Patent ID: 7972108

Claim:
A turbine for a hydroelectric power plant intended to equip a water stream at the level of a very low head lower than 10 meters comprising: a helix-shaped wheel, a carter crossed by an opening comprising a cylindrical portion, the wheel comprising blades arranged at the level of the cylindrical portion, a hub on which the blades are assembled, a fixed box, the hub being rotatably assembled on the fixed box, and a distributor upstream of the wheel with respect to the water flow and comprising profiles connecting the fixed box to the carter, wherein the opening comprises a converging portion upstream of the cylindrical portion with respect to the water flow and a diverging portion downstream of the cylindrical portion with respect to the water flow, the ratio between the thickness of the carter according to the rotation axis of the wheel and the wheel diameter being smaller than 0.5, and wherein the wheel comprises a diameter and rotational speed configured to produce a target ratio (K) between the kinetic energy of the water flow having a velocity (V) coming out of the wheel and the potential energy of the head (H) of the water stream entering the wheel is defined by the relationship K=(100V 2 )/2 gH, wherein K is smaller than 20%.