IP Library Granted Patent US 7,195,460
Granted Patent B2
US 7,195,460 · App. 10/528,142 · Granted Mar 27, 2007

Francis turbine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,195,460
App. No.
10/528,142
Granted
Mar 27, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A Francis runner and a hydraulic turbine equipped with such a runner, wherein the runner includes a ceiling, a belt, and blades which extend between the ceiling and the belt and which define liquid flow channels therebetween. A ratio (e/L) of a maximum thickness Ce) of each blade to an average developed length (L) of an average fibre of each blade is between 0.1 and 0.2. At a leading edge of each blade, the average fibre is oriented, over essentially an entire height of the leading edge, along a straight line (Δ 23 ), which forms an angle (α) greater than 90° relative to a line (U) defining a direction of rotation of the leading edge of the runner.

Claims (16)

1. A Francis runner comprising:

a crown;

a band; and

blades extending between said crown and said band, said blades defining liquid flow channels therebetween, wherein a ratio (e/L) of a maximum thickness (e) of each blade to an average developed length (L) of an average fibre of each blade is between 0.1 and 0.2, and at a leading edge of each blade, said average fibre is oriented, over essentially an entire height of the leading edge, along a straight line (Δ 23 ) forming an angle (α) greater than 90° relative to a line (U) defining a direction of rotation of the leading edge of the runner.

2. The runner according to claim 1 , wherein said ratio (e/L) is greater than 0.13.

3. The runner according to claim 2 , wherein said ratio (e/L) is greater than 0.15.

4. The runner according to claim 1 , wherein said angle (α) between the line (U) of each blade at the leading edge and the average fibre of said blade at the leading edge is between 110° and 140°.

5. The runner according to claim 1 , each blade is formed by a skin constituting two lateral faces of said blade and defining a hollow internal volume (V 2 ) of said blade.

6. The runner according to claim 5 , wherein said skin is metallic.

7. The runner according to claim 5 , wherein said skin is made of composite material.

8. The runner according to claim 5 , wherein said skin is formed by assembling two plates respectively constituting a pressure side surface and a suction side surface of said blade.

9. The runner according to claim 5 , said volume (V 2 ) is lined with a filling material.

10. A Francis hydraulic turbine equipped with a runner, said runner comprising:

a crown;

a band; and

blades extending between said crown and said band, said blades defining liquid flow channels therebetween, wherein a ratio (e/L) of a maximum thickness (e) of each blade to an average developed length (L) of an average fibre of each blade is between 0.1 and 0.2, and at a leading edge of each blade, said average fibre is oriented, over essentially an entire height of the leading edge, alona a straight line (Δ 23 ) forming an angle (α) greater than 90° relative to a line (U) defining a direction of rotation of the leading edge of the runner.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 7, 2017
From: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
To: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 042191/0072 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: ALSTOM HYDRO FRANCE
To: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 030899/0545 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2013
From: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
To: ALSTOM HYDRO FRANCE
Reel/Frame 030264/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2005
From: BAZIN, DANIELE; COUSTON, MICHEL HENRI
To: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
Reel/Frame 016952/0935 →