WO2020229025A1 - Water-power plant comprising a bearing - Google Patents

Water-power plant comprising a bearing Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020229025A1
WO2020229025A1 PCT/EP2020/057392 EP2020057392W WO2020229025A1 WO 2020229025 A1 WO2020229025 A1 WO 2020229025A1 EP 2020057392 W EP2020057392 W EP 2020057392W WO 2020229025 A1 WO2020229025 A1 WO 2020229025A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
oil
compartment
radial
housing structure
radial clearance
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2020/057392
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Stuart Coulson
Daniel Lee
Original Assignee
Voith Patent Gmbh
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Voith Patent Gmbh filed Critical Voith Patent Gmbh
Publication of WO2020229025A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020229025A1/en

Links

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
    • 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
    • F03B11/06—Bearing arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16N—LUBRICATING
    • F16N31/00—Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus
    • F16N31/02—Oil catchers; Oil wipers
    • 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
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/50—Bearings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C17/00—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement
    • F16C17/04—Sliding-contact bearings for exclusively rotary movement for axial load only
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C33/00—Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof
    • F16C33/02—Parts of sliding-contact bearings
    • F16C33/04—Brasses; Bushes; Linings
    • F16C33/06—Sliding surface mainly made of metal
    • F16C33/10—Construction relative to lubrication
    • F16C33/1025—Construction relative to lubrication with liquid, e.g. oil, as lubricant
    • F16C33/103—Construction relative to lubrication with liquid, e.g. oil, as lubricant retained in or near the bearing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16N—LUBRICATING
    • F16N2210/00—Applications
    • F16N2210/14—Bearings
    • 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 a water-power plant comprising a hydroelectric machine with a rotating shaft and an oil bearing.
  • the bearing can be of the type thrust, guide or combined thrust and guide bearing
  • Water-power plants comprising oil bearings are suffering from oil vapor escaping from the bearings into the powerhouse. Since the sealing between the rotating shaft and the bearing oil enclosure cannot be made perfectly tight, oil vapor can escape to powerhouse environment. This is undesirable since the vapor can coat surrounding surfaces with oil - making them slippery and collecting dirt and contaminants from the environment. This can be especially undesirable on electrical contacts which are present in this type of equipment.
  • One concept comprises an extraction fan connected directly to the top cover of the bearing’s oil basin (see e.g. RU 2 161 730 C2). In this way air is sucked via a radial clearance and a filter from the powerhouse environment into the compartment above the oil surface and again out of the compartment. This results in a continuous air flow through the compartment transporting the oil vapor out of the compartment. The air directly above the oil surface is continually refreshed, which leads to a substantially increased building rate of oil vapor.
  • Another concept comprises knife seals between the basin and the rotating shaft to minimize the gap where oil vapor can escape. Since the seal is not perfect to the rotating shaft, and the knife seals wear easily due to contact during rough operation, the oil vapor still escapes.
  • the objective of the present invention is to provide a water-power plant with an oil bearing preventing oil vapor from escaping into the powerhouse without the application of knife seals and without increasing the building rate of oil vapor substantially.
  • This objective is achieved by a water-power plant according to claim 1.
  • Other favorable implementations of the invention are disclosed in the depended claims.
  • Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional overview of water-power plant with an oil bearing
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an oil bearing according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the oil bearing according to figure 2;
  • FIGS 4 to 9 display other embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG 1 displays schematically a water-power plant, which is designated as 1.
  • the water-power plant comprises a powerhouse, which is designated as 2, and a hydroelectric machine, which is designated as 3.
  • the hydroelectric machine 3 is located within the powerhouse 2.
  • the hydroelectric machine 3 comprises a rotating shaft, which is designated as 4, and an oil bearing, which is designated as 5.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an oil bearing according to the present inventions.
  • the bearing comprises a rotating part, which is designated as 6.
  • the rotating part 6 is connected to the rotating shaft 4 (not shown in figure 2).
  • the bearing comprises an oil basin, which is designated as 7 and which contains oil.
  • the surface level of the oil is indicated by a horizontal line and a little triangle.
  • the bearing further comprises a housing structure, which is designated by 8.
  • the housing structure 8 is connected to the oil basin 7 and constructed to form at least two compartments confining the said compartments at least partially.
  • a first compartment is designated by 9 and a second compartment is designated by 10.
  • the compartments 9 and 10 will be described more thoroughly in relation to figure 3.
  • the bearing comprises further a vapor extraction fan, which is designated by 11 and is connected to the housing structure 8 at a portion of the housing structure 8 confining the second compartment 10 in order to extract gas out of the second compartment 10.
  • the housing structure 8 comprises an opening at a suited location and the vapor extraction fan 11 comprises a suited hose which is connected to the opening.
  • the housing structure 8 can comprise more than one of such openings and the vapor extraction fan 11 more than one hose being connected to the openings.
  • the bearing can comprise more than one vapor extraction fan 11 each operating in the described way.
  • Figure 3 shows the compartments 9 and 10 in more detail.
  • the bearing comprises at least two radial clearances located each between the rotating part 6 and a portion of the housing structure 8.
  • a fist radial clearance is designated by 12 and a second radial clearance is designated by 13.
  • the first radial clearance 12 is located nearer to the oil surface, whereas the second radial clearance 13 is more distant to the oil surface.
  • the first compartment 9 is confined by the rotating part 6, the surface of the oil, the oil basin 7, the housing structure 8 and one of the radial clearances 12.
  • the second compartment 10 is confined by the rotating part 6, the housing structure 8 and two radial clearances 12 and 13.
  • the radial width of the radial clearances 12 and 13 is at least 1 mm.
  • the term ‘clearance’ represents in the scope of this document a pure air gap without any additional sealing means. This implies that a compartment, which is confined by at least one clearance, is of course not air tight, since air can enter or leave the compartment via the clearance. Flowever the air flow through the clearance is somewhat restricted by the width of the clearance. Of course the term ‘clearance’ also implies a meaning of narrowness. Therefore the width of a clearance in the scope of the present invention is practically restricted to about 15 mm at the upper side.
  • the radial widths of radial clearances 12 and 13 confining the compartment, to which the fan 11 is connected are different, whereas the width of the radial clearance 13, which is more distant to the oil surface, is larger than the radial width of the radial clearance 12, which is located nearer to the oil surface.
  • the radial width of the radial clearance 13 is more than 50% larger than the radial width of the radial clearance 12, i.e. the radial width of the radial clearance 13 is at least 1.5 mm.
  • FIG. 4 displays a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the housing structure 8 comprises an additional portion, which is designated by 81.
  • the portion 81 of the housing structure 8 forms an additional radial clearance, which is designated as 18.
  • the first compartment 9 is confined by the rotating part 6, the surface of the oil, the oil basin 7, the housing structure 8 (portion 81 ) and the radial clearances 18, and the second compartment 10 is confined by the rotating part 6, the housing structure 8 and the two radial clearances 12 and 13.
  • the bearing comprises also an additional intermediate compartment, which is located between the first compartment 9 and the second compartment 10.
  • the portion 81 is separately connected to the oil basin wall 7 it is regarded as a part of the housing structure 8. Alternatively one could regard the oil basin 7 ending just above the oil surface.
  • Figure 5 displays a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the only difference to figure 4 is that the portion 81 is now connected directly to the rest of the housing structure 8. It is clear that additional embodiments of the present invention can be derived out of the embodiments according to figure 4 or 5 by increasing the number of intermediate compartments.
  • the radial widths of the additional radial clearances in figures 4 and 5 is at least 1 mm.
  • a vapor extraction fan can also be connected to an intermediate compartment in order to extract gas out of the intermediate compartment.
  • the housing structure 8 is constructed in a way, that oil vapor escaping the first compartment 9 via the confining clearance (12 or 18) can enter the second compartment 10, where the oil vapor is extracted by the operation of the oil vapor extraction fan 11.
  • the oil vapor has to pass one or more intermediate compartments before entering the second compartment 10, whereas in the other embodiments the oil vapor enters the second compartment 10 immediately by leafing the first compartment 9.
  • FIG 6 displays a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the housing structure 8 comprises a filter element, which is designated as 16 and is designed and located in a way that ambient air can be sucked into the second compartment 10 via the filter element 16 by the operation of the vapor extraction fan 11.
  • FIG. 7 displays a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the housing structure 8 is constructed to form an additional compartment, which is designated as 14.
  • the additional compartment 14 is confined by the rotating part 6, the clearance 13, the housing structure 8 and a further radial clearance between the rotating part 6 and the housing structure 8.
  • the further radial clearance is designated as 15 and the radial width of the further radial clearance 15 is at least 1 mm.
  • the housing structure 8 comprises further a filter element, which is designated as 16 and is designed and located in a way that ambient air can be sucked into the additional compartment 14 via the filter element 16 by the operation of the vapor extraction fan 11.
  • Figure 8 displays a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the bearing comprises an oil vapor deflector, which is designated by 17.
  • the oil vapor deflector 17 is connected to the rotating part 6 and is formed as a sleeve surrounding the rotating part 6.
  • the oil vapor deflector 17 is located in the second compartment 10 and extends radially into the second compartment 10 by at least by 1 mm.
  • the oil vapor deflector 17 is bend towards the portion of the housing structure 8 forming the first radial clearance 12 as is shown in figure 8.
  • Figure 9 displays a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the bearing comprises an additional hose connecting the vapor extraction fan 11 with the housing structure 8 allowing the oil collected by the oil extraction fan 11 to be returned to the oil basin 7. If necessary the collected oil can be filtered before returning to oil basin 7.
  • the oil collected by the vapor extraction fan 11 can be collected in a separate reservoir.
  • the embodiments according to figure 9 can be combined with any other embodiment.
  • the embodiments according to figure 8 can be combined with the embodiments according to all preceding figures.
  • Oil vapor deflectors can additionally also be applied within the intermediate compartments according to figures 4 and 5.
  • the embodiments according to figure 7 can be combined with the embodiments according to figures 2 to 5.
  • the embodiments according to figure 6 can be combined with the embodiments according to figures 2 to 5.
  • the solutions according to the present invention can be produced much easier and are much more robust than the prior art solutions incorporating knife seals.
  • the present invention comprises two compartments and the continuous air stream is confined to the second compartment, which is separated by at least one radial clearance from the first compartment and the oil surface.
  • the continuous air stream is indicated in Figure 2 by an arrow. Therefore only the amount of oil vapor, which diffuses through this clearance, is transported away, and therefore the building rate of oil vapor is not substantially increased. The diffusion rate and thus the escape rate of the oil vapor is further decreased by the means described in the paragraphs concerning figures 4, 5 and 8.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)

Abstract

A water-power plant comprising a hydroelectric machine, whereas the hydroelectric machine comprises an oil bearing, whereas the bearing comprises a rotating pari, an oil basin containing oil, a housing structure, at least two compartments, an oil extraction fan, and at least two radial clearances between the rotating pari and the housing structure, whereas a first compartment is confined by the rotating pari, the surface of the oil, the oil basin, the housing structure and one of the radial clearances, whereas the second compartment is confined by the rotating pari, the housing structure and two radial clearances, and whereas the oil extraction fan is connected to the housing structure at a portion of the housing structure confining the second compartment in Order to extract gas out of the second compartment, and whereas the radial width of the radial clearances is at least 1 mm.

Description

Water-power plant comprising a bearing
The present invention relates generally to a water-power plant comprising a hydroelectric machine with a rotating shaft and an oil bearing. The bearing can be of the type thrust, guide or combined thrust and guide bearing
Water-power plants comprising oil bearings are suffering from oil vapor escaping from the bearings into the powerhouse. Since the sealing between the rotating shaft and the bearing oil enclosure cannot be made perfectly tight, oil vapor can escape to powerhouse environment. This is undesirable since the vapor can coat surrounding surfaces with oil - making them slippery and collecting dirt and contaminants from the environment. This can be especially undesirable on electrical contacts which are present in this type of equipment.
Several concepts have been developed to prevent vapor oil from escaping into the power house environment. One concept comprises an extraction fan connected directly to the top cover of the bearing’s oil basin (see e.g. RU 2 161 730 C2). In this way air is sucked via a radial clearance and a filter from the powerhouse environment into the compartment above the oil surface and again out of the compartment. This results in a continuous air flow through the compartment transporting the oil vapor out of the compartment. The air directly above the oil surface is continually refreshed, which leads to a substantially increased building rate of oil vapor. Another concept comprises knife seals between the basin and the rotating shaft to minimize the gap where oil vapor can escape. Since the seal is not perfect to the rotating shaft, and the knife seals wear easily due to contact during rough operation, the oil vapor still escapes.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a water-power plant with an oil bearing preventing oil vapor from escaping into the powerhouse without the application of knife seals and without increasing the building rate of oil vapor substantially. This objective is achieved by a water-power plant according to claim 1. Other favorable implementations of the invention are disclosed in the depended claims.
The invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings:
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional overview of water-power plant with an oil bearing;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an oil bearing according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the oil bearing according to figure 2;
Figures 4 to 9 display other embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 1 displays schematically a water-power plant, which is designated as 1. The water-power plant comprises a powerhouse, which is designated as 2, and a hydroelectric machine, which is designated as 3. The hydroelectric machine 3 is located within the powerhouse 2. The hydroelectric machine 3 comprises a rotating shaft, which is designated as 4, and an oil bearing, which is designated as 5.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an oil bearing according to the present inventions. The bearing comprises a rotating part, which is designated as 6. The rotating part 6 is connected to the rotating shaft 4 (not shown in figure 2). The bearing comprises an oil basin, which is designated as 7 and which contains oil. In figure 2 the surface level of the oil is indicated by a horizontal line and a little triangle. The bearing further comprises a housing structure, which is designated by 8. The housing structure 8 is connected to the oil basin 7 and constructed to form at least two compartments confining the said compartments at least partially. A first compartment is designated by 9 and a second compartment is designated by 10. The compartments 9 and 10 will be described more thoroughly in relation to figure 3. The bearing comprises further a vapor extraction fan, which is designated by 11 and is connected to the housing structure 8 at a portion of the housing structure 8 confining the second compartment 10 in order to extract gas out of the second compartment 10. To establish this functionality the housing structure 8 comprises an opening at a suited location and the vapor extraction fan 11 comprises a suited hose which is connected to the opening. Optionally the housing structure 8 can comprise more than one of such openings and the vapor extraction fan 11 more than one hose being connected to the openings. Optionally the bearing can comprise more than one vapor extraction fan 11 each operating in the described way.
Figure 3 shows the compartments 9 and 10 in more detail. The bearing comprises at least two radial clearances located each between the rotating part 6 and a portion of the housing structure 8. In Figure 3 a fist radial clearance is designated by 12 and a second radial clearance is designated by 13. The first radial clearance 12 is located nearer to the oil surface, whereas the second radial clearance 13 is more distant to the oil surface. The first compartment 9 is confined by the rotating part 6, the surface of the oil, the oil basin 7, the housing structure 8 and one of the radial clearances 12. The second compartment 10 is confined by the rotating part 6, the housing structure 8 and two radial clearances 12 and 13. The radial width of the radial clearances 12 and 13 is at least 1 mm.
The term ‘clearance’ represents in the scope of this document a pure air gap without any additional sealing means. This implies that a compartment, which is confined by at least one clearance, is of course not air tight, since air can enter or leave the compartment via the clearance. Flowever the air flow through the clearance is somewhat restricted by the width of the clearance. Of course the term ‘clearance’ also implies a meaning of narrowness. Therefore the width of a clearance in the scope of the present invention is practically restricted to about 15 mm at the upper side. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radial widths of radial clearances 12 and 13 confining the compartment, to which the fan 11 is connected, are different, whereas the width of the radial clearance 13, which is more distant to the oil surface, is larger than the radial width of the radial clearance 12, which is located nearer to the oil surface. In a further preferred embodiment the radial width of the radial clearance 13 is more than 50% larger than the radial width of the radial clearance 12, i.e. the radial width of the radial clearance 13 is at least 1.5 mm.
Figure 4 displays a further embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the elements shown in Figure 3 the housing structure 8 comprises an additional portion, which is designated by 81. The portion 81 of the housing structure 8 forms an additional radial clearance, which is designated as 18. In the embodiment of figure 4 the first compartment 9 is confined by the rotating part 6, the surface of the oil, the oil basin 7, the housing structure 8 (portion 81 ) and the radial clearances 18, and the second compartment 10 is confined by the rotating part 6, the housing structure 8 and the two radial clearances 12 and 13. In this way the bearing comprises also an additional intermediate compartment, which is located between the first compartment 9 and the second compartment 10. Although the portion 81 is separately connected to the oil basin wall 7 it is regarded as a part of the housing structure 8. Alternatively one could regard the oil basin 7 ending just above the oil surface.
Figure 5 displays a further embodiment of the present invention. The only difference to figure 4 is that the portion 81 is now connected directly to the rest of the housing structure 8. It is clear that additional embodiments of the present invention can be derived out of the embodiments according to figure 4 or 5 by increasing the number of intermediate compartments.
The radial widths of the additional radial clearances in figures 4 and 5 is at least 1 mm. Optionally a vapor extraction fan can also be connected to an intermediate compartment in order to extract gas out of the intermediate compartment. Generally, the housing structure 8 is constructed in a way, that oil vapor escaping the first compartment 9 via the confining clearance (12 or 18) can enter the second compartment 10, where the oil vapor is extracted by the operation of the oil vapor extraction fan 11. In the embodiments according to figures 4 and 5 the oil vapor has to pass one or more intermediate compartments before entering the second compartment 10, whereas in the other embodiments the oil vapor enters the second compartment 10 immediately by leafing the first compartment 9.
Figure 6 displays a further embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the elements shown in Figure 3 the housing structure 8 comprises a filter element, which is designated as 16 and is designed and located in a way that ambient air can be sucked into the second compartment 10 via the filter element 16 by the operation of the vapor extraction fan 11.
Figure 7 displays a further embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the elements shown in Figure 3 the housing structure 8 is constructed to form an additional compartment, which is designated as 14. The additional compartment 14 is confined by the rotating part 6, the clearance 13, the housing structure 8 and a further radial clearance between the rotating part 6 and the housing structure 8. The further radial clearance is designated as 15 and the radial width of the further radial clearance 15 is at least 1 mm. The housing structure 8 comprises further a filter element, which is designated as 16 and is designed and located in a way that ambient air can be sucked into the additional compartment 14 via the filter element 16 by the operation of the vapor extraction fan 11.
Figure 8 displays a further embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the elements shown in Figure 3 the bearing comprises an oil vapor deflector, which is designated by 17. The oil vapor deflector 17 is connected to the rotating part 6 and is formed as a sleeve surrounding the rotating part 6. The oil vapor deflector 17 is located in the second compartment 10 and extends radially into the second compartment 10 by at least by 1 mm. In a preferred embodiment the oil vapor deflector 17 is bend towards the portion of the housing structure 8 forming the first radial clearance 12 as is shown in figure 8.
Figure 9 displays a further embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the elements shown in Figure 2 the bearing comprises an additional hose connecting the vapor extraction fan 11 with the housing structure 8 allowing the oil collected by the oil extraction fan 11 to be returned to the oil basin 7. If necessary the collected oil can be filtered before returning to oil basin 7. Optionally the oil collected by the vapor extraction fan 11 can be collected in a separate reservoir.
The embodiments according to figure 9 can be combined with any other embodiment. The embodiments according to figure 8 can be combined with the embodiments according to all preceding figures. Oil vapor deflectors can additionally also be applied within the intermediate compartments according to figures 4 and 5. The embodiments according to figure 7 can be combined with the embodiments according to figures 2 to 5. The embodiments according to figure 6 can be combined with the embodiments according to figures 2 to 5.
The functionality of the present invention is discussed in the following in comparison to the prior art solutions.
Since the radial widths of the radial clearances of the embodiments according to the present inventions are at least 1 mm and no other sealing means are necessary, the solutions according to the present invention can be produced much easier and are much more robust than the prior art solutions incorporating knife seals.
In contrast to the prior art solution disclosed in RU 2 161 730 C2 the present invention comprises two compartments and the continuous air stream is confined to the second compartment, which is separated by at least one radial clearance from the first compartment and the oil surface. The continuous air stream is indicated in Figure 2 by an arrow. Therefore only the amount of oil vapor, which diffuses through this clearance, is transported away, and therefore the building rate of oil vapor is not substantially increased. The diffusion rate and thus the escape rate of the oil vapor is further decreased by the means described in the paragraphs concerning figures 4, 5 and 8.
In case that the compartment confined inter alia by the oil surface is connected to the powerhouse ambient atmosphere by other ways than the described clearances as can happen due to manufacturing inaccuracies leading to small gaps e.g. between the housing structure and the oil basin, a small amount of air flow through these leaks might be established due to the operation of the fan. These air flow might somewhat increase the escape rate of the oil vapor. However even in this case the present invention is superior to the solution disclosed in RU 2 161 730 C2.
Since for the diffusion process of the oil the widths of the radial clearances on the side towards the oil surface are critical alone, the widths of the other radial clearances can be even larger. An increased width of these clearances has the additional benefit, that the pressure drop induced by the operation of the fan is reduced. Such a pressure drop can have a negative effect on the bearing operation.
With the aid of the filter elements according to figures 6 and 7 dust is prevented from being sucked into the compartments protecting the oil of the bearing from undue contamination. However most of the dust will be aspirated into the oil vapor extraction fan. And therefore without this element, the mixture of dust and oil would require more frequent cleaning of the fan and the compartments.
It is clear that the embodiment according to figure 9 results in recycling of the extracted oil.

Claims

Claims
1. A water-power plant (1 ) comprising a powerhouse (2) and a hydroelectric machine (3), which is located within the powerhouse (2), whereas the hydroelectric machine (3) comprises a rotating shaft (4) and an oil bearing (5), whereas the bearing (5) comprises a rotating part (6), which is connected to the rotating shaft (4), an oil basin (7) containing oil, a housing structure (8), at least two compartments (9, 10), an oil extraction fan (11 ), and at least two radial clearances (12, 13, 15, 18) between the rotating part (6) and the housing structure (8), whereas a first compartment (9) is confined by the rotating part (6), the surface of the oil, the oil basin (7), the housing structure (8) and one of the radial clearances (12, 18), characterized in that the second compartment (10) is confined by the rotating part (6), the housing structure (8) and two radial clearances (12, 13), and whereas the oil extraction fan (11) is connected to the housing structure (8) at a portion of the housing structure (8) confining the second compartment (10) in order to extract gas out of the second compartment (10), and whereas the radial width of the radial clearances (12, 13, 15, 18) is at least 1 mm.
2. The water-power plant of claim 1, wherein the second compartment (10) being confined by a first radial clearance (12) and a second radial clearance (13), whereas the first radial clearance (12) is located nearer to the oil surface than the second radial clearance (13), and whereas the radial width of the second radial clearance (13) is larger than the radial width of the first radial clearance.
3. The water-power plant of claim 2, wherein radial width of the second radial clearance (13) is more than 50% larger than the radial width of the first radial clearance.
4. The water-power plant of one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing structure (8) comprises a filter element (16) and is designed and located in a way that ambient air can be sucked into the second compartment (10) via the filter element (16) by the operation of the vapor extraction fan (11 ).
5. The water-power plant of one of the preceding claims, wherein bearing (5) comprises an oil vapor deflector (17), which is connected to the rotating part (6) and is formed as a sleeve surrounding the rotating part (6), whereas the oil vapor deflector (17) is located in the second compartment (10) and extends radially into the second compartment (10) by at least by 1 mm.
6. The water-power plant of claim 6, the second compartment (10) being confined by a first radial clearance (12) and a second radial clearance (13), whereas the first radial clearance (12) is located nearer to the oil surface than the second radial clearance (13), and whereas the oil vapor deflector (17) is bend towards the portion of the housing structure (8) forming the first radial clearance (12).
7. The water-power plant of one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing (5) comprises an additional hose connecting the vapor extraction fan (11 ) with the housing structure (8) allowing the oil collected by the oil extraction fan (11 ) to be returned to the oil basin (7).
PCT/EP2020/057392 2019-05-14 2020-03-18 Water-power plant comprising a bearing WO2020229025A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201962847433P 2019-05-14 2019-05-14
US62/847,433 2019-05-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020229025A1 true WO2020229025A1 (en) 2020-11-19

Family

ID=69960622

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2020/057392 WO2020229025A1 (en) 2019-05-14 2020-03-18 Water-power plant comprising a bearing

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2020229025A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE378896C (en) * 1920-05-27 1923-08-07 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Procedure for removing oil fumes from storage facilities by suction
JPS57186697A (en) * 1981-05-13 1982-11-17 Hitachi Ltd Oil leakage preventive device for rotary electric machine
RU2161730C2 (en) 1998-11-10 2001-01-10 Самарский государственный аэрокосмический университет имени академика С.П.Королева Hydraulic-turbine generator
CN105674036A (en) * 2016-03-30 2016-06-15 何凯 Collecting method of oil mist of bearing oil groove of hydrogenerator and oil mist collecting device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE378896C (en) * 1920-05-27 1923-08-07 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Procedure for removing oil fumes from storage facilities by suction
JPS57186697A (en) * 1981-05-13 1982-11-17 Hitachi Ltd Oil leakage preventive device for rotary electric machine
RU2161730C2 (en) 1998-11-10 2001-01-10 Самарский государственный аэрокосмический университет имени академика С.П.Королева Hydraulic-turbine generator
CN105674036A (en) * 2016-03-30 2016-06-15 何凯 Collecting method of oil mist of bearing oil groove of hydrogenerator and oil mist collecting device

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20090050410A1 (en) Methods and systems for sealing rotating machines
KR101175380B1 (en) Seal with non-contact adjacent deflector rings
CN101390275B (en) Bearing device for main electric motor for vehicle
US4669263A (en) High-speed generator for a gas turbine engine
JPH10507814A (en) Sealing mechanism for vertically arranged shafts
DK173949B1 (en) Locking system for lubricating oil for a centrifugal compressor bearings
US6831383B2 (en) Blower motor
CN102140937A (en) Sealing and purging arrangement for a main bearing region
US1463018A (en) Shaft bearing
WO2020229025A1 (en) Water-power plant comprising a bearing
JP4714009B2 (en) Oil mist splash prevention system for rotating machinery
CN113524472A (en) Bearing protection structure for photovoltaic section
CN108087556B (en) Box type sealing structure
US8286969B2 (en) Floating fluid film seals
US11209021B2 (en) Centrifugal rotary machine
CN108868912B (en) Be applied to airtight oil shelves and turbo generator set of bearing
US7549647B2 (en) Sealing device
US1553149A (en) Shaft bearing
US2241970A (en) Condenser arrangement
US2253350A (en) Hydrogen-cooled machine with gland seal
US20240218879A1 (en) Stator for a vacuum pump
KR100821394B1 (en) Isolation of generator bearing housing from generator enclosure and methods therefor
US20240218877A1 (en) Stator for a vacuum pump
US20130328273A1 (en) Internal oil seal for electric motors
JP2004293420A (en) Lubricating oil sealing structure of dry pump

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 20713857

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 20713857

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1