Apparatus for Regulating the Power and Speed of Turbines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Regulating the Power and Speed of Turbines.
I, JOHANN LAŬRENZ FURIAKOVICS of Baden near Vienna, Austria, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-
This invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the speed and power of
turbines, the essential feature of which consists in that one or more pivotted flap
valves are arranged in the supply channel or conduit for the water, in such manner
that the axis of its or their pivot does not coincide with the centre of pressure, such
flap valve being so actuated by a governor or regulator as to cause the difference
of the pressures in the supply channel in front of and behind the flap valve or valves
to correspond always to the desired power or speed of the turbine.
The adjustment of the flap valve or valves is effected by means of a piston con-
nected therewith, on which acts a head of water the pressure of which is varied by
the variation of the proportion of the areas of the supply and discharge openings of
such channels.
The accompanying drawing shews diagrammatically several constructions for
carrying out any said invention.
The water supply channel or conduit A which may either be open or closed, is
for the above purpose provided with a flap or throttle valve B so arranged that the
pressure of the water thereon always has a tendency to close or to open it.
For this purpose the axis of rotation C of the valve is somewhat displaced
relatively to the centre of pressure D of the valve, either in the direction up
stream as at Figure 1 or down stream as at Figure 2. With the valve is connected
by means of a rod G a piston F in a cylinder E in such manner that every
movement of the piston produces a corresponding movement of the valve within
the angle LC M formed by the dotted lines, which indicate the extreme positions L
and M of the valve.
The cylinder E is connected by a pipe S with a chamber Pinto which water
pressure is admitted through an opening Qu' and from which it escapes through
an opening-u. The proportion between the sectional areas of u and u¹ for the inlet
and outlet can be varied by any suitable means for the purpose of varying the
pressure of the water in the chamber. Thus for example such variation can be
effected by means of the equilibrium double piston O O¹, the rod T of which is con-
nected to the moving part of a governor receiving motion from the turbine shaft.
The sectional area of the pipe S can be varied by means of a cock or valve we, thus
varying the speed of motion of the piston F and valve B.
It will be evident that at every position of the valve B, other things being equal,
a certain water pressure H in front of the valve B will produce a certain pressure H¹
behind the valve, which pressures will be indicated, in the case of a closed conduit,
by means of pressure gauges J J, and in the case of an open channel, by the
different water levels.
The difference of these pressures H. H' is smallest when the valve is in the
position L L and greatest when it is in the position M M, and consequently
the pressure exerted upon the piston F for holding the valve in these or intermediate
positions will have to be greater or less, in proportion as such difference of pressure
increases or decreases.
Conversely, with a varying pressure exerted on the piston F the valve will be
made to assume varying positious which will produce pressure differences H-H'
that correspond to the said piston pressures, because the centre of rotation C of the

page_text: valve does not coincide with the centre of pressure D, and in consequence hereof
the amount of the moment of pressure acting upon the valve varies with the
amount H-H'.
If now water pressure be introduced into the chamber P communicating with the
cylinder E, through one opening and be allowed to flow off again through another
opening, it will be seen that by varying the proportion between the areas of these
openings, the pressure existing in the chamber P can be correspondingly varied and
such variation can be effected by hand in a similar manner to the controlling of the
brake cylinder gear for steam or hydraulic winding engines.
This variation can however, as above stated, and as shewn on the drawing, be
effected automatically by a governor.
The variable pressures produced in the chamber P are transmitted through pipe S
to the cylinder E so as to act on the piston F, so that when such pressure is in
excess of the upward pressure exerted on the piston by the water pressure difference
exerted in A, the piston will be forced downward until by the shifting of the valve
the two pressures balance each other. On the other hand, when the pressure on F
is decreased, the excess of upward pressure will cause the piston F to be forced
upward, thereby forcing water out of E back into P until by the change of position
of B, the two pressures again balance each other.
Assuming that there is a constant water pressure entering P through Q, there
will be for every position of the governor sleeve a definite pressure in the chamber P
and in the cylinder E, and consequently a definite pressure difference H-H' will
result.
As now the power given off by a turbine depends upon the pressure H' of the
impinging water, and as the water pressure H in front of the valve can be taken
as constant, it will be seen that by varying the pressure H' in the manner above
described, the power of the turbine can be varied at will to the exact amount
desired.
If the turbine is started with a certain degree of opening of its guide apparatus,
and if the power produced with a certain speed of the turbine is just equal to the
work requiring to be performed, then the governor sleeve will assume that position
at which the pressure difference H-H' is a minimum.
The valve B may under these conditions assume any position within the
angle L. C. M because with a certain sectional area of inlet the difference H-H'
will depend upon the velocity of the water, while the latter will depend upon the
exit area of the turbine.
If the guide apparatus of the turbine is opened too much for obtaining a certain
development of power for the turbine and consequently too much water gets into the
turbine, the speed thereof will increase; in consequence of this the sleeve of the
governor will change its position, thereby producing a greater pressure differ-
ence H-H, and consequently at once throttling the excess of power produced by
the excessive opening of the guide apparatus. The described apparatus will con-
sequently allow of the guide apparatus of the turbine being fully opened while the
turbine is running idle without causing any material increase in the speed thereof,
provided the governor be made sufficiently sensitive.
In order to be able, by means of a turbine provided with the above described
regulating apparatus, to perfectly utilize a certain water supply or only a portion
thereof, the guide apparatus of the turbine must only be opened so far that the said
quantity of water can just pass through it at the normal pressure, or that the
desired maximum power is attained; this is the case when with the correct number
of revolutions of the turbine the two pressure gauges J J₁ indicate almost the same
pressures, that is to say, when the pressure difference H-H' is a minimum.
As shewn at Figures 3 and 4 the supply channel or conduit whether open or
closed can be provided with several valves. The water pressure for the regulating
apparatus can either be taken from the water supply for the turbine, or be supplied
by a pump.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Apparatus for regulating the power and speed of turbines, consisting of one or
more pivotted flap valves B within the channel or conduit of the water supply, the
axis of rotation of which valve is displaced relatively to the centre of pressure D
thereof, such valve or valves being adjustable in position by means of a governor
in such manner that a difference of the water pressures before and behind the valve
or valves can be produced which shall correspond to the desired power or speed of
the turbine, substantially as described.
OL 1 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.