HYDROGEN MACHINE WITH ONE IRON WITH ADJUSTABLE BUCKETS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a water turbine with an impeller featuring adjustable blades. Such impellers are also known as Kaplan impellers. The invention relates in particular to the control and vibration monitoring of such a water turbine.

[0002] Such water turbines are known from the prior art. For example, DE 329 528 B discloses such a water turbine. A gearbox located in the hub of the impeller serves to adjust the blade pitch. The gearbox is actuated via a pushrod, which is driven by a power piston located above the electric motor. Above the power piston, a pushrod extends to a return rod. This return rod transmits the feedback motion to the control components of the controller. In modern water turbines of this type, the power piston is also located in the hub of the impeller, and control is achieved via a control device, which is usually referred to as a digital controller. However, feedback of the blade position is still required for controlling the blade pitch.Complicated mechanical constructions are usually required to transmit this information to the control unit.

[0003] The document JP H07 270148 A discloses a generic water turbine in which the position of the blades is determined by a sensor based on the vertical position of a magnet.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a water turbine designed in such a way that feedback information about the blade position can be transmitted to the control device with less mechanical effort. The solution according to the invention also enables vibration monitoring of the water turbine shaft.

[0005] The problem is solved according to the invention by an embodiment according to the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are found in the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention will be explained below with the aid of figures. The figures show, in detail: Fig. 1. Generic water turbine; Fig. 2. Detail of a water turbine according to the invention in a first embodiment; Fig. 3. Section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 Fig. 4 Section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a further embodiment; Fig. 5 Section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of a further embodiment; Fig. 6 Embodiment according to Fig. 2 with rotating radar system; Fig. 7 Design according to Fig. 2 with stationary radar system; Fig. 8 Design according to Fig. 5 with stationary and redundant radar system;

[0007] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a water turbine of this type. The water turbine comprises an impeller with a plurality of adjustable blades, of which only one is shown and labeled 1. The blades 1 are arranged on a hub, which is labeled 2. Inside the hub 2 is the mechanism for adjusting the blades, which is arranged in Figure 2 The impeller is connected to hub 2 by a shaft, which in turn is connected to the rotor of an electric machine. The shaft is designated 4 and the rotor 5. Shaft 4 can be a single piece. However, it usually consists of two sections, which are connected in Figure 1 These are designated 4.1 and 4.2. Part 4.1 is usually referred to as the turbine shaft or impeller shaft, and part 4.2 as the generator shaft. The impeller rotates within a tube section, which is usually referred to as the impeller ring. Figure 1The impeller ring is labelled 3. The rotor 5 rotates in a stator, which is labelled 6. The axis of rotation is indicated in the figure by the dashed line.

[0008] Furthermore, the water turbine includes a control unit, designated 12. The control unit serves to regulate the blade inclination and can also be used to monitor the water turbine. These two functions can also be performed by separate units. For the purposes of this document, the control unit 12 is considered a single, higher-level unit, which may comprise two or more separate or interconnected subunits. The impeller ring 3, the stator 6, and the control unit 12 belong to the stationary system of the water turbine, while all other components shown belong to the rotating system.

[0009] Figure 2Figure 1 shows a detail of a water power plant according to the invention. It depicts the area where the two partial shafts 4.1 and 4.2 are connected to each other. At this point, the two partial shafts form a flange. An axially movable rod, designated 7, is arranged in the hollow interior of the impeller shaft 4.1. The rod 7 is connected to the Figure 2 The mechanism for adjusting the blades (not shown) is connected in such a way that adjusting the blades 1 results in an axial movement of the rod 7. In the illustrated embodiment, this connection is achieved by the thinner rod leading downwards into the hub. When the blades are adjusted, the rod 7 moves upwards or downwards, depending on the direction in which the blades are adjusted. This is in Figure 2As indicated by the double arrow, a support arm, designated 8, is attached to rod 7. Support arm 8 projects from the interior of the impeller shaft 4.1 through a gap in the impeller shaft 4.1, extending beyond the flange in a perpendicular direction to the axis of rotation. The gap is designated 9. The gap 9 is designed to allow support arm 8 to follow the movement of rod 7. Rod 7 and gap 9 could also be located within generator shaft 4.2.

[0010] A hydropower plant according to the invention comprises at least one radar system which is located in Figure 2The radar system 10 is indicated by the rectangle labeled 10. It is arranged such that it can detect a portion of the wave 4 and the extension arm 8, i.e., it can detect the distance to a portion of the wave 4 and the extension arm 8. The dashed lines indicate the radar system's field of view. In the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the wave 4 detected by the radar system is the top surface of the flange between the two partial waves 4.1 and 4.2. The radar system 10 is connected to the control unit 12. The radar system is designed to transmit the detected distances to the control unit. The difference in distances represents the feedback information transmitted to the control unit 12.

[0011] The radar system 10 can be configured, for example, as a CW or FMCW radar system. A CW or FMCW radar system typically comprises a transceiver with a transmitting and a receiving antenna, and a control unit. The transmitting and receiving antennas can be implemented separately as two individual antennas or integrated as a single antenna capable of both transmitting and receiving. The control unit typically includes a microprocessor that controls the transceiver, processes the received signal, and establishes the connection to a computer, which is also part of the radar system.

[0012] It should be mentioned that the in Figure 2The arrangement of rod 7, extension arm 8, gap 9, and radar system 10 shown does not necessarily have to be located on the flange between the partial shafts 4.1 and 4.2. These elements could also be arranged on another part of the shaft 4. The only important factor is that the shaft 4 is designed at the relevant point such that a defined distance is maintained between the part of the shaft 4 detected by radar system 10 and the extension arm 8. For this purpose, the shaft can have a shoulder or a projection. It could also be a recess in the shaft 4. Thus, the arrangement according to the invention can also be implemented with a one-piece shaft. On the flange of a two-piece shaft between the partial shafts 4.1 and 4.2, this requirement is met without further effort, since the flange provides a suitable shoulder. Furthermore, a connection between rod 7 and the mechanism for adjusting the blades must be possible.The shaft must be hollow from the point in question to the hub.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a section perpendicular to the axis of rotation through the in Figure 2 The illustrated embodiment in the area of ​​the extension arm 8. The extension arm 8 optionally forms a platform at its outer end, which improves the detection of the extension arm 8 by the radar system 10.

[0014] Figure 4 shows the same view as Figure 3 from a further embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown differs from the one described in Figure 3 The embodiment shown is distinguished by the fact that it comprises two extension arms 8. For this purpose, the shaft 4 must have a further gap 9.

[0015] Figure 5 shows the same view as Figure 3 from a further embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown differs from those described in the Figure 3or 4 embodiments shown, in that the same comprises three extension arms 8 and three columns 9, and that a ring, designated 11, is attached to the outer end of the extension arms 8. In order to avoid unnecessarily complicating the formulation of the claims, the ring 11 is considered in this document to be part of the extension arms 8.

[0016] The advantages of the in Figure 4 and 5 The embodiments shown are used in connection with the Figure 6 and 7 demonstrated.

[0017] Figure 6 shows the embodiment according to Figure 2 The difference to Figure 2 consists of the fact that in Figure 6 It is shown that radar system 10 is attached to shaft 4. That is, in the Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the radar system 10 is part of the rotating system and rotates with the shaft 4. This allows the radar system 10 to continuously detect the distances.

[0018] Figure 7 Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the radar system 10 is part of the stationary system. In this embodiment, the extension arm 8 or arms 8 move periodically through the field of view of the radar system 10 during operation of the water turbine. This allows the distances to be periodically recorded by the radar system.

[0019] It is clear that continuous distance measurement facilitates signal evaluation and control. This advantage is always present when the radar system 10 rotates along with the vehicle. For this purpose, the radar system 10 is positioned above or, equally well, below the relevant boom arm 8. When combined with the [unclear] Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, two radar systems 10 are used, so that the detection of distances and thus the transmission of feedback information is redundant. The redundancy can be increased as desired by multiplying the extension arms 8 and radar systems 10.

[0020] If the radar system 10 is part of the stationary system, then the embodiment according to Figure 5 a continuous distance signal. This combination is in Figure 8 The illustrated embodiment comprises two radar systems 10, so that the distance is detected redundantly. The redundancy is to be considered optional. Two radar systems 10 as shown in Figure 5 The representations also allow for the calculation of any wobbling motion of ring 11 that may be present.

[0021] As mentioned above, the radar system(s) can be configured as a CW or FMCW radar system. Both CW and FMCW radar systems enable the implementation of the methods according to the invention, which are described below.

[0022] The inventive method for controlling a water turbine comprises the following steps: 4. Measuring a distance to the measured part of the shaft. 8. Measuring a distance to a boom arm. 9. Comparing the difference of the measured distances with a target value. If there is a significant difference between the difference and the target value: Adjusting the blades to adjust the difference to the target value.

[0023] The inventive method for monitoring the vibration of a water turbine comprises the following steps: Measuring the vibration of shaft 4 and / or a boom arm 8 using radar system 10. Comparing the measured vibration values ​​with predefined limit values.

[0024] If the described arrangement according to the invention detects a vibration behavior of the shaft that exceeds a predefined limit, it can generate a warning message and / or cause the water turbine to shut down. The predefined limit values ​​can be, for example, vibration amplitude values ​​in specific frequency ranges. It is understood that the predefined limit values ​​for the shaft 4 and a support arm 8 can be different.

[0025] Finally, it should be mentioned that signal transmission between a rotating radar system can be wireless. The radar system can be powered via slip rings or a battery. It is also conceivable to obtain the necessary energy through induction. Reference symbol list

[0026] 1Schaufel 2Nabe 3Laufradring 4Welle 4.1 4.2Laufradwelle Generatorwelle 5Rotor 6Stator 7Stange 8Auslegearm 9Spalt 10Radarsystem 11Ring 12Steuereinrichtung

Claims

1. Hydroelectric machine comprising an impeller rotatable about an axis of rotation with a plurality of adjustable blades (1) arranged on a hub (2), wherein the hydroelectric machine comprises a shaft (4) and a mechanism for adjusting the blades (1), wherein the shaft (4) is connected to the hub (2), and wherein the mechanism for adjusting the blades (1) is arranged in the hub (2), and wherein the hydroelectric machine comprises a control device (12), wherein the hydroelectric machine comprises a rod (7) movable in the axial direction, at least one extension arm (8), at least one gap (9), and wherein the rod (7) is arranged in a cavity of the shaft (4), and wherein the at least one extension arm (8) is attached to the rod (7), characterised in that the hydroelectric machine comprises at least one radar system (10), and wherein the at least one extension arm (8) protrudes through the at least one gap (9) arranged in the shaft (4) in such a way that it protrudes beyond the shaft (4) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and wherein the rod (7) is connected to the mechanism for adjusting the blades (1) in such a way that adjustment of the blades (1) results in axial movement of the rod (7), and wherein the at least one radar system (10) is designed and arranged such that it can detect a first distance to a part of the shaft (4) and a second distance to the at least one extension arm (8) and transmit these to the control device (12) .

2. Hydropower machine according to claim 1, wherein the hydropower machine comprises a stationary system, and wherein the at least one radar system (10) is part of the stationary system.

3. Hydropower machine according to claim 1, wherein the hydropower machine comprises a rotating system, and wherein the at least one radar system (10) is part of the rotating system.

4. Hydropower machine according to one of the previous claims, wherein the shaft (4) comprises two partial shafts (4.1, 4.2), and wherein the partial shafts (4.1, 4.2) are connected to a flange, and wherein the at least one gap (9) is arranged in the flange, and wherein the part of the shaft (4) from which the distance from the at least one radar system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 is detected is part of the flange.

5. Hydroelectric machine according to one of the previous claims, wherein the hydroelectric machine comprises three extension arms (8) and a ring (11), and wherein the extension arms (8) are connected to the ring (11) at their outer end.

6. Hydroelectric machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one radar system (10) is designed as a CW radar system.

7. Hydroelectric machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one radar system (10) is designed as an FMCW radar system.

8. Method for controlling a hydroelectric machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - measuring a first distance to a part of the shaft (4); - measuring a second distance to the at least one extension arm (8); - comparing the difference between the measured distances with a setpoint value; - If there is a significant difference between the difference and the setpoint value: adjusting the blades (1) to equalise the difference to the setpoint value.

9. Method for monitoring vibrations in a hydroelectric machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - measuring a vibration of the shaft (4) and / or an extension arm (8) using the radar system (10); - Comparing the measured vibration values with predefined limit values.