Hydraulic Turbine Engine Guide Block for Modular Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cross-flow hydraulic turbomachines are complex and costly to assemble and disassemble, often requiring dedicated vessels and equipment, which limits their maintenance and repair flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic turbine engine design featuring a guide block with motorized winches and guide cables that allows for simple assembly and disassembly using standard vessels, with a removable active part and a support structure that includes split sheaths and blocking latches for secure cable management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional heavy bases and foundations are used for cross-flow hydraulic turbomachines, then the structural stability is improved, but the complexity and cost of assembly and disassembly operations increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly and disassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The turbomachine is divided into modular stages that can be assembled and disassembled independently. Each stage includes turbine components, generator, and associated equipment that can be handled as separate units, enabling step-by-step installation and maintenance operations from vessels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Guide blocks with cable reels act as intermediary devices between the vessel and the turbomachine components. These guide blocks facilitate controlled lowering and positioning of heavy turbine stages using cable systems, simplifying the assembly process from standard vessels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If dedicated vessels with specialized equipment are used for assembly and disassembly, then the precision and control of installation operations are improved, but the operational costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation precisionVSAvoidvessel equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide blocks and cable reel systems are designed to be universal equipment that can be used with standard vessels for multiple operations including assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of different turbomachine components, eliminating the need for specialized dedicated vessels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable reel systems on guide blocks automatically manage cable tension and payout during component lowering operations, providing self-regulating control that maintains installation precision without requiring complex external control systems on the vessel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the entire turbomachine is assembled as a single unit, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ease of maintenance and repair is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The turbomachine is constructed from multiple discrete stages that maintain structural integrity when assembled but can be independently removed for maintenance. Each stage includes complete functional units (turbine, generator, etc.) that can be serviced separately while the remaining structure stays intact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Individual turbine stages and components can be extracted from the assembled structure for maintenance and repair operations. The modular design allows specific stages to be removed and replaced without dismantling the entire turbomachine, facilitating easier maintenance while preserving overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2475871B1Easy maintenance hydraulic turbine engine
Publication Date: 2015.01.21 ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
  • EP2475871B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2475871B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3
  • EP2475871B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4F

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydraulic turbine engine comprising, between a seat (11) and a succession of turbine stages (1-4) associated with at least one generator, a guiding block (6) secured to the lower stage of the turbine engine and nested on the seat, said guiding block containing winders for guiding cables (15), the ends of which are secured to the seat.