Emergency water supply system for vertical unit cooler of hydropower station

Abstract

An emergency water supply system for a vertical unit cooler of a hydropower station uses unit operation and mountain seepage water collected by a water collecting well as an emergency water source, and uses tail water from a tail water channel to supplement the water collecting well to control water temperature and avoid water temperature rise caused by recycling. The system automatically controls the opening and closing of electric valves and the starting and stopping of water pumps through PLC. When the filter is blocked and the water supply pressure of the cooler decreases, the emergency water source is automatically put into use, forming a closed loop cycle from the water collecting well to the cooler and back to the water collecting well. At the same time, the water temperature and water level sensors are linked to control water replenishment, maintaining the stability of the water temperature and water level in the water collecting well. The system can realize emergency water source switching without manual intervention, not only tapping potential and reducing downtime losses, but also providing buffer time for operation and maintenance personnel, solving the technical difficulty of unattended hydropower stations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hydropower station operation and maintenance technology, specifically to an emergency water supply system for a hydropower station stand-up generator cooler. Background Technology

[0002] The cooling system of a hydroelectric standing unit typically employs, for example... Figure 3 The conventional scheme shown involves drawing cooling water from the power plant's forebay, filtering out solid impurities through a water filter, and then delivering it to the unit's cooler. After heat exchange, the water is discharged into the tailrace. This scheme has the following significant drawbacks;

[0003] 1. Before the flood season, the increase of wood and stone debris in the pool water can easily clog the water filter, leading to an interruption of the cooling water supply and causing a sudden rise in the bearing temperature. At this time, it is necessary to shut down the machine for maintenance, resulting in a loss of power generation.

[0004] 2. Although there is a theoretical backup water source (such as a collection well), the existing system does not have automatic connection with the cooler and lacks water temperature control measures. Circulation will cause the water temperature in the collection well to rise continuously (it will lose its cooling capacity if it exceeds 30°C), failing to meet continuous emergency needs.

[0005] 3. Clogged water filters require manual intervention for shutdown, cleaning, and restart, resulting in long response times and making them unsuitable for the trend of unmanned operation in hydropower stations. The lack of a buffer mechanism for maintenance personnel to reach the site also poses a high risk to equipment safety.

[0006] 4. The water collection well has been collecting seepage water from the unit and the mountain for a long time. The water quality is better than the water in the pool before the flood season. However, the current technology only uses it for drainage and has not explored its potential as an emergency cooling water source. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This utility model provides an emergency water supply system for a standing hydropower unit cooler. This system is an emergency cooling system that can automatically switch and continuously supply water, ensuring the cooling effect while reducing downtime losses, and providing key technical support for unattended hydropower stations.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0009] An emergency water supply system for a stand-up hydroelectric generator cooler includes a collection well, a tailrace channel, and a water delivery pipe. The water delivery pipe is connected to the cooler via a water filter and a shut-off valve, and then leads to the tailrace channel. The tailrace channel is connected to the collection well via a water supply pipe. A first water pump and a second water pump are installed in the collection well. The first water pump is connected to a four-way valve via a second drain pipe. The four-way valve is connected to a first inlet pipe and a connecting pipe. The first inlet pipe is connected to the water delivery pipe. The second water pump is connected to the connecting pipe via the first drain pipe. The end of the connecting pipe leads to the tailrace channel.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, one end of the second drain pipe is connected to the first water pump, and the other end is connected to a four-way valve; the other three ports of the four-way valve are respectively connected to a pressure relief pipe, a first inlet pipe, and a connecting pipe; the other end of the pressure relief pipe is introduced into a collection well, the other end of the connecting pipe is introduced into a tailrace channel, and the other end of the first inlet pipe is connected to a water conveyance pipe; an outlet pipe is also connected to the water conveyance pipe, and the other end of the outlet pipe is introduced into the collection well.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the connection point between the first inlet pipe and the water supply pipe is located at the inlet end of the cooler, and the connection point between the outlet pipe and the water supply pipe is located at the outlet end of the cooler; a pressure gauge is installed on the water supply pipe between the first inlet pipe and the cooler.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, a first electric valve is installed on the first inlet pipe, a second electric valve is installed on the outlet pipe, a fifth electric valve and a second regulating valve are installed on the pressure relief pipe, a fourth electric valve is installed on the connecting pipe between the four-way valve and the first drain pipe, and a sixth electric valve is installed on the water supply pipe.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, a first regulating valve is provided on the water supply pipe between the shut-off valve and the water filter, and maintenance valves are provided on the water supply pipes at both the front and rear ends of the water filter. A third electric valve is also installed on the water supply pipe downstream of the connection point between the outlet pipe and the water supply pipe.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the water collection well includes a well wall, the side of which is connected to a water supply pipe, and a support is mounted at the upper end of the water collection well. An ultrasonic level gauge is vertically mounted on the support, and the ultrasonic level gauge is wirelessly connected to the sixth electric valve.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of temperature sensors are provided at the bottom of the water collection well. The temperature sensors are arranged symmetrically in a ring around the axis of the water collection well, and the temperature sensors are connected to the sixth electric valve via signal connection.

[0016] An emergency water supply system for a standing hydroelectric generator cooler, the beneficial effects of which are:

[0017] 1. When the water filter becomes clogged, the system monitors it in real time via a pressure gauge, and the PLC automatically switches to the emergency water circuit, ensuring a continuous supply of cooling water to the cooler. The unit does not need to be shut down, directly eliminating the power generation loss caused by cleaning the water filter. Calculations show that a single failure can recover tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity.

[0018] 2. Low-temperature tailwater is introduced through a water supply pipe, and combined with water temperature sensors and PLC linkage control, the water temperature in the collection well is always ≤30℃. Compared with the traditional circulating heating mode, the emergency water supply time is increased from less than 1 hour to more than 4 hours, meeting the needs of extreme working conditions;

[0019] 3. The first water pump has both emergency water supply and backup drainage functions, while the second water pump is dedicated to drainage, maximizing equipment utilization while ensuring drainage capacity.

[0020] 4. Based on pressure signals and reset button triggering of the PLC program, the entire process of "fault response - emergency switching - system recovery" is completed without human intervention. Maintenance personnel have ≥4 hours to reach the site, significantly reducing the risk of equipment malfunction.

[0021] 5. The leakage water from the collection well, which was originally "wastewater", is transformed into a high-quality emergency water source, reducing the water intake of the forebay by more than 20%; the return water and pressure relief drainage of the emergency water circuit are all recycled back to the collection well, achieving zero new water consumption. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the water collection well structure of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the existing cooling system of this utility model.

[0026] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Water collection well; 2. First water pump; 3. Second water pump; 4. Tailwater channel; 5. Water delivery pipe; 6. Inspection valve; 7. Water filter; 8. Pressure gauge; 9. First regulating valve; 10. Shut-off valve; 11. Cooler; 12. Third electric valve; 13. First inlet pipe; 14. First electric valve; 15. Outlet pipe; 16. Second electric valve; 17. First drain pipe; 18. Second drain pipe; 19. Four-way valve; 20. Pressure relief pipe; 21. Second regulating valve; 22. Fifth electric valve; 23. Fourth electric valve; 24. Connecting pipe; 25. Water supply pipe; 26. Sixth electric valve; 27. Well wall; 28. Support; 29. ​​Ultrasonic level gauge; 30. Temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0027] like Figure 1As shown, an emergency water supply system for a vertical hydroelectric generator cooler includes a collection well 1, a tailrace channel 4, and a water delivery pipe 5. The water delivery pipe 5 passes through a water filter 7 and a shut-off valve 10, connecting to the cooler 11 before being introduced into the tailrace channel 4, forming a conventional cooling water path. The tailrace channel 4 is connected to the collection well 1 via a water supply pipe 25, used to replenish the collection well with low-temperature water. The collection well 1 is equipped with a first water pump 2 and a second water pump 3. The first water pump 2 is connected to a four-way valve 19 via a second drain pipe 18, and the second water pump 3 is connected to a connecting pipe 24 via a first drain pipe 17. The four-way valve 19 connects to a first inlet pipe 13 and the connecting pipe 24, respectively. The first inlet pipe 13 connects to the water delivery pipe 5, and the end of the connecting pipe 24 leads into the tailrace channel 4, realizing the switching between emergency water supply and conventional drainage pipelines.

[0028] Preferred solutions include Figure 1 As shown, one end of the second drain pipe 18 is connected to the first water pump 2, and the other end is connected to the four-way valve 19; the other three ports of the four-way valve 19 are respectively connected to the pressure relief pipe 20, the first water inlet pipe 13, and the connecting pipe 24. The other end of the pressure relief pipe 20 is introduced into the water collection well 1 to regulate the emergency water supply pressure; the other end of the connecting pipe 24 is introduced into the tailrace channel 4 as a regular drainage channel; the other end of the first water inlet pipe 13 is connected to the water supply pipe 5 for emergency water source access to the cooling circuit. The water supply pipe 5 is also connected to an outlet pipe 15, the other end of which is introduced into the water collection well 1, allowing the heat-exchanged water to flow back to the water collection well to form a circulation.

[0029] Preferred solutions include Figure 1 As shown, the connection point between the first inlet pipe 13 and the water supply pipe 5 is located at the inlet end of the cooler 11, ensuring that the emergency water source is directly connected to the cooler inlet; the connection point between the outlet pipe 15 and the water supply pipe 5 is located at the outlet end of the cooler 11, allowing the heat-exchanged water to flow back to the collection well. A pressure gauge 8 is installed on the water supply pipe 5 between the first inlet pipe 13 and the cooler 11 to monitor the cooler inlet water pressure. When the pressure is lower than the set value, the emergency water source is activated.

[0030] Preferred solutions include Figure 1 As shown, the first inlet pipe 13 is equipped with a first electric valve 14 for controlling the on / off of the emergency water source; the outlet pipe 15 is equipped with a second electric valve 16 for controlling the backflow of circulating water; the pressure relief pipe 20 is equipped with a fifth electric valve 22 and a second regulating valve 21 to control the emergency water supply pressure by adjusting the external drainage volume; the connecting pipe 24 is equipped with a fourth electric valve 23 located between the four-way valve 19 and the first drain pipe 17 for switching the drainage path; and the water replenishment pipe 25 is equipped with a sixth electric valve 26, which is controlled by a water temperature and water level sensor to replenish water.

[0031] Preferred solutions include Figure 1 As shown, a first regulating valve 9 is installed on the water supply pipe 5 between the shut-off valve 10 and the water filter 7 to regulate the flow rate of the conventional cooling water; maintenance valves 6 are installed on the water supply pipes 5 at both ends of the water filter 7 to facilitate the shut-off of water flow during water filter maintenance; a third electric valve 12 is also installed on the water supply pipe 5 downstream of the connection point between the outlet pipe 15 and the water supply pipe 5, which is closed to cut off the conventional water source during emergency water supply.

[0032] Preferred solutions include Figure 2 As shown, the water collection well 1 includes a well wall 27, the side of which is connected to a water supply pipe 25; a support 28 is installed at the upper end of the water collection well 1, and an ultrasonic level gauge 29 is vertically installed on the support 28. The ultrasonic level gauge 29 is wirelessly connected to the sixth electric valve 26 to monitor the water level of the water collection well in real time and control the water supply in conjunction with the valve.

[0033] Preferred solutions include Figure 2 As shown, multiple temperature sensors 30 are provided at the bottom of the water collection well 1, arranged symmetrically in a ring around the axis of the water collection well 1. The temperature sensors 30 are connected to the sixth electric valve 26 for monitoring the water temperature of the water collection well. When the water temperature exceeds the set threshold, the tailwater channel is triggered to replenish water to maintain the cooling water source temperature.

[0034] The specific operation mode of this system is as follows:

[0035] 1. Normal operating mode: The third electric valve 12 and the fourth electric valve 23 are open, and the first electric valve 14, the second electric valve 16, the fifth electric valve 22, and the sixth electric valve 26 are closed. The water source of the forebay enters the cooler 11 through the water supply pipe 5, the filter 7, and the shut-off valve 10 in sequence. After heat exchange, it is directly discharged into the tailrace channel 4. The pressure gauge 8 on the water supply pipe 5 monitors the water inlet pressure of the cooler 11 in real time and maintains it above the set threshold. The second water pump 3 acts as the main drainage pump and discharges the water leaking from the collection well 1 into the tailrace channel 4 through the first drainage pipe 17 and the connecting pipe 24 to maintain the normal water level of the collection well 1.

[0036] 2. Emergency Water Source Automatic Activation Process: When the filter 7 becomes clogged, causing the pressure gauge 8 to drop to the set value, the PLC system triggers an emergency response, closing the third electric valve 12 and the fourth electric valve 23 to cut off the water supply to the forebay, and opening the first electric valve 14, the second electric valve 16, and the fifth electric valve 22 to connect the emergency water circuit. The first water pump 2 draws water from the collection well 1, which flows through the second drain pipe 18, the four-way valve 19, and the first inlet pipe 13 into the water delivery pipe 5, and then flows into the cooler 11. After heat exchange, the water flows back to the collection well 1 through the outlet pipe 15 and the second electric valve 16 to form a closed loop circulation. When the first water pump 2 starts, the second water pump 3 remains on standby. The shut-off valve 10 between the first regulating valve 9 and the pressure gauge 8 prevents the emergency water source from flowing back.

[0037] 3. Emergency water supply pressure regulation mechanism: When the fifth electric valve 22 is opened, part of the circulating water flows back to the water collection well 1 through the pressure relief pipe 20 and the second regulating valve 21. The external drainage volume is controlled by the opening degree of the preset second regulating valve 21, and the water inlet pressure of the cooler 11 is stabilized within a reasonable range. The second regulating valve 21 can be set in advance according to the design parameters of the cooler 11, and no secondary adjustment is required during operation.

[0038] 4. Water supply control logic for the collection well: When the water temperature in collection well 1 exceeds 30℃ or the water level is below 1.8 meters during emergency water supply, the temperature sensor 30 or the ultrasonic level gauge 29 sends a signal to the PLC, triggering the opening of the sixth electric valve 26. Low-temperature water from the tailrace channel 4 is injected into collection well 1 through the water supply pipe 25. When the water temperature is below 28℃ or the water level reaches 2 meters, the sixth electric valve 26 closes, maintaining the stability of the water temperature and water level in collection well 1.

[0039] 5. System Reset Procedure: After the water filter 7 is overhauled, the operator presses the PLC reset button. The first electric valve 14, the second electric valve 16, the fifth electric valve 22, and the sixth electric valve 26 close, while the third electric valve 12 and the fourth electric valve 23 open. The forebay water source is reconnected to the cooling circuit, and the emergency water circuit is cut off. The first water pump 2 stops running and returns to standby drainage pump status. The second water pump 3 resumes operation as the main drainage pump, and the system returns to normal mode.

[0040] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An emergency water supply system for a vertical hydroelectric generator cooler, comprising a collection well (1), a tailrace channel (4), and a water supply pipe (5), characterized in that: The water supply pipe (5) is connected to the cooler (11) via the water filter (7) and the shut-off valve (10) in sequence and then introduced into the tailwater channel (4). The tailwater channel (4) is connected to the collection well (1) via the water supply pipe (25). The collection well (1) is equipped with a first water pump (2) and a second water pump (3). The first water pump (2) is connected to a four-way valve (19) via the second drain pipe (18). The four-way valve (19) is connected to the first water inlet pipe (13) and the connecting pipe (24) respectively. The first water inlet pipe (13) is connected to the water supply pipe (5). The second water pump (3) is connected to the connecting pipe (24) via the first drain pipe (17). The end of the connecting pipe (24) is introduced into the tailwater channel (4).

2. The emergency water supply system for the cooler of a hydroelectric standing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the second drain pipe (18) is connected to the first water pump (2), and the other end is connected to the four-way valve (19); the other three ports of the four-way valve (19) are respectively connected to the pressure relief pipe (20), the first water inlet pipe (13) and the connecting pipe (24); the other end of the pressure relief pipe (20) is introduced into the water collection well (1), the other end of the connecting pipe (24) is introduced into the tailwater channel (4), and the other end of the first water inlet pipe (13) is connected to the water supply pipe (5); the water supply pipe (5) is also connected to the water outlet pipe (15), and the other end of the water outlet pipe (15) is introduced into the water collection well (1).

3. The emergency water supply system for the cooler of a hydroelectric standing unit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connection point between the first water inlet pipe (13) and the water supply pipe (5) is located at the water inlet end of the cooler (11), and the connection point between the water outlet pipe (15) and the water supply pipe (5) is located at the water outlet end of the cooler (11); a pressure gauge (8) is installed on the water supply pipe (5) between the first water inlet pipe (13) and the cooler (11).

4. The emergency water supply system for the cooler of a standing hydroelectric unit according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first inlet pipe (13) is equipped with a first electric valve (14), the outlet pipe (15) is equipped with a second electric valve (16), the pressure relief pipe (20) is equipped with a fifth electric valve (22) and a second regulating valve (21), the connecting pipe (24) is equipped with a fourth electric valve (23) located between the four-way valve (19) and the first drain pipe (17), and the water supply pipe (25) is equipped with a sixth electric valve (26).

5. The emergency water supply system for the cooler of a hydroelectric standing unit according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first regulating valve (9) is provided on the water supply pipe (5) between the shut-off valve (10) and the water filter (7). Inspection valves (6) are provided on the water supply pipes (5) at both ends of the water filter (7). A third electric valve (12) is also installed on the water supply pipe (5) downstream of the connection point between the outlet pipe (15) and the water supply pipe (5).

6. The emergency water supply system for the cooler of a hydroelectric standing unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: The water collection well (1) includes a well wall (27), the side of which is connected to a water supply pipe (25). A support (28) is installed at the upper end of the water collection well (1), and an ultrasonic level gauge (29) is vertically installed on the support (28). The ultrasonic level gauge (29) is wirelessly connected to the sixth electric valve (26).

7. The emergency water supply system for the cooler of a hydroelectric standing unit according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom of the water collection well (1) is provided with multiple temperature sensor plates (30), which are arranged symmetrically in a ring around the axis of the water collection well (1). The temperature sensor plates (30) are connected to the sixth electric valve (26) via signal.

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