The current invention relates to a runner for a Pelton turbine.
The buckets of a runner for a Pelton turbine are cyclically strained due to the jet action. Load changes in the range of 108 to 1010 are not unusual for a projected life span of 50 years. The bucket moreover experiences an additional load due to the natural oscillation behavior of the bucket itself. Since damping of the material and the flowing water is relatively low, amplitudes of the harmonic can occur in the case of resonance, which are in part even higher than those of the jet action. During the design process, the natural frequency of the buckets can be adjusted accordingly non-critical so that the harmonics of the frequency with which the jet passes the bucket are far enough removed from the natural frequency of the buckets. However, slight changes during the manufacturing process can cause a displacement of the natural frequency of the buckets, so that the safety factor that is incorporated in the design, between the aforementioned frequencies is reduced. In this context we refer you to the publication by Reiner Mack and Christian Probst, Evaluation of the dynamic behavior of a Pelton runner based on strain gauge measurements, 2016 IP Conf. Ser.: Earth, Environ Sci #49 022001.
What is needed in the art, is a generic runner which is less sensitive in regard to an inducement of a natural frequency of the buckets and which therefore provides greater security in regard to unintended resonance effects.
The invention in one form is directed to a method for producing a runner for a Pelton turbine. The method including using a three-dimensional printer to assist with producing a runner hub and a plurality of buckets. The plurality of buckets each having one bucket root and one cavity. The plurality of buckets being mounted on the runner hub with each bucket root. Each cavity encloses at least one device configured to passively counteract an occurring bucket oscillation. The device includes at least one body which is movable in respect to each cavity.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
In the event of a damaging bucket oscillation, a deformation occurs in the region of the bucket root. If damping is increased in this region, the bucket oscillation can be effectively countered. The device in cavity 2 must therefore have a damping effect. The area can consist of movable bodies, which upon deformation of the bucket root, rub against one another thus introducing effective damping. Suitable movable bodies can consist for example of granulate, metallic powder or other materials that can rub against one another. In addition, the cavity may also be filled with a liquid. Use of a liquid that has a high viscosity can further enhance damping. Moreover, more than one cavity may be located in the region of the bucket root. It is clear that the cavities must be sized such that the structural rigidity of the bucket roots remains sufficiently high. A cavity may also consist of several individual chambers. These chambers can be of a honeycomb design. Use of multiple chambers or respectively a honeycomb construction offers the advantage that the structural rigidity of the bucket root is not drastically reduced and that the moveable bodies do not settle in one segment of the cavity.
The inventive embodiments according to
It is also conceivable that the cavities include a device which actively counteracts a bucket oscillation. Actively acting requires suitable control and an energy source. However, passive elements have the additional advantage that they are resilient against defects, thus ensuring durable effectiveness.
It is also conceivable that, the cavities are not located at the back of the bucket, but in another region of the bucket that is sufficiently far removed from the bucket root for instance, the bucket 1 back side.
Furthermore, the embodiments can be produced with the assistance of a suitable 3D-printing process.
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2016 214 126.0 | Aug 2016 | DE | national |
This is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/EP2017/064525, entitled “RUNNER FOR A PELTON TURBINE”, filed Jun. 14, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/EP2017/064525 | Jun 2017 | US |
Child | 16265405 | US |