Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: Turbine device
Field of Invention: The invention relates generally to a turbine device, and
more
specifically to a water turbine device.
.. State of the art
The invention concerns a turbine device according to the preamble of claim 1,
a
hydropower plant according to claim 14 with a corresponding turbine device and
a
method for designing a hydropower plant according to claim 15.
Document EP 2 295 808 A2 discloses a turbine device with stator vanes which
are
.. inclined at a flat angle in order to avoid injury to fish.
The objective of the invention is in particular to provide a generic device
with im-
proved characteristics regarding safety, in particular fish-friendliness, in
particular
while at least largely maintaining efficiency. The objective is achieved
according to
the invention by the features of patent claims 1 and 15 while advantageous
imple-
.. mentations and further developments of the invention may be gathered from
the
subclaims.
Advantages of the invention
The invention is based on a turbine device, in particular Kaplan turbine
device,
tubular turbine device and/or Straflo turbine device, with at least one
conduction
unit for a conduction of at least one fluid flow and with at least one
impeller vane
unit, which is arranged within the conduction unit, which is rotatable around
a rota-
tion axis and which comprises at least one impeller vane.
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It is proposed that the turbine device comprises a protective unit which is
config-
ured, in at least one operating state, to urge objects flowing in the fluid
flow, in par-
ticular flotsam and preferentially fish, in particular eel, in a direction
toward the ro-
tation axis. In this way, in particular damaging of the objects by sharp outer
edges
of the impeller vane is avoidable. Advantageously, a safe and/or fish-friendly
im-
plementation of the impeller vane can be limited on a partial zone of the
impeller
vane which is closest to the rotation axis.
By a "turbine device- is in particular a device to be understood which is
configured
to convert a kinetic energy of a fluid, in particular water, into rotational
energy, in
.. particular of a shaft of the turbine device. Preferably the kinetic energy
is created
by a conversion of a potential energy of the fluid. Advantageously a flow
direction
of the fluid flow runs at least partly along a gravity direction. In
particular, the con-
duction unit defines the flow direction of the fluid flow.
By a "conduction unit" is in particular a unit to be understood which is
configured to
.. conduct the fluid flow. Preferentially the conduction unit comprises at
least one, in
particular tube-shaped, conduction element. Preferentially the conduction unit
comprises at least one entry and an exit, between which the impeller vane unit
is
arranged. In particular, a flow direction of the fluid flow may vary between
the entry
and the exit in a continuous and/or in a disconnected manner.
By an "impeller vane unit" is in particular a unit to be understood which is
config-
ured, in the operating state, to be subject to a rotation movement caused by a
fluid
flowing past. Preferentially the impeller vane unit is operatively connected
to at
least one generator unit of the turbine device, which converts a rotational
energy
of the impeller vane unit into electrical energy. In particular, the turbine
device
comprises at least one shaft, which defines the rotation axis. Advantageously,
the
impeller vane unit comprises at least one impeller vane hub that is fastened
to the
shaft. The impeller vane hub in particular carries the impeller vane. In
particular,
the impeller vane may be rotatable relative to the impeller vane hub.
Alternatively,
the impeller vane could be firmly connected to the impeller vane hub.
Preferably
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the impeller vane comprises at least one mounting element, which enables a
mounting of the impeller vane on the impeller vane hub and/or defines an
adjust-
ment rotation axis of the impeller vane relative to the impeller vane hub.
Alterna-
tively or additionally, the impeller vane unit may comprise at least one blade
ring
which, in particular in a view along the rotation axis, encompasses all
impeller
vanes of the impeller vane unit. In particular, the blade ring adjoins outer
edges of
all impeller vanes.
The impeller vane in particular comprises at least one blade, which preferably
comprises blade regions which are situated opposite each other, in particular
with
respect to the adjustment rotation axis. A "blade region" is in particular to
mean, in
this context, a portion of the blade that is different from a pure surface and
which
comprises at least 20 %, advantageously at least 30 % and preferentially at
least
40 % of a volume of the blade. In particular, the two blade regions may form
the
entire blade. Advantageously, the first blade region forms a front side of the
impel-
ler vane and the second blade region forms a rear side of the impeller vane.
By a
"front side" is in particular, in this context, a portion of the blade to be
understood
which is arranged closer to an entry of the conduction unit than a rear side.
Advan-
tageously, the blade comprises two opposite-situated main surfaces, which are
preferably defined by the two blade regions together. By a "main surface of
the im-
peller vane" is in particular, in this context, a surface to be understood
which de-
fines a side of the blade. Preferably the impeller vane comprises at least two
oppo-
site-situated main surfaces. It would be conceivable that both blade regions
are
implemented axially symmetrically to each other, in particular axially
symmetrically
to the adjustment rotation axis. In particular, the impeller vane comprises at
least
one outer edge, which preferentially defines a common outer edge of the two
blade regions. In particular, the front side comprises at least one front edge
that is
situated opposite the outer edge. In particular, the rear side comprises at
least one
rear edge that is situated opposite the outer edge. The outer edge may in
particu-
lar be realized as a continuous edge. Alternatively, the outer edge could be
inter-
rupted by at least one stabilization element of the impeller vane. By a
"stabilization
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element" is in particular, in this context, a component of the impeller vane
to be un-
derstood that is configured to stabilize the impeller vane in an operating
state,
preferably during a rotation of the impeller vane. Particularly preferentially
the sta-
bilization element is implemented integrally with the blade. In particular,
the blade
regions, the mounting element and the stabilization element are implemented
inte-
grally with one another. "Integrally" is in particular to mean at least
connected by
substance-to-substance bond, for example by a welding process, a gluing pro-
cess, an injection-molding process and/or another process that is deemed
expedi-
ent by someone skilled in the art, and/or advantageously formed in one piece,
like
for example by a production from a cast and/or by a production in a one-compo-
nent and/or multi-component injection-molding procedure, and advantageously
from a single blank.
Preferably the turbine device is realized as a Kaplan turbine device. By a
"Kaplan
turbine device" is in particular a turbine device to be understood in which
the flow
direction of a fluid hitting on the impeller vane runs at least approximately
parallel
to the rotation axis. "At least approximately" is here in particular to mean
that the
flow direction and the rotation axis together include an angle of maximally 40
, ad-
vantageously no more than 35 , advantageously maximally 30 and especially ad-
vantageously maximally 25 . Preferentially the impeller vane of the Kaplan
turbine
device is realized so as to be adjustable.
The objects may preferably comprise objects occurring within water bodies by
na-
ture, like for example water plants and/or aquatic life forms, in particular
fish, in
particular eel, and/or crabs and/or shells. It would also be conceivable that
the ob-
jects comprise foodstuffs and/or terrestrial plants and/or terrestrial life
forms. By an
object being "urged" in a direction is in particular to be understood, in this
context,
that a movement of the object counter to the direction is encumbered, and/or a
movement along the direction is facilitated, and/or the object is transported
in the
direction. Preferentially the protective unit is free of sharp edges, at least
in a re-
gion that is accessible by the objects. Advantageously, the protective unit is
free of
abutment surfaces extending perpendicularly to a movement direction of the
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objects. Especially advantageously the protective unit induces a continuous
move-
ment of the objects toward the rotation axis. It would be conceivable that the
pro-
tective unit is mounted on a remaining turbine device in an at least partially
releas-
able fashion.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the protective unit is configured to conduct
the
flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis. Preferentially the
protective unit
conducts the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis by a shaping of
the
protective unit. In particular, the protective unit comprises subregions
which, upon
a contact of the flowing objects with the subregions, make the objects slide
off to-
ward the rotation axis. Advantageously the protective unit comprises at least
one
deflection element that is configured to deflect a movement direction of the
ob-
jects. In particular, the deflection element is embodied as a mechanical
element. It
would be conceivable that the deflection element is embodied as a rail, which
is in
particular realized separately from the impeller vane unit and steers the
flowing ob-
jects radially toward the rotation axis before a contact with the impeller
vane unit.
In this way, in particular a movement of the flowing objects radially toward
the rota-
tion axis, which is gentle and easily implementable, is enabled.
Advantageously,
damaging of the flowing objects is avoidable by the movement of the flowing ob-
jects radially toward the rotation axis. Especially advantageously, the
movement of
the flowing objects radially toward the rotation axis is achievable without
substan-
tial additional energy consumption and/or without substantial reduction of an
effi-
ciency of the turbine device.
Advantageously, the protective unit is implemented at least partly integrally
with
the impeller vane unit. By two units being implemented "at least partly
integrally"
with each other is in particular to be understood, in this context, that the
two units
have at least one element in common. Preferentially, the protective unit is
imple-
mented at least partly integrally with the impeller vane. This in particular
allows
achieving a compact and robust implementation of the protective unit. Advanta-
geously, in comparison to a separately realized protective unit, construction
space
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can be saved. Particularly advantageously a loosening and/or displacement of
the
protective unit during operation of the turbine device can be avoided.
Beyond this it is proposed that the protective unit comprises at least one
contour
element of the impeller vane. By a "contour element" is in particular an
element of
an object to be understood which, in a view of the object along a predefined
view-
ing direction, defines an outer contour of the object at least partially.
Preferentially
the predefined viewing direction onto the contour element is perpendicular to
a
main surface of the impeller vane. That the contour element, in a view along
the
viewing direction, "at least partially defines" the outer contour of the
object, is in
particular to mean, in this context, that in a view along the viewing
direction, the
contour element defines the outer contour of the object at least by 10%,
advanta-
geously at least by 20 % and especially advantageously at least by 30 %. In
partic-
ular, the contour element comprises at least one edge of the impeller vane. An
"edge" is in particular to mean a surface zone of the impeller vane which
connects
the main surfaces of the blade. The edge could be implemented, for example,
smooth or rounded. This in particular allows improving a protection of the
flowing
objects. Advantageously, damaging of the flowing objects by the impeller vane
can
be avoided.
In order to further increase a protection of the flowing objects, it is
proposed that
the contour element forms a front edge of the impeller vane at least partly,
advan-
tageously to a large extent and preferably completely. This in particular
allows
achieving a gentle implementation of the front edge, which is in the prior art
partic-
ularly dangerous for flowing objects. Advantageously, cutting up of the
objects
caused by a rotation movement of the front edge can be avoided.
It is also proposed that the front edge is implemented at least substantially
in a
sickle shape. By "at least substantially" is in particular to be understood
that a dif-
ference is within customary manufacturing tolerances. By the front edge of the
im-
peller vane being implemented "in a sickle shape" is in particular to be
understood,
in this context, that the front edge has a curvature and at least one end of
the edge
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meets a further end of a further edge, in particular the outer edge, of the
impeller
vane, which has a further curvature, and thus contributes to the formation of
a tip.
A "curvature" is in particular to mean, in this context, a local change in a
course di-
rection, in particular in a movement from the first end of the front edge to
the sec-
ond end of the front edge. By an "end" is in particular, in this context, a
portion of
the front edge to be understood which delimits the front edge outwardly along
a
course direction of the front edge, and whose length is maximally 20 %,
advanta-
geously maximally 15 %, preferentially no more than 10 % and particularly
prefer-
entially no more than 5 % of a length of the front edge. By a "tip" is in
particular a
portion of a body to be understood which delimits the body outwardly in at
least
one direction and which has a shape tapering along the direction.
Preferentially
the tip is oriented such that it points away from the rotation axis. In
particular, a
blade region comprising the front edge is embodied as a sickle.
Advantageously,
at least in a view perpendicularly onto at least one main surface of the
impeller
vane, the front edge is implemented in an arc shape. "In a view
perpendicularly
onto a surface" is in particular to mean a viewing direction which includes a
right
angle with a point of the surface it is intersecting with. In particular, the
perpendic-
ular view onto the surface may depend on a viewed point of the surface. By an
"arc-shaped front edge" is in particular, in this context, an edge to be
understood
which has a curvature extending over the entire edge and preferably changing
continuously. Preferably the front edge is curved toward the rotation axis.
This in
particular allows improving a conduction of the flowing objects toward the
rotation
axis. Advantageously, projections and/or protruding tips and/or corners of the
front
edge, which could damage the flowing objects, are avoidable.
It is further proposed that in at least one operative position of the impeller
vane
unit, the front edge penetrates a plane extending perpendicularly to the
rotation
axis in at least one intersection point which, in an imaginary movement of the
plane parallel to the rotation axis, is displaced in a radially non-uniform
manner. In
particular, the imaginary movement of the plane at least substantially
describes a
movement of the flowing objects. Advantageously, the intersection point is
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displaced toward the rotation axis. Preferably, with a constant movement
velocity
of the plane, the intersection point is displaced with an increasing, in
particular
continuously increasing, movement velocity. This in particular allows
achieving a
gentle conduction of the flowing objects toward the rotation axis. It is
advanta-
geously possible to ensure a conduction of the flowing objects to the rotation
axis
before the flowing objects pass the front edge. Especially advantageously,
damag-
ing of the flowing objects by too abrupt conduction of the flowing objects is
avoida-
ble.
For the purpose of increasing efficiency, it is proposed that in at least one
view
perpendicularly onto a main surface of the impeller vane and in an imaginary
movement of a point from one end of the front edge to a further end of the
front
edge, a movement direction of the point rotates in a direction by at least 70
, in
particular by at least 120 , advantageously by at least 170 , preferentially
by at
least 220 and especially preferentially by at least 270 . In particular, a
first end of
the front edge is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the rotation axis.
Prefera-
bly a second end of the front edge contributes to the formation of the tip. As
a re-
sult of this, it is in particular possible to catch objects flowing through an
individual
impeller vane over a large region and to urge them toward the rotation axis.
In the perpendicular view a maximum perpendicular distance between a connect-
ing line of two end points of the front edge and any remaining point of the
front
edge is in particular at least 15 %, advantageously at least 25 %,
preferentially at
least 35 % and particularly preferentially at least 45 % of a length of the
connect-
ing line. Advantageously the distance defines a local movement velocity of the
in-
tersection point to the rotation axis. This in particular allows increasing
safety in an
efficient manner. It is advantageously possible to provide a material-saving
light-
weight impeller vane with augmented safety, in particular augmented fish-
friendli-
ness.
The front edge advantageously has a rounding, which connects at least one
first
main surface of the impeller vane to at least one opposite-situated second
main
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surface of the impeller vane. In particular, the rounding constitutes a
concave par-
tial zone of the impeller vane. Advantageously, in a view of a cross section
contour
of the rounding perpendicularly to the main surfaces, a maximum perpendicular
distance between a connecting line of two end points of the rounding and any
re-
maining point of the rounding is maximally 40 %, advantageously maximally 35
%,
preferentially no more than 30 % and especially preferentially maximally 25 %
of a
length of the connecting line. Preferably the perpendicular distance decreases
ra-
dially in a direction toward the rotation axis. This in particular allows even
better
avoidance of a damaging of the flowing objects during conduction. Advanta-
geously, cutting up of the flowing objects by the front edge is avoidable.
It is further proposed that a thickness of the front edge increases,
preferably con-
tinuously, radially in a direction toward the rotation axis. Advantageously
the
rounding of the front edge flattens in proportion to a thickness of the front
edge.
Preferentially the front edge is aligned with the mounting element. In this
way in
.. particular damaging of the flowing objects in a proximity of the rotation
axis can be
avoided in a simple manner. Advantageously, in an impact of the flowing
objects
on an end region of the front edge that faces toward the rotation axis, impact
forces can be distributed on a larger area.
Preferentially the thickness increases radially in a direction toward the
rotation axis
by at least 200 %, advantageously by at least 400 %, preferentially by at
least
600 % and especially preferentially by at least 800 %. As a result, even
better
avoidance of damaging of the flowing objects in a proximity of the rotation
axis is
enabled. Advantageously, the rounding of the front edge can be implemented suf-
ficiently flat so as to prevent a cutting up of the flowing objects by the
front edge.
For the purpose of effectively increasing fish-friendliness, it is proposed
that the
impeller vane is implemented in a rotationally non-symmetrical manner. By a
body
being "rotationally non-symmetrical" is in particular to be understood that
the body
is free of rotational symmetries with respect to any rotation axes. In
particular, both
blade regions are free of rotational symmetries relative to each other.
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Advantageously, the second blade region has a rear edge extending at least sub-
stantially straight in a view perpendicularly to the main surface of the
impeller
vane. Advantageously, an implementation of a rear edge, which will not contact
the flowing objects anyway, with increased safety characteristics can be
dispensed
.. with. Especially advantageously, the further blade region having the rear
edge
may instead be implemented for an optimum energy production.
Beyond this it is proposed that the protective unit comprises at least one
shielding
element, which is configured to at least encumber an entry of objects into a
region
between a radial outer side of the impeller vane and at least one wall of the
con-
duction unit. In particular, the shielding element may be configured, in a
view along
the rotation axis, to cover a region between a radial outer side of the
impeller vane
and at least one wall of the conduction unit. By the shielding element
"covering"
the region is in particular to be understood that the shielding element
encumbers,
preferably prevents, a movement of the flowing objects into the region. By a
"radial
outer side" is in particular a side of the impeller vane to be understood
which faces
away from the rotation axis. In particular, the outer edge of the impeller
vane de-
fines the radial outer side of the impeller vane. In particular, the blade
ring could
contribute to an encumbering of the entry of the objects into the region
between
the radial outer side and the wall. This in particular allows augmenting a
safety of
the outer edge. Advantageously damaging of the flowing objects by the outer
edge
is avoidable.
In an alternative implementation, the shielding element could be implemented
as a
separate additional element, which is fastened on the conduction unit.
Preferen-
tially the shielding element is implemented at least partly integrally with
the con-
duction unit and is preferably implemented as a set-off of the conduction
unit. In
particular, the shielding element connects a first subregion of the conduction
unit,
which faces toward the entry, to the wall, which is in particular part of a
second
subregion of the conduction unit that faces toward the exit. In particular,
the wall
and/or the second subregion may have a diameter that is larger than or substan-
.. tially identical to a first diameter of the first subregion. A value and/or
an element
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being "at least substantially identical" to a further value and/or element is
in partic-
ular to mean that the value and/or the element has a deviation of maximally 20
%,
advantageously maximally 15 %, preferentially maximally 10 % and especially
preferentially maximally 5 % with respect to the value and/or to a shaping of
the
.. further element. In particular, the wall may have a straight and/or curved
course.
This in particular allows augmenting a safety of the outer edge in a simple
manner.
It is advantageously possible to do without additional assembly steps for a
fas-
tening of the shielding element.
Furthermore, a hydropower plant, in particular with augmented protection of ob-
jects flowing in a fluid flow, with a turbine device according to the
invention, is pro-
posed. This in particular allows augmenting a safety of objects flowing
through the
hydropower plant, in particular flotsam and preferentially fish, in particular
eel.
In a further aspect the invention is based on a method for designing a
hydropower
plant, in particular with augmented protection of objects flowing in a fluid
flow.
It is proposed that a reduction of an efficiency due to a utilization of a
turbine de-
vice according to the invention is at least compensated by dispensing with at
least
one further protection measure for objects flowing in the fluid flow. The
protection
measures comprise, for example, a utilization of flotsam rakes and/or a
reduction
of a tine distance of flotsam rakes. In this way in particular an efficiency
of the hy-
dropower plant can be increased while maintaining a high safety level of the
hy-
dropower plant.
Herein the turbine device according to the invention shall not to be limited
to the
application and implementation described above. In particular, in order to
fulfill a
functionality that is described here, the turbine device according to the
invention
may comprise a number of individual elements, components and units that
differs
from a number given here.
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Drawings
Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the
drawings. In the drawings two exemplary embodiments of the invention are illus-
trated. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of
features
in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the
fea-
tures separately and will find further expedient combinations.
It is shown in:
Fig. 1 a schematic illustration of a hydropower plant with a
turbine de-
vice,
Fig. 2 a close-up schematic illustration of a portion of the turbine
device,
Fig. 3 various schematic views of an impeller vane of the turbine
device,
Fig. 4 a schematic flow chart of a method for designing the
hydropower
plant,
Fig. 5 a close-up schematic illustration of a portion of a further
turbine
device, and
Fig. 6 various schematic views of a further impeller vane of the
further
turbine device.
Description of the exemplary embodiment
Figure 1 shows a hydropower plant 44a. The hydropower plant 44a presents aug-
.. mented protection of objects (not shown) flowing in a fluid flow (not
shown). The
hydropower plant 44a comprises a retaining dam 46a. The hydropower plant 44a
comprises an engine house 48a.
The hydropower plant 44a comprises a turbine device 10a. A portion of the
turbine
device 10a is shown in more detail in figure 2. The turbine device 10a is
embodied
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as a Kaplan turbine device. Alternatively, the turbine device 10a could as
well be
embodied as a tubular turbine device and/or as a Straflo turbine device.
The turbine device 10a comprises a conduction unit 12a. The conduction unit
12a
is configured for a conduction of the fluid flow. The conduction unit 12a is
imple-
mented as a tube system. The conduction unit 12a comprises an entry opening
50a. The conduction unit 12a comprises an exit opening 52a. The entry opening
50a and the exit opening 52a together define a direction of the fluid flow.
The fluid
flow runs from the entry opening 50a to the exit opening 52a. The turbine
device
10a comprises an impeller vane unit 16a. The impeller vane unit 16a is
arranged
within the conduction unit 12a. The impeller vane unit 16a is rotatable around
a ro-
tation axis 14a. The rotation axis 14a is oriented parallel to a gravity
direction. Al-
ternatively the rotation axis 14a could also be oriented perpendicularly to a
gravity
direction. The impeller vane unit 16a comprises an impeller vane hub 58a. The
im-
peller vane unit 16a comprises four impeller vanes which are implemented
identi-
cally to each other; therefore only one impeller vane 18a has been given a
refer-
ence numeral and will be described below. Alternatively, the impeller vane
unit 16a
could comprise any other number of impeller vanes. The impeller vane 18a is
con-
nected rotatably with the impeller vane hub 58a. The impeller vane 18a is in
an op-
erative position.
The impeller vane unit 16a comprises a blade ring 80a. In a view along the
rotation
axis 14a, the blade ring 80a encompasses the impeller vane 18a. The blade ring
80a has recesses. The impeller vane 18a comprises a stabilization element 72a.
The stabilization element 72a is configured for a stabilization of the
impeller vane
18a during a rotation of the impeller vane 18a. The stabilization element 72a
en-
gages in one of the recesses of the blade ring 80a.
The impeller vane unit 16a is firmly fastened to a shaft 54a. The shaft 54a is
oper-
atively connected to a generator 56a. The generator 56a is arranged in the
engine
house 48a. In an operating state, the fluid flow brings the impeller vane unit
16a
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into a rotation. The impeller vane unit 16a forwards the rotation to the shaft
54a.
The generator 56a generates an electric current using the rotation of the
shaft 54a.
The turbine device 10a comprises a protective unit 20a. The protective unit
20a is
configured, in the operating state, to urge objects flowing in the fluid flow
toward
__ the rotation axis 14a. The protective unit 20a is configured to conduct the
flowing
objects radially toward the rotation axis 14a. Alternatively the protective
unit 20a
could merely prevent a movement of objects, flowing in a proximity of the
rotation
axis 14a, away from the rotation axis 14a.
The protective unit 20a is implemented at least partly integrally with the
impeller
vane unit 16a. The protective unit 20a comprises a contour element 21a of the
im-
peller vane 18a. The contour element 21a forms a front edge 22a of the
impeller
vane 18a completely. Alternatively the contour element 21a could form merely a
portion of the front edge 22a. The protective unit 20a comprises two shielding
ele-
ments 40a which are identically to each other; therefore only one of the
shielding
elements 40a will be described below. The shielding element 40a is configured
to
at least encumber an entry of objects into a region between a radial outer
side of
the impeller vane 18a and at least one wall 42a of the conduction unit 12a.
The
shielding element 40a is implemented integrally with the conduction unit 12a.
Al-
ternatively, the shielding element 40a could be implemented as a separate ele-
ment and be fastened to the conduction unit 12a. The shielding element 40a con-
nects an outer subregion 78a to the wall 42a. The wall 42a has a greater
diameter
than the outer subregion 78a. The wall 42a is embodied straight.
Alternatively, the
wall 42a could be embodied curved.
Figures 3a to 3e show different schematic illustrations of the impeller vane
18a.
The impeller vane 18a comprises a mounting element 62a. The mounting element
62a assists in a fixation of the impeller vane 18a to the impeller vane hub
58a. In a
mounted state, the mounting element 62a is situated completely inside the
impel-
ler vane hub 58a. The impeller vane 18a comprises a blade 64a. The blade 64a
has a first main surface 28a and a second main surface 38a. The main surfaces
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28a, 38a are arranged opposite each other. The impeller vane 18a comprises an
outer edge 60a. The outer edge 60a connects the two main surfaces 28a, 38a to
each other. The outer edge 60a defines the radial outer side of the impeller
vane
18a.
The blade 64a has a first blade region 66a and a second blade region 68a. The
outer edge 60a defines a common edge of the two blade regions 66a, 68a. The
impeller vane 18a is rotationally non-symmetrical. The first blade region 66a
and
the second blade region 68a are implemented differently from each other.
Alterna-
tively, the two blade regions 66a, 68a could be implemented identically to
each
.. other. The first blade region 66a comprises a rear edge 70a that is
straight in a
view perpendicularly onto the main surfaces 28a, 38a. The second blade region
68a comprises a front edge 22a.
The front edge 22a is embodied in an arc shape. Alternatively the front edge
22a
could have corners and/or several different curvature directions. The front
edge
22a is embodied in a sickle shape. The front edge 22a meets the outer edge 60a
in a tip 74a. The second blade region 68a is implemented as a sickle. In an
opera-
tive position, the front edge 22a penetrates a plane 24a, which extends
perpendic-
ularly to the rotation axis 24a, in an intersection point 26a. In an imaginary
move-
ment of the plane 24a parallel to the rotation axis 14a, the intersection
point 26a is
displaced in a direction toward the rotation axis 14a in a radially non-
uniform man-
ner. Alternatively, the intersection point could be displaced in a uniform
manner.
In the view perpendicularly onto the main surfaces 28a, 38a of the impeller
vane
18a and an imaginary movement of a point (not shown) from one end of the front
edge 22a to a further end of the front edge 22a, a movement direction of the
point
is rotated by approximately 80 . Alternatively the movement direction of the
point
could be rotated by 1000 or 200 . A first movement direction 30a of the point
at the
end of the front edge 22a and a second movement direction 32a of the point at
the
further end of the front edge 22a together include an angle of approximately
80 .
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In the view perpendicularly onto the main surfaces 28a, 38a of the impeller
vane
18a, a maximum perpendicular distance 34a between a connecting line 36a of two
end points of the front edge 22a and any remaining points of the front edge
22a is
approximately 40 % of a length of the connecting line 36a. Alternatively, the
per-
pendicular distance 34a could be 60 % or 80 % of a length of the connecting
line
36a.
The front edge 22a has a rounding. The rounding connects the first main
surface
28a of the impeller vane 18a to the second main surface 38a of the impeller
vane
18a. A thickness of the front edge 22a increases radially in a direction
toward the
.. rotation axis 14a. The rounding flattens in proportion to the increase of
the thick-
ness of the front edge 22a. The thickness of the front edge 22a increases
radially
in the direction toward the rotation axis 14a by approximately 1,000 %.
Alterna-
tively, the thickness of the front edge 22a could increase radially in the
direction to-
ward the rotation axis 14a by approximately 200% or 1,200 %.
In figure 4 a schematic flow chart of a method for designing the hydropower
plant
44a is shown. In a designing step 100a the hydropower plant 44a is furnished
with
the turbine device 10a. A reduction of an efficiency due to the utilization of
the tur-
bine device 10a is compensated by dispensing with a further protection
measure.
In this case the further protection measure is providing the hydropower plant
44a
with flotsam rakes.
In figures 5 and 6 a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.
The
following description and the drawings are limited substantially to the
differences
between the exemplary embodiments, wherein regarding components having the
same denomination, in particular regarding components having the same refer-
ence numerals, principally the drawings and/or description of the other
exemplary
embodiment of figures 1 to 4 may be referred to. In order to distinguish
between
the exemplary embodiments, the letter a has been added to the reference numer-
als of the exemplary embodiment in figures 1 to 4. In the exemplary embodiment
of figures 5 and 6 the letter a has been replaced by the letter b.
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Figures 5 and 6a to 6e show a schematic illustration of a portion of a further
tur-
bine device 10b. The further turbine device 10b comprises a further impeller
vane
unit 16b with further impeller vanes, of which only one further impeller vane
18b
will be described. The further impeller vane unit 16b is free of guiding
elements.
The further impeller vane 18b is connected to a further impeller vane hub 58b
in
an immobile fashion.
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Reference numerals
turbine device
12 conduction unit
14 rotation axis
16 impeller vane unit
18 impeller vane
protective unit
21 contour element
22 front edge
24 plane
26 intersection point
28 main surface
movement direction
32 movement direction
34 distance
36 connecting line
38 main surface
shielding element
42 wall
44 hydropower plant
46 retaining dam
48 engine house
entry opening
52 exit opening
54 shaft
56 generator
58 impeller vane hub
outer edge
62 mounting element
64 blade
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66 blade region
68 blade region
70 rear edge
72 stabilization element
74 tip
78 subregion
80 blade ring
100 designing step
Date recue /Date received 2021-11-22
