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
  • F03B3/00—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
• • 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
  • F03B11/00—Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups, e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and generator
  • F03B11/02—Casings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2210/00—Working fluid
  • F05B2210/40—Flow geometry or direction
  • F05B2210/402—Axial inlet and radial outlet
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2250/00—Geometry
  • F05B2250/20—Geometry three-dimensional
  • F05B2250/23—Geometry three-dimensional prismatic
  • F05B2250/232—Geometry three-dimensional prismatic conical
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to hydro turbine having improved water entry and exit features for higher efficiency and better energy conversion characteristic for driving of mechanical equipment and the likes and specifically for electrical power generation.
• the present invention focuses on engineering the flow of liquid into the turbine runner in axial direction and exiting the runner in radial axis.
• Hydro turbines can be found in many configurations, shapes and sizes, ranging from the relatively simple to the most sophisticated used in hydro power plants utilizing computerized control with combination of multiple turbines.
• Common types of hydro turbines are Francis turbine, Kaplan turbine, Pelton turbine, Banki turbine and Turgo turbine. These turbines operate by converting energy from the liquid into mechanical energy then to electrical energy. Differences are present in the configuration of the known hydro turbines especially with regard to water entry or exit direction, runner utilization, impact of centrifugal force on water flow and obstruction to the water flow.
• runner utilization is generally low where at any moment in time only a certain sector of the runner is utilized to convert energy.
• These turbines are generally expensive for low head locations due to their low specific energy conversion (kW/kg) implying a big quantity of material usage for the same output.
• the centrifugal force in the water generated by the rotation of the runner opposes the naturally available water force due to the water head.
• the net force available for energy conversion is limited by the centrifugal force. This is true for Francis and Banki turbines. This reduces the specific energy conversion factor (in kW/kg) of the runners and makes these turbines unsuitable for low head applications.
• the turbine shaft is positioned by design along the water path causing obstruction to the flow of the water. This results in reduction in efficiency and power output.
• a hydro turbine assembly (1) comprises of at least an inlet connection (2), an inboard casing (3) and an outboard casing (4);
• a turbine runner (6) arranged internally toward the end of said inlet connection (2) and positioned between the outboard casing (4) and inboard casing (3), said turbine runner (6) is mechanically connected to a turbine shaft (7) having provided thereto the means to generate mechanical energy by rotation of the turbine shaft (7);
• said inlet connection (2) and turbine runner (6) are arranged such that water enters said turbine along the same axis as the turbine shaft ( 7 ) but from the opposite end, changes its direction to the radial direction by the use of a curved conical member (11), enters the cavity between runner blades (8) and leaves the runner ( 6 ) in the radial direction without being obstructed by the turbine shaft (7).
• the turbine runner (6) has a plurality of blades and their surfaces shaped in such a way that the water entering the runner will pass through the gaps between the blades and directed to exit the runner in the same direction of the centrifugal force of the rotating runner.
• control annulus (9) is incorporated with the turbine assembly to control the power output of the turbine.
• the runner is set in wet state at all time during operation of the turbine.
• the hydro turbine is capable of operating over a wide range from low to high water head operations.
• Figure 1 shows perspective view of a hydro turbine assembly configured according to the embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 shows partially cross-sectional view of the hydro turbine assembly configured according to the present invention
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the turbine runner with a single disc and the turbine shaft arrangement of the present invention
• Figure 4 shows another perspective view of the turbine runner and turbine shaft arrangement, the runner having a plurality of discs.
• Figure 5 shows a partially cross-sectional view of the hydro turbine shaft that shows the water flow direction utilized in the present invention and the application of control annulus set to 100% position to manage the power output of the present invention
• Figure 6 shows a partially cross-sectional view of the hydro turbine shaft that shows the water flow direction utilized in the present invention and the application of control annulus set to 67% position to manage the power output of the present invention
• Figure 7 shows a partially cross-sectional view of the hydro turbine shaft that shows the water flow direction utilized in the present invention and the application of control annulus set to 33% position to manage the power output of the present invention
• Figure 8 shows a partially cross-sectional view of the hydro turbine shaft that shows the water flow direction utilized in the present invention and the application of control annulus set to 0% position to manage the power output of the present invention
• Figure 9 shows an alternative hydro turbine assembly of the present invention set in an open plume configuration .
• the hydro turbine (1) comprises of among others, a water inlet connection (2), a turbine shaft (7), a turbine runner (not shown) and various casings.
• a mechanical as well as electrical means normally associated with electrical power generation that convert water pressure energy to mechanical energy and later as electrical energy.
• Such means typically includes an electric generator (not shown) .
• the general concept of hydro turbine works as follows :- flowing water is directed on to the blades (not shown) of a turbine runner (also not shown) through the inlet connection (2) thus creating a torque on the blades and causing the runner to spin.
• the spinning of the turbine runner implies the transformation of pressure energy of the water flow to mechanical energy in the turbine shaft.
• the exited water with a diminished energy is directed to flow out to follow the general shape of the casing that encloses the turbine runner.
• the casing is in the shape of spiral, aptly called spiral casing (5).
• the alternative turbine assembly of the present invention could also be installed in an open plume configuration as shown in Figure 9. In such situation, no such casing is necessary; instead an outboard water wall (12) and an inboard water wall (13) are arranged on each side. Such walls however need not be part of the turbine assembly but as part of civil supporting structures. In this open plume configuration, the turbine is anchored directly to the walls obviating the need to for a spiral casing discussed earlier.
• the water enters the turbine in the same axis of the turbine shaft (axially) but on the opposite end of the shaft and leaves radially through the turbine runner.
• water flows freely without obstruction caused by the turbine shaft (7) and flows out of the runner in the same direction as the centrifugal force produced by the rotating runner.
• the centrifugal force has a positive effect to the water flow, and this would advantageously allow the turbine to operate in low head applications.
• Such features provide versatility to the improved turbine assembly.
• FIG. 2 shows partial cross-sectional view of hydro turbine configured according to the present invention.
• the turbine assembly (1) is shown comprises of the inlet connection (2), an outboard casing (4), and the spiral casing (5).
• the turbine runner (6) is shown comprises of a curved conical member (11) located at the center of the runner (6), a plurality of blades (8) arranged along the circumference or perimeter of the runner.
• the inlet connection (2) is provided so as to make the water enter the axially into the turbine runner (6).
• the curved conical member (11) is generally formed to change the direction of the water that enters in axial direction to radial direction into runner without causing cavitation.
• Each of the runner blades is having it's surface positioned to direct the water entering the runner to exit in 'the same direction of the centrifugal forces produced by the rotating runner.
• the runner may be made of a singularity of blades (see Figure 3 ) or a plurality of discs each of the discs having similar arrangement of blades (see Figure 4).
• an exit ring (10) is arranged within the turbine assembly to enclose the turbine runner while allowing it to rotate freely.
• the exit ring also functions as a joint between the inboard casing (3) and the outboard casing (4) as well as to direct the water leaving the turbine runner to the general direction of the spiral casing (5) so as to limit or eliminate any obstruction to the water flow.
• a control annulus (9) is arranged within the cavity of the outboard casing (4) and the control annulus is designed to be able to slide in and out of the turbine runner so that the power output of the turbine could be controlled. The control annulus slides in the axial direction to cause the discs of the runner to completely shut or opened depending on the requirement.
• Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the location of the control annulus when the turbine is set at 100 %, 67 %, 33 % and 0% load position, respectively. As seen in the figure, controlling the output power of the turbine could be done easily.
• Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the arrangement of the turbine runner and the turbine shaft.
• the runner (6) is suitably connected to the shaft end using suitable connection known in the art.
• the figure also shows the arrangement of the blades (8) as well as the curved conical member (11) of the runner. Water entering axially to the runner will be directed toward the blade surface by the conical member and causes the runner to rotate. It is highly believed that with such arrangement and assembly, there will be little chance for cavitation to be generated.
• Figure 4 shows another exploded view of the arrangement of the turbine runner and the turbine shaft whereby the runner is made of plurality of discs. Such arrangement allows more control to the turbine output.
• Figure 5 shows how such advantageous water flow could be realized by the present invention.
• Water entering the runner axially through the connection and made to flow out radially through the runner.
• At the exit of the runner there would be very minimal amount of energy left.
• the centrifugal force opposes the water flow thus having a negative impact to the output, while in some other designs the centrifugal force has a neutral effect.
• the centrifugal force of the present invention is in the same direction of the water flow and would have a positive impact on the water flow thus resulting in positive net force thus offering an even higher specific energy conversion and enable operation even at low water heads .
• Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the position of the control annulus (9) where the control annulus is used to control the output of the turbine.
• Figure 9 shows the arrangement of the turbine assembly when arranged in an open plume configuration.
• the turbine assembly could therefore be set in many configurations suitable to the requirement of the location.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hydraulic Turbines (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=43032722

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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• 2009
  • 2009-04-29 MY MYPI20091732A patent/MY144384A/en unknown
• 2010
  • 2010-04-26 WO PCT/MY2010/000065 patent/WO2010126352A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2010-04-26 EP EP10769994.4A patent/EP2425119A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-04-26 US US13/257,457 patent/US20120051902A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-04-26 CA CA2756113A patent/CA2756113A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-04-26 CN CN2010800189865A patent/CN102422013A/zh active Pending

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