Patent ID: 6441508
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
A hydraulic turbine-electrical power generator operative at a pre-selected speed comprisinga single shaft assembly having first and second ends for mounting a hydraulic turbine means and an electrical power generator thereon between said ends, hydraulic turbine means mounted adjacent a first end of the single shaft, first bearing means mounted on said shaft for said turbine, said power generator comprising an electrical induction generator mounted on said shaft on the opposite side of said bearing means from said turbine means to be rotatably responsive to the rotary movements imparted to said shaft upon the operation of said turbine means and in accordance with the speed thereof, a second bearing means mounted to said shaft adjacent the second end of said shaft, said hydraulic turbine means including thrust equalizing means mounted to said shaft adjacent said first bearing means, said hydraulic turbine means comprising at least a plurality of reaction type turbine stages arranged to be in combination, rotatably responsive to a fluid flow coupled to said turbine means, a first one of said turbine stages being arranged for first receiving the fluid flow for providing torque to rotate said shaft and discharging the fluid flow at a relatively lower velocity and pressure into a second one of said turbine stages, said first one of said turbine stages comprising at least a single stage having a radial turbine runner means mounted to said shaft to be rotatably responsive to the fluid coupled thereto for rotating said shaft, said second one of said turbine stages comprising at least a single stage having an axial turbine runner means mounted to said shaft to be rotatably responsive to the fluid coupled thereto whereby the combination of said reaction type turbine means control the rotary speed of said shaft, said axial runner means being characterized as having a plurality of adjustable blades for permitting the pitch of the blades to be adjusted for controlling the effective operative fluid head for the turbine means to cause said shaft to rotate at a pre-selected speed, said axial runner means includes means for adjusting the pitch of the adjustable blades, the plurality of reaction type turbine stages are pre-selected to have reverse performance characteristics so that, in combination, the effective operative fluid head for the turbine means is controlled to achieve a pre-selected single operating speed for rotating said shaft and thereby the production of electrical current from said power generator at a single electrical frequency, common housing means for said hydraulic turbine means and said induction generator for enclosing and isolating said shaft between said first and second ends of said shaft and said turbine means including said thrust equalizing means, said housing terminating adjacent one of said turbine runner means whereby said runner means and the remaining portion of said shaft is outside said common housing, draft tube means secured to said common housing means for enclosing said last mentioned turbine runner means and adapted for coupling the fluid flow to said runner means and discharging the fluid flow therefrom, said draft tube means functioning to slow down the fluid flow and increase the back pressure at said runner means to thereby aid the turbine in the recovery of fluid pressure, containment vessel means mounted over and in spaced relationship with said common housing and said remaining portion of said shaft and extending axially outwardly of said common housing and said remaining portion of said shaft, said vessel having a fluid flow inlet adjacent said second bearing means end of said vessel and a fluid outlet at the opposite end thereof, said fluid inlet and outlet being in flow communication with each other so the fluid flow is around said common housing means, said vessel including nozzle means spaced for receiving the fluid flow from said vessel fluid inlet and converting said fluid flow into a relatively higher velocity fluid flow for impinging on said one turbine stage arranged for receiving said fluid flow for rotating said shaft.