A regulating system for an air cushion type surge chamber

Abstract

The present application relates to air cushion type pressure regulating chamber technical field, especially to a kind of air cushion type pressure regulating chamber's regulating system.The air cushion type pressure regulating chamber's regulating system, including connecting tunnel, diversion tunnel and air cushion type pressure regulating chamber, multiple connecting tunnels are spaced apart along the length direction of diversion tunnel, pressure pipeline extending along the length direction is equipped in connecting tunnel, valve and flange pipe tube section are sequentially equipped in the middle part of pressure pipeline, two ends of pressure pipeline are respectively communicated with diversion tunnel and air cushion type pressure regulating chamber.The air cushion type pressure regulating chamber's regulating system can reduce the air supplement frequency to air cushion type pressure regulating chamber, and improve the maintenance efficiency to air cushion type pressure regulating chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air cushion pressure regulating chamber technology, and more particularly to a regulating system for an air cushion pressure regulating chamber. Background Technology

[0002] A surge tank is a device used to suppress water hammer and surge waves. In hydraulic and hydropower projects, its function is to reduce water hammer pressure in pressurized waterways, improve the operational stability of generating units, and enhance power supply quality. Conventional surge tanks have their upper part open to the atmosphere, and the water surface pressure inside is the same as atmospheric pressure. This results in significant fluctuations in the water level inside the surge tank during load adjustments, necessitating a relatively large volume to accommodate these fluctuations. However, when the surrounding rock mass is of good quality and the burial depth and minimum ground stress conditions are met, an air-cushion surge tank can be used. In an air-cushion surge tank, the upper part is closed and filled with compressed air to form an "air cushion," while the lower part is a "water cushion." The "water cushion" effectively suppresses the water level height and fluctuation amplitude within the air-cushion surge tank, resulting in smaller fluctuations in the water level. Therefore, the volume of an air-cushion surge tank is correspondingly smaller than that of a conventional surge tank.

[0003] Patent CN1884706A discloses a hood-type air cushion pressure regulating chamber, which connects the air cushion pressure regulating chamber and the pressure waterway via a connecting tunnel. The perimeter and top of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber are composed of a sealed hood with an open bottom, thereby effectively mitigating gas leakage within the air cushion pressure regulating chamber. However, this single connecting tunnel serves as both a water flow channel between the pressure waterway and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber and a construction channel for the air cushion pressure regulating chamber. For convenient construction of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber, the internal space of the connecting tunnel needs to be sufficiently large, and the water head also needs to be high, thus making it impossible to install control gates or valves within the connecting tunnel.

[0004] As air leakage in the pressure regulating chamber increases, the effect of the upper "air cushion" in suppressing water level and pressure fluctuations within the chamber weakens. To maintain the "air cushion's" suppressive effect on water level and pressure fluctuations, stable unit operation can only be ensured by replenishing air. However, during maintenance of the pressure regulating chamber, it is necessary to release the gas and water inside. To prevent water from the pressure channel from entering the pressure regulating chamber through the connecting tunnel, all the water in the entire pressure channel must be emptied. After the maintenance of the pressure regulating chamber is completed, the entire pressure channel must be refilled, which takes a long time and seriously affects power generation efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a regulating system for an air cushion pressure regulating chamber that can reduce the number of times the air cushion pressure regulating chamber needs to be replenished and improve the maintenance efficiency of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber.

[0006] The present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] This invention provides a regulating system for an air cushion pressure regulating chamber, comprising a connecting tunnel, a water diversion tunnel, and an air cushion pressure regulating chamber. Multiple connecting tunnels are spaced apart along the length of the water diversion tunnel. Each connecting tunnel contains a pressure pipe extending along its length. A valve and a flange pipe section are sequentially arranged in the middle of the pressure pipe. The two ends of the pressure pipe are respectively connected to the water diversion tunnel and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber.

[0008] Preferably, the pressure pipeline is externally encased in a concrete structure, which is fixed inside the connecting tunnel.

[0009] Preferably, a valve chamber is provided in the middle of the connecting tunnel, and the valves on the pressure pipeline are located in the valve chamber.

[0010] Preferably, the section of the pressure pipeline located in the valve chamber is an exposed section.

[0011] Preferably, the valve chambers in the multiple connecting tunnels are interconnected.

[0012] Preferably, the two ends of the pressure pipe are funnel-shaped openings that gradually expand away from the valve.

[0013] Preferably, the water diversion tunnel is located lower than the air cushion pressure regulating chamber, and the connecting tunnel connects the water diversion tunnel and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber at an elevation angle in the vertical direction.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0015] The regulating system of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber of this invention includes multiple connecting tunnels. Each connecting tunnel serves as a construction passage for the air cushion pressure regulating chamber, and each connecting tunnel contains a pressure pipe that acts as a water flow channel between the water diversion tunnel and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber. Compared to the single connecting tunnel setup in existing technologies, this invention uses multiple pressure pipes, allowing for smaller pipe diameters and the installation of valves. Furthermore, since valves are located in the middle of the pressure pipes, in the event of air leakage in the air cushion pressure regulating chamber, the pressure pipes can be closed one by one by controlling the valves. This reduces the highest surge wave, maximum air pressure, and maximum pressure at the unit inlet within the air cushion pressure regulating chamber, ensuring stable unit operation and reducing the frequency of air replenishment to the air cushion pressure regulating chamber, thereby lowering operating costs.

[0016] Meanwhile, when the air cushion pressure chamber needs maintenance, the flow of water from the water diversion tunnel to the air cushion pressure chamber is blocked by closing all valves on the pressure pipelines. Then, the water and gas in the air cushion pressure chamber are released. After disassembling the flange pipe section, the air cushion pressure chamber is entered through the exposed pressure pipeline port for maintenance. There is no need to empty the water diversion tunnel, which greatly saves maintenance time and helps improve the power generation efficiency of the power plant. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the planar layout of the regulating system of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal layout of the connecting tunnel after it has been cut open along its width in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal layout of the regulating system of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0021] 1. Connecting tunnels

[0022] 2. Water diversion tunnel

[0023] 3. Air cushion type pressure regulating chamber

[0024] 4. Pressure Piping

[0025] 41. Valves

[0026] 5. Valve Chamber Detailed Implementation

[0027] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0028] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] Furthermore, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0031] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides a regulating system for an air cushion pressure regulating chamber, including a connecting tunnel 1, a water diversion tunnel 2, and an air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3. Multiple connecting tunnels 1 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the water diversion tunnel 2. A pressure pipe 4 extending along the length direction is provided in the connecting tunnel 1. A valve 41 and a flange pipe section are arranged sequentially in the middle of the pressure pipe 4. The two ends of the pressure pipe 4 are respectively connected to the water diversion tunnel 2 and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3.

[0032] In this embodiment, the regulating system of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber is equipped with multiple connecting tunnels 1. Each connecting tunnel 1 serves as a construction passage for the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3. Each connecting tunnel 1 is equipped with a pressure pipe 4, which serves as a water flow inlet and outlet passage between the water diversion tunnel 2 and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3. Compared to the single connecting tunnel setup in the prior art, this embodiment uses multiple pressure pipes 4, allowing for smaller pipe diameters and the installation of valves 41. Furthermore, since valves 41 are located in the middle of the pressure pipes 4, when air leakage occurs in the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3, the valves 41 control the pressure pipes 4 to close one by one, thereby reducing the highest surge wave, maximum air pressure, and maximum pressure at the unit inlet in the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3, ensuring stable unit operation, and thus reducing the frequency of air replenishment in the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3 and lowering operating costs.

[0033] Specifically, the reduction in the gas PV value (product of gas pressure and gas volume) inside the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3 can be obtained by the automatic measurement system of the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3. The valve 41 on the pressure pipeline 4 can be closed accordingly, thereby dynamically adjusting the connection area between the water diversion tunnel 2 and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3. This reduces the highest surge wave, maximum gas pressure and maximum pressure at the inlet of the unit inside the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3, ensuring stable operation of the unit, reducing the number of gas replenishment times and lowering operating costs.

[0034] Meanwhile, when the air cushion pressure chamber 3 needs maintenance, the flow of water from the water diversion tunnel 2 to the air cushion pressure chamber 3 is blocked by closing all valves 41 on the pressure pipelines 4. Then, the water and gas in the air cushion pressure chamber 3 are released. After disassembling the flange pipe section, the air cushion pressure chamber can be accessed through the exposed pressure pipeline port for maintenance. There is no need to empty the water diversion tunnel 2, which greatly saves maintenance time and helps improve the power generation efficiency of the power plant.

[0035] Furthermore, since a typical air-cushion surge tank 3 is connected to the water diversion tunnel 2 by only one connecting tunnel 1, water hammer caused by changes in unit load can only be reflected into the air-cushion surge tank 3 through this single connecting tunnel 1, thus the effect of eliminating water hammer is often poor. However, the regulating system of the air-cushion surge tank in this embodiment increases the number of channels for reflecting water hammer along the length of the water diversion tunnel 2 by setting up multiple connecting tunnels 1 with pressure pipes 4, thereby better suppressing the adverse effects of water hammer on the water diversion tunnel 2.

[0036] Preferably, in this embodiment, the valve 41 on the pressure pipeline 4 is a ball valve.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, the ball valve is equipped with an expansion joint, which is located between the valve 41 and the flange pipe section. The expansion joint can provide a buffer to prevent the valve equipment vibration from having an adverse effect on the pressure pipeline 4 when adjusting the opening of the ball valve.

[0038] It should be noted that the specifications and dimensions of the ball valve depend on the water head of the hydropower station. To ensure the safety of valve 41, the larger the water head, the smaller the specifications and dimensions of the ball valve. The diameter of the pressure pipeline 4 is determined by the specifications and dimensions of the ball valve to ensure that the ball valve can be fitted into the pressure pipeline 4. The number of connecting tunnels 1 can be determined according to the diameter of the pressure pipeline 4. The initial number of connecting tunnels 1 is KA1 / A2, where K is a constant, which can be taken as 0.3-1.0. The specific value of K is selected based on experience. A1 is the cross-sectional area of ​​the water diversion tunnel 2, and A2 is the cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure pipeline 4. The number of connecting tunnels 1 is finally determined by hydraulic numerical calculation. The dimensions of the connecting tunnels 1 need to meet the requirements of installing the pressure pipeline 4 while reserving the construction passage space required for the construction of the air cushion type pressure regulating chamber 3.

[0039] Preferably, in this embodiment, the pressure pipe 4 is made of pressure steel pipe.

[0040] Preferably, the pressure pipeline 4 is externally encased in a concrete structure, which is fixed within the connecting tunnel 1. The pressure pipeline 4 is thus secured within the connecting tunnel 1 by the concrete structure.

[0041] Preferably, see Figure 1 and Figure 3 A valve chamber 5 is located in the middle of the connecting tunnel 1, and the valve 41 on the pressure pipeline 4 is located in the valve chamber 5. The valve chamber 5 separates the valve 41 from the connecting tunnel 1, providing sufficient space for the installation of the valve 41, the disassembly of the flange pipe section, and the access to the air cushion pressure regulating chamber 3 for maintenance.

[0042] Preferably, the section of pressure pipeline 4 located within valve chamber 5 is an exposed section. The exposed section facilitates the installation and operation of valve 41.

[0043] Preferably, see Figure 1 The valve chambers 5 in the multiple connecting tunnels 1 are interconnected, making it more convenient and faster for personnel to control the valves 41 of the multiple pressure pipelines 4.

[0044] Preferably, the two ends of the pressure pipe 4 are funnel-shaped openings that gradually expand away from the valve 41, thereby increasing the area of ​​water hammer reflection in a single channel and better suppressing the adverse effects of water hammer.

[0045] Preferably, see Figure 3 The water diversion tunnel 2 is positioned lower than the air cushion surge chamber 3, and the connecting tunnel 1 connects the water diversion tunnel 2 and the air cushion surge chamber 3 at an upward angle in the vertical direction. The inclined setting of the connecting tunnel 1 makes the water exchange between the water diversion tunnel 2 and the air cushion surge chamber 3 smoother. At the same time, it is also easier to release the water in the air cushion surge chamber 3 during maintenance.

[0046] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and substitutions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A regulating system for an air-cushion type pressure regulating chamber, characterized in that, The system includes a connecting tunnel (1), a water diversion tunnel (2), and an air cushion pressure regulating chamber (3). Multiple connecting tunnels (1) are spaced apart along the length of the water diversion tunnel (2). Each connecting tunnel (1) serves as a construction passage for the air cushion pressure regulating chamber (3). A pressure pipe (4) extending along the length of the connecting tunnel (1) is provided. The pressure pipe (4) serves as a water flow passage between the water diversion tunnel (2) and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber (3). A valve (41) and a flange pipe section are sequentially provided in the middle of the pressure pipe (4). The two ends of the pressure pipe (4) are connected to the water diversion tunnel (2) and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber (3), respectively. A valve chamber (5) is provided in the middle of the connecting tunnel (1). The valve (41) on the pressure pipe (4) is located in the valve chamber (5). The valve chambers (5) in the multiple connecting tunnels (1) are interconnected.

2. The regulating system of the air cushion type pressure regulating chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure pipeline (4) is covered with a concrete structure, which is fixed inside the connecting tunnel (1).

3. The regulating system of the air cushion type pressure regulating chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The section of the pressure pipeline (4) located in the valve chamber (5) is an exposed section.

4. The regulating system of the air cushion type pressure regulating chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two ends of the pressure pipe (4) are funnel-shaped openings that gradually expand away from the valve (41).

5. The regulating system of the air cushion type pressure regulating chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water diversion tunnel (2) is located at a lower position than the air cushion pressure regulating chamber (3), and the connecting tunnel (1) connects the water diversion tunnel (2) and the air cushion pressure regulating chamber (3) at an elevation angle in the height direction.

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