TDK 240-4
KAPLAN TURBINE EDUCATIONAL UNIT DIMENSIONS in meters: Lenght: 6,9 Width: 2,1 Height: 3,90 Weight: K. 5700 approx.
GENERAL The progressively exhausting possibilities for exploiting mountain water basins with great water head for hydro-electric purposes make it become more and more of actuality the need to use Kaplan turbine with free fall characteristics for the production of electric power through great masses of water at low head. The approach to the operating features of this type of turbine is made possible through the didactic unit type T.D.K.240/4 which, in reasonable space conditions, costs and management, provides Universities and Technical Schools with a Kaplan turbine complete with all elements peculiar to it, that is: feeding by gravity, Finch type distribution and variable pitch of propeller turbine controlled even during operation. The accurate instruments for parameter recording permit to conduct experiments of remarkable interest within the exploitation range of hydro-power through the employment of this type of turbine.
The Kaplan turbine with variable pitch blading and Finck distributor
I - 16153 P.D. da Bissone 36r. GENOA - ITALY - Tel.: +39 010 6501969 Fax: +39 010 6501969 e-mail: patrone@ giacomopatrone.com http://www.giacomopatrone.com
TDK 240-4
DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT Water tanks The conditions required for the gravity fall of the Mass of water to supply the turbine are realised through two tank arranged one over the other. The lower tank serving as reservoir and support for the upper one, has the function of collecting tank for the turbine exhaust cone. The upper tank, resting on the lower, serves as a charge basin and embodies the straighteners and the spiral water duct of the turbine, which is flanged on the bottom. TURBINE The Kaplan turbine is equipped with a water distributor Finch with adjustable guide blades and a propeller type turbine with variable pitch of the four blades: both are controlled externally from the control board even when unit is operating. The turbine characteristics are: ¾ Standard power output 4 HP ¾ R.P.M. 750 ¾ Maximum flow rate 865 cu.m. per hour ¾ Net head 2,5 m. The screw boss, blades and inner mechanisms, manufactured with bronze and brass metal, are easy to reach for inspection. DYNAMO UNIT The vertical shaft of the turbine is connected to the horizontal one of the dynamo through an angle gear drive with a ratio 1:2. The dynamo, of swinging frame type, is separately excited and rates 4 KW output, 1500 RPM, 220 V. in continuous duty: it is cooled through an external motor-driven fan fed from the mains. Excitation for the dynamo is changed through an electronic circuit while dynamo power output is dissipated by resistances embodied inside the control board. The generator is connected to a continuous torque detector whose signal, detected and amplified, is visualised directly in Kgm. on a dial indicator. It is thus possible to know at any time the torque output of the turbine: a schedule converts the power output in HP as a function of RPM. This system of measurement is independent from the electromechanical efficiency of the brake-dynamo: electric output of the generator can be measured on a voltmeter and ammeter on the control board.
MOTOR DRIVEN PUMP The turbine is fed by a motor driven helical pump, great flow rate type, with the following rating: ¾ Output 300 mm. ¾ Speed 1,450 RPM ¾ Motor power 30 HP The supply pipe for the top tank is provided with a pipe and a by-pass valve for flow rate adjustment and with a straighteners. MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL OF PARAMETERS The control instruments for dynamo, turbine and pump are centralised in the control panel that includes: voltmeter, ammeter, torque detector, tachometer, potentiometer for the load regulation for dynamo, switch gears, and resistances for power output dissipation: the pump input is indicated by a wattmeter. The Finch type distributor and the blades of the turbine are controlled by hand wheels with position repeater indexes. Water flow rate is measured through a flow rate meter connected to an orifice gauge situated in the feeding pipe: this meter can be calibrated through a precision mercury differential manometer. Water level in tanks can be seen by means of gauge glass: safety panes windows make possible to look into the lower tank. UNIT ARRANGEMENT The two water tanks are transported separately and re-assembled on place. The unit installation does not require ground works nor supports: it simply rests on the flooring and can be displaced at any time if desired. The unique exterior needs are electric power and a water supply sources for filling the tanks. TYPICAL EXPERIMENTS TO BE PERFORMED WITH THE TEST STAND T.D.K. 240/4 Determination of the following hydraulic and mechanical parameters: ¾ Turbine input (hydraulic) ¾ Turbine output (mechanical) ¾ Generator output (electric) ¾ Electrical and mechanical efficiencies for the different capacity and head values, and for the different values of Finch distributor opening and variable pitch of the turbine.
I - 16153 P.D. da Bissone 36r. GENOA - ITALY - Tel.: +39 010 6501969 Fax: +39 010 6501969 e-mail: patrone@ giacomopatrone.com http://www.giacomopatrone.com