The invention concerns a rotor blade for a water turbine, in particular for a tidal power plant or a river water power station, and a method for operating the same.
Water turbines surrounded by free flows for generating energy from a water current, in particular tidal or ocean current, are known. Such plants can be used in rivers also for generating energy whereas extensive water-structural measures for erecting dam structures can be dispensed with. We may be dealing here with plants with foundations, for which a gondola is supported against the water bed via a tower. Alternatively, the plant is fitted with a buoyancy in such a way that the latter is floatable, whereas in such a case an anchoring system holds the gondola with the water turbine in the operating position. A possible form of construction of generic plants include rotor-shaped water turbines wherein the rotors are horizontal. Rotors with rotor blades directed radially and outwardly or with rotor blades directed radially and inwardly starting from a support ring may be envisioned
The plant must be adapted for a cyclic exchange of the inflow direction for generating energy from tidal movements. If any blade angle moving mechanism or any rotary device for tracking the whole water turbine around the vertical axis of the plant is done away with, the rotor blades must be provided with a bidirectional profile facing the incoming flow. For that purpose, lenticular blade cross-sections or profiles with an S-shaped stroke are known. To improve the degree of hydraulic efficiency of such profiles, DE 10 2009 057 449 B3 discloses overflow channels which can switch between the pressure side and the suction side of the profile. These enable to mitigate the effect of the respective portion of profile on the downstream side. Moreover, WO 2009 143846 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,553,627 A describe continuous-flow machines with slotted rotors, which increase the degree of efficiency by transferring and accelerating a partial flow from the pressure side to the suction side. Moreover, overflow channels are known which circulate from the pressure side to the suction side of the profile, to trigger the boundary layer through a dosed fluid outlet and to avoid a flow separation. To do so, it may be referred to DE 5 35 504 A and DE 1187559 A by way of example.
Generic plants without dam structures are difficult to maintain due to the expensive recovery. This is particularly true on a maritime site so that a critical requirement consists in using the heaviest-duty design as far as possible. Plants exhibiting systems which are as little accident-prone as possible are therefore preferred. The result is a low-maintenance concept without a blade angle moving mechanism or a device for rotating the whole plant about the vertical axis. The shortcoming of said arrangement is however that the water turbine must be designed in such a way that it resists a peak load occurring in exceptional cases. A known measure for reducing the load with a strong inflow consists in a plant operation in fast run mode, which reduces the degree of hydraulic efficiency and the thrust loads on the rotor blades. Indeed, the load on the rotor blades cannot be reduced further when the runaway speed has been reached so that a highly expensive construction is necessary to achieve a reliable layout of the water turbine. Moreover, rotor blades are used for safety reasons for the simplified plant design with rotationally rigidly hinged rotor blades and without a mechanism for pivoting the plant, rotor blades which are too small for an efficient operation under normal conditions.
The object of the invention is then to provide a rotor blade for a water turbine and an operating method carried therewith, which resists strong load peaks. To do so, the rotor blade should exhibit a high degree of efficiency for the incoming flow occurring under normal operating conditions. Moreover, the rotor blade should be appropriate for water turbines surrounded by free flows and in particular the generation of energy from a bidirectional incoming flow.
The object of the invention is hence satisfied by the characteristics of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are divulged in the depending claims.
A rotor blade according to the invention exhibits at least several overflow channels over a partial section of the blade extension, channels which create a hydraulic connection between the suction side and the pressure side of the profile. At least one valve arrangement is associated with the overflow channels, a valve arrangement which is designed in such a way that it is closed below a preset load limit threshold and is opened above the load limit threshold. The load limit threshold is preferably defined by a preset rotational speed of the water turbine. Additional preferred embodiments define the load limit threshold using a preset dynamic pressure conditioned by the incoming flow at the water turbine or a preset differential pressure between the suction side and the pressure side of the profile. A valve arrangement can thereby be used which functions passively and closes automatically once the load limit threshold has been reached. In an alternative execution, the moment when the load limit threshold has been reached is detected by a control apparatus which processes data, such as the incoming flow velocity, the rotor rotational speed or the loads imposed on the retaining structures of the plant, whereas the control apparatus sends corrective signals to the valve arrangement.
The overflow channels with the associated valve arrangement act as an overload protection system. Under those circumstances, said channels are disposed in such a way that an open overflow channel reduces the power coefficient and/or the thrust coefficient of the rotor blade. Consequently, the overflow channels, as regards their number density and their cross-section, are arranged in such a way that the differential pressure is sufficiently reduced between the suction side and the pressure side and the efficiency of the profile section with the overflow channels in the case of an open valve arrangement is reduced in such a way that the load of the rotor blade decreases. This leads to the necessity of being able to guide a sufficient flow volume through the overflow channels which not only avoids any boundary layer excitation but also enables to reduce the buoyancy in the profile section with the overload protection drastically. A further preferred measure for effectively reducing the power coefficients and/or the thrust coefficients consists in laying out the overflow channels in such a way that the inflow and the outflow of the profiled surrounding flow counteract. For this purpose, the overflow channels are preferably designed in such a way that they are arranged obliquely with respect to the vertical to the centre line so that the inflow into the overflow channels on the pressure side as well as the outflow on the suction side exhibit a direction component opposite to the profile flow. Moreover, parts of the valve arrangement in the open position can modify the profile outline in such a way that the degree of hydraulic efficiency decreases. A rotor blade according to the invention to the medium load area can be configured and then be allocated a greater size with respect to a rotor blade without overload protection. The result is a substantial increase in the degree of efficiency of the whole plant for an operation under normal incoming flow conditions.
In a preferred embodiment, the overload protection with the overflow channels that opened in case of overload is only available with a limited partial region of the profile whereas an arrangement in a region close to the blade tip is advantageous. It is then preferable to locate the overflow channels on a surface which is smaller than a third of the whole surface of the rotor blade.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the overload protection functions passively. Subsequently, the valve arrangement switches once the load limit threshold has been reached due to the loads applied to the plant without a separate control device being necessary. In a preferred embodiment, the valve arrangement contains a membrane which is provided on the suction side of the profile for covering at least one overflow channel. The membrane has at least one membrane opening which is offset to an inlet and/or outlet opening of the associated overflow channel. When the membrane lifts from the inlet opening and/or the outlet opening of the associated overflow channel, a hydraulic connection appears between the pressure side and the suction side of the profile. The opening of the valve arrangement against the tension of the membrane can be triggered passively by a differential pressure between the pressure side and the suction side of the profile which is large enough in case of overload. In a further embodiment to obtain an active system, a support cylinder mounted behind the membrane can be used, which, when in the deployed position, lifts the membrane from the respective inlet and/or outlet opening of the overflow channel. Such a support cylinder can be designed as an electrically operated unit. To do so, a device with a solenoid spool in particular can be considered. In the active configuration with an actuating element, the membrane can be mounted on the suction side and/or on the pressure side of the rotor blade profile. Moreover, the membrane should be selected for this execution in such a way that it resists the punctual load through the adjustment element. Forms of embodiments can therefore be envisioned which at least in the loaded areas receive a sheet metal or an armoured synthetic plate or are composed of these materials over their whole surface. Moreover, an element forming sliding surfaces, such as a PTFE film, can be mounted on the support point of the support cylinder on the membrane.
In an alternative embodiment, an actively switched valve arrangement and an associated control device can be provided to determine the load limit threshold. A central valve arrangement is therefore provided for several overflow channels. In a preferred embodiment, the overflow channels so bundled up on the pressure side of the profile lead to a pressure-side collection chamber. Under those circumstances, a suction-side collection chamber rests on the suction side of the profile, a collection chamber into which the suction-side partial sections of the overflow channels emerge. There is a connection via a central valve arrangement between the pressure-side collection chamber and the suction-side collection chamber. A configuration can be envisioned for which respectively the overflow channels are grouped per area and can be connected via an associated central valve arrangement. To do so, it is also possible to use a plurality of central valve arrangements.
The valve arrangement for releasing or for blocking an overflow channel can be actuated electrically or hydraulically to achieve an active configuration. In the case of an electrical adjusting element, the generation of energy unfolds preferably via an inductive system, working contactless to transfer the power in the region of the rotor hub. In a hydraulic configuration, a pressure medium can be provided in the passage between the stationary part of the plant and the rotor by means of an annular channel. A configuration, for which the hydraulic pressure used for the operation of the adjustment device comes from an energy generation device arranged in the region of the rotating unit of the water turbine, can be envisioned. In an alternative embodiment, the dynamic pressure acting upon a portion of the plant can be used for operating the adjusting elements of the valve arrangement.
In a further, preferred embodiment, at least one valve arrangement with a control slide valve is used, which carries out adjusting movements which are mostly directed to the longitudinal axis of the blades. To do so, the control slide valve can be guided into the open position to oppose the force effect of an elastic adjusting element. For such a configuration, the centrifugal force effect progressing with an increasing rotor rotational speed results in moving the control slide valve against the elastic element until the valve arrangement opens. Accordingly, the preset load limit threshold is defined by a limit for the rotational speed for which the overload protection is triggered.
The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments in combination with figure representations, wherein the following elements are illustrated:
Every rotor blade 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 contains according to the invention an overload protection system 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, which is formed in the area of the respective blade tip. The arrangement of the overload protection system 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 in the radially external part of the rotor blade 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 is in addition to the high efficiency therefore advantageous since a rotor blade 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 consists of full material, in particular in a cast or steel execution, in the relatively thin area of the blade tip so that overflow channels of the overload protection system 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 can be carried out simply as bores from a manufacturing technical viewpoint.
A configuration of the overload protection system 2.1 is represented in
The effective incoming flow veff1 is assumed for the operating condition sketched in
A valve arrangement 12.1, 12.2 is used to define an open and closed condition of the overflow channels 6.1, . . . , 6.8. Said valve arrangement is realised in this present instance by a membrane 7.1, 7.2 which is stretched over the inlet or outlet openings of the overflow channels 6.1, . . . , 6.8. For this purpose, stop webs 9.1, . . . , 9.6 are provided which wedge under tension the membrane 7.1, 7.2 at notches of the hydrodynamic profile 3. This creates partial sections of the membranes 7.1, 7.2 which respectively cover two overflow channels 6.1, . . . , 6.8 in the region of the outlet for the present exemplary embodiment.
The membranes 7.1, 7.2 include a plurality of membrane openings 8.1, . . . , 8.8, which are respectively offset to the outlet openings of the associated overflow channels 6.1, . . . , 6.8, so that under normal conditions, i.e. during the operation of the plant below the load limit threshold, the overflow channels 6.1, . . . , 6.8 are sealed adequately. Accordingly, the restraint, the selection of material of the membrane 7.1, 7.2 as well as the geometry of the outlet opening match the forces exerted during operation. To do so, the membrane may consist of a fibre-reinforced material.
For the assumed incoming flow veff1 the buoyancy force is applied to the membrane 7.1 on the suction side 10 of the profile, whereas the differential pressure between the suction side 10 and the pressure side 11 of the hydrodynamic profile 3 results in that the membrane 7.1 is made convex, i.e. the valve arrangement 12.1 is in the open position. The membrane 7.2 lying on the pressure side 11 for the overflow channels 6.5, . . . , 6.8 is closed in the downstream portion of the profile for the incoming flow veff1, i.e. the membrane 7.2 rests against the profile outline and the offset membrane openings 6.5, . . . , 6.8 have no overlaps with the outflow openings of the overflow channels 6.5, . . . , 6.8. The overflow channels 6.5, . . . , 6.8 may only open for a sufficient, opposite effective incoming flow Veff2.
The overflow channels 6.1, 6.2 sketched in
The upstream offset of the associated membrane opening 8.1 with respect to the outlet opening 18.1 of the flow channel 6.1 contributes to the desired outflow direction. The geometry of the inlet openings 19.1, 19.2 of the overflow channels 6.1, 6.2 is accordingly opposite the back-mounted profiled surrounding flow.
Triggering the overload protection system 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 results in a modified hydrodynamic profile for the execution with a space-consuming valve element 12.1, 12.2 in the open position, in this instance the membrane 7.1, 7.2. The profile is modified preferably in such a way that the flow is stalled faster and hence the buoyancy effect is reduced even more effectively.
Moreover, the embodiment sketched in
Moreover, a protection device against vegetation is preferably associated with the overflow channels 6.1, 6.2 to counteract the maritime vegetation. A protective coat can be provided to do so. Alternately, heating elements are used so as to maintain consistent overflow channels 6.1, 6.2 through regular heating cycles. For this purpose, electrical heating elements can be used, which are fed into the operating situations, when the plant generates energy which cannot be fed into the network. A further measure for maintaining the consistency of the overflow channels 6.1, 5.2 involves an excitation of vibrations. To do so, the region of the blade tips can experience resonance vibrations with the overload protection system 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 or local vibration generators, in particular for generating ultrasound, are used.
Another advantage for the configuration according to
The membrane 7.1, 7.2 used with an electric actuator for the execution must resist the punctual load through the support cylinder 23. The use of sheet metals with a sufficient extensibility or of fibre-armoured synthetic plates can be envisioned. Moreover, rigid elements can be used in the region of the support point of the support cylinder 23 with extensible elements to form the membrane 7.1. Moreover, in the case of a relative rigid execution of the membrane 7.1, 7.2, the membrane openings 8.1, . . . , 8.8 are preferably narrowed in the form of bores.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2011 117 176.6 | Oct 2011 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2012/003445 | 8/11/2012 | WO | 00 | 7/15/2014 |