Patent ID: 6016600
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B23P,F03B,F05B,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of replacing a turbine component in a turbine runner situated in a water passageway leading from an upper elevation source to a lower elevation discharge region, the turbine runner of the type comprising a hollow hub filled with an environmentally compatible fluid and a plurality of blades pivotally connected to the hub, the hub having spaced apart outer and inner surfaces defining a cavity, each blade having a trunnion and being supported in rotation by an associated blade support assembly including at least one trunnion bushing, the cavity substantially enclosing the support assemblies, the method comprising the steps of:assembling a maintenance platform in the water passageway below the runner;removing at least one old trunnion bushing from the associated blade support assembly for at least one of the blades;installing, for the at least one of the blades, at least one new trunnion bushing in the associated blade support assembly;filling the cavity with fresh environmentally compatible fluid; andremoving the maintenance platform from the water passageway.