the installation of seals (not shown) allowing the rotation of the blade 48 associated with the bearing 88 while ensuring the sealing of the internal volume of the hub 50 relative to water flow.
• the bearing device 82 includes bearings allowing the hub 50 to rotate around the tubular element 78 and bearings also allowing a force recovery along the axis D. In fact, the flow on the wheel 34 generates a torque motor around axis D and a force along axis D from upstream to downstream of the flow.
• a sealing device 98 prevents the ingress of water into the space separating the internal cylindrical portion 78 from the tubular element 80.
• the orientation mechanism of the blades 48 comprises an annular element 100, shown partially in FIG. 9, arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis D.
• the annular element 100 is held by support elements 102 distributed circumferentially on the rear wall 87 of the hub 50.
• the support elements 102 authorize the rotation of the annular element 100 about the axis D. Such rotation is obtained by means of two hydraulic cylinders 104, 106, not shown in FIG. 9. L pressure oil supply to the hydraulic cylinders 104 is not shown.
• Each cylinder 104, 106 comprises a cylinder 108 mounted on the external portion 84 of the hub 50 by a pivot link 109, and a rod 110 sliding in the cylinder 108 and connected by a pivot link 111 to the annular element 100.
• Each blade 48 comprises a blade body 112 which is extended by a cylindrical tip 114. The free end of the cylindrical tip 114 is mounted in the bearing 90 and the end of the cylindrical tip 114 connected to the body of the blade 112 is mounted in the bearing 88.
• Each blade 48 is rotated about its axis by a lever 116 which is fixed to the blade 48 at the level of the cylindrical end piece 114 and whose opposite end 118 has the shape of a cylindrical rod.
• a yoke 120 is adapted to move the rod-shaped end 118 of the lever 116 and has a central bore 122 in which the rod-shaped end 118 slides.
• a link 124 which has two arms 126 is associated with each blade 48 , 127 parallel each having a groove 128, 129 which extends in a direction substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the axis D.
• the yoke 120 is adapted to slide in the grooves 128, 129.
• the yoke 120 is further mounted pivoting with respect to the link 124 along an axis perpendicular to the direction of the grooves 128, 129.
• the link 124 is fixed to the annular element 100 by means of a ball joint 130.
• the orientation of the blades 48 makes it possible to adapt the flow rate of the turbine 30 to the flow rate of the waterfall.
• the orientation mechanism of the blades 48 allows the pivoting of the blades 48 to be synchronized.
• the actuation of the hydraulic cylinders 104, 106 causes the annular element 100 to pivot about the axis D.
• the rotation of the annular element 100 causes the displacement of the links 124, the yokes 120 and the levers 116 and finally causes the rotation of each blade 48 about its axis.
• the profile of the blades 48 is defined so as to allow the covering of a blade on an adjacent blade along a continuous contact line.
• each blade By arranging each blade so that it can cover the adjacent blade, the flow of water in the opening 62 of the housing 32 is obtained by closing the blades 48 and therefore stopping the turbine 30 This avoids the use of a stop valve or an adjustable distributor.
• a floating body interferes between two blades 48.
• the grooves 128, 129 allow one of the blades 48 to remain in a partially closed position while the other blades close completely. .
• the floating body can be eliminated the next time the blades 48 are opened.
• the hydraulic shape of the blades 48 is designed so as to give these blades a hydraulic torque around their axis E having a tendency to cause the blades 48 towards closing.
• This arrangement makes it possible to obtain a shutdown of the turbine 30 by simply releasing the jacks 104 and 106.
• the diameter of several meters of the wheel 34 is such that the average speed of the outflow from the outgoing wheel is low with regard from the fall. This makes it possible to minimize the dimensions of the downstream portion 68 of the opening 62 which forms the vacuum cleaner.
• the low speed of crossing of the wheel 34 implies a very low speed of rotation compared to current conventional turbines equipping hydraulic power plants with low or very low falls.
• the transmission of the torque supplied by the shaft 96 can be ensured by gear multipliers.
• a slow electric generator adapted to be driven by a shaft having a low speed of rotation
• a slow electric generator can be provided directly in place of the hydraulic pump 92 at the level of the fixed end box 52 or in the hub 50.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 show two particular positions of use of the turbine 30 according to the present invention making it possible to remove the bulky bodies which accumulate against the distributor 54 during the use of the turbine 30.
• the automatic screen tends to move the bulky bodies which accumulate on the distributor 54 at the top or the base of the distributor 54 according to the density of the bulky bodies.
• the hydraulic cylinders 44, 45 can move the turbine 30 in a low position shown in FIG. 11.
• the low position allows the evacuation of bulky bodies which have accumulated at the top of the distributor 54 and which are then entrained by the flow like this is indicated by the arrow 135.
• the hydraulic cylinders 44, 45 can move the turbine 30 in a high position, represented in FIG. 12.
• the high position allows the evacuation of the bulky bodies accumulated at the base of the distributor 54 and which are then driven by the flow as indicated by arrow 136.
• FIG. 13 represents the hydraulic power station according to the present invention in which the turbine 30 is placed in an extreme high position where it is largely out of of the flow.
• the hub 50 and the fixed box 52 are then accessible from the gateway 46, for example, for maintenance operations. For larger maintenance operations, the turbine 30 can be completely withdrawn from the support element 36.
• the upstream converging portion 64, playing the role of water inlet conduit, and the divergent downstream portion 68, playing the role of a vacuum cleaner are of reduced dimensions and possibly different.
• the converging upstream portion 64 and / or the diverging downstream portion 68 may be absent, the opening 62 can then be completely cylindrical.
• the present invention provides many advantages. Firstly, it makes it possible to minimize or even eliminate the converging portion of the casing forming the water inlet conduit and, more particularly, the divergent portion of the casing forming the vacuum cleaner. This makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the casing in the direction of the axis of the wheel, and the dimensions of the support on which the casing is mounted.
• the diverging and converging portions being of reduced dimensions, they can be produced at the casing which is generally made up of mechanically welded mechanical parts.
• the converging and diverging portions are no longer produced by large concrete constructions whose manufacturing cost is high.
• the manufacturing cost of the hydraulic power plant according to the invention is therefore reduced.
• the hydraulic power plant according to the invention occupying a small volume, it can very easily be installed on existing sites.
• the low speed of the flow passing through the wheel, the large size and the low speed of rotation of the wheel make the turbine according to the present invention particularly suitable for the passage of fish both in ascent and downstream. It is then no longer necessary to provide a passage reserved for fish next to the hydraulic power station.
• the blades of the wheel are orientable and can close over one another and then play the role of a valve by stopping the flow through the turbine. . It is therefore not necessary to provide a valve or a mobile distributor, generally arranged upstream of the turbine and dedicated to stopping the flow. This makes it possible to further reduce the dimensions of the hydraulic power station according to the invention.
• the dispenser can play the role of the protective grid of the wheel by preventing bulky bodies from reaching the wheel. It is therefore not necessary to provide a dedicated protective grid which must generally be provided upstream of the turbine. This makes it possible to further reduce the dimensions of the hydraulic power station according to the invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Hydraulic Turbines (AREA)

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• 2003
  • 2003-11-20 FR FR0350862A patent/FR2862723B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2004
  • 2004-11-18 US US10/580,082 patent/US7972108B2/en active Active
  • 2004-11-18 CN CN2004800387907A patent/CN1898469B/zh active Active
  • 2004-11-18 WO PCT/FR2004/002949 patent/WO2005054667A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2004-11-18 EP EP04805486A patent/EP1700031A2/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-11-18 CA CA2546508A patent/CA2546508C/en active Active

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