Method and apparatus for automatically index testing a Kaplan turbine

Patent · Tue Dec 27 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6153906

Albright, D J; Mittendorf, Jr, G H

This patent describes a method of automatically determining, for a plurality of gross headwater levels and gate positions, optimal operating angles providing peak generating efficiency for variable pitch blades of a Kaplan-type turbine having movable gates, the turbine being controlled by a governor and an electronic 3D cam. The method consists of: running the turbine on-cam at, and using the governor to control the positions of the gates so as to maintain the turbine at, a predetermined setpoint power generation level; measuring on-cam values of particular operating parameters of the turbine; evaluating the measured data to determine whether the turbine is operating in a steady-state condition; when steady-state operation has been achieved, moving the blades of the turbine through a series of incremental off-cam variations in pitch in both flatter blade angle and steeper blade angle directions; after making each incremental variation in the pitch of the blades, allowing the governor to reposition the gates so as to return the power generation level of the turbine to the setpoint, monitoring the operation of the turbine to determine when it has returned to steady-state and then measuring values of the particular operating parameters at the new gate-blade operating point; computing an efficiency value corresponding to each of the measured operating points; and comparing the efficiency values of the measured operating points to identify a peak value.

• Assignee: Woodward Governor Co., Rockford, IL
• Patent Number(s): US 4794544
• OSTI ID: 6153906
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200104* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Components
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
AUTOMATION
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DOORS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
LEVELS
MONITORING
OPENINGS
OPERATION
ORIENTATION
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TESTING
TURBINE BLADES
TURBOGENERATORS