Self-regulating Water Turbine Sub-runner for Automatic Blade Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water turbines require external energy sources for blade regulation, limiting their ability to self-regulate and optimize performance based on operating conditions, and they often rely on mechanical or hydraulic coupling for blade adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A turbine sub-runner system that uses the energy from the vortex created by the main runner to automatically adjust the angle of the main runner blades, optimizing turbine performance without the need for external energy sources, by transferring rotational energy into angular movement of the main runner blades through a sub-runner control mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external energy sources are used for blade regulation, then the turbine can maintain stable operation, but the system complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine system uses itself to regulate its own blades. The rotating blades interact with the vortex flow to automatically adjust their angle, eliminating the need for external energy sources or complex control systems. The system regulates itself by utilizing the natural vortex flow pattern that occurs during turbine operation.
2Productivity
If mechanical or hydraulic coupling is used for blade adjustments, then the turbine can optimize performance, but the device complexity and external energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or hydraulic coupling systems with a direct hydrodynamic interaction mechanism. The vortex flow directly acts on the blades to induce automatic angle adjustment, substituting mechanical complexity with fluid dynamic principles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles by employing the water vortex flow itself as the control medium. The vortex flow's pressure distribution and fluid dynamics directly drive the blade adjustment, replacing mechanical systems with a purely hydraulic control approach.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external energy sources are used for regulation, then the turbine can adapt to changing conditions, but the operational costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine system regulates itself using the energy already present in the water flow and vortex structure. No additional external energy is consumed for regulation, as the system extracts control energy from the natural vortex flow that occurs during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic feedback control where the vortex flow pattern continuously interacts with the blades, sensing and responding to changing operating conditions. The vortex structure naturally adjusts its characteristics based on flow rate changes, providing real-time feedback for blade angle optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sub-runner system enhances turbine efficiency by automatically adjusting blade angles in response to changing water flow conditions, increasing the operating range of the turbine and eliminating the need for external energy sources for regulation, thereby optimizing performance and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
uses the energy from the vortex created by the main runner to automatically adjust the angle of the main runner blades
Implementation Method 2
transferring the rotational energy of the sub-runner into angular movement of main runner blades of a turbine
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a turbine sub-runner that is positioned to be within the vortex zone of a turbine main runner. The sub-runner includes at least two sub-runner blades, configured to monitor the relative flow of the vortex created by the main runner. A sub-runner hub will be positioned downstream of the main runner blades. A sub-runner shaft, having a threaded section, will also be a part of the sub-runner, and will be connected to the sub-runner hub housing adjustable sub-runner blades and the mechanism enabling to regulate angular position of sub-runner blades. A main runner blades control mechanism will be connected to the sub-runner shaft via threaded interface, and is capable of transferring the rotational energy of the sub-runner into angular movement of the main runner blades. As the sub-runner interacts with the changing conditions of the main runner vortex, it will act to automatically regulate, adjust, and control the angle of the main runner blades to optimize the performance of the turbine. The sub-runner uses the energy of the sub-runner blades to perform the monitoring, regulation, adjustment and control of the main runner through regulating angular position of main runner blades.