METHOD OF DETERMINING TURBINE VOLUME FLOW RATE OF LOW-PRESSURE HYDRAULIC POWER PLANTS Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC F03B13/06 

FIELD: power engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to measuring methods of turbine flow rate of river-run hydraulic power plants. The method is meant for determining water volume flow rate of turbines of low-pressure hydraulic units with reinforced concrete spiral chambers of trapezoidal cross-section with partial angle of contact and stators made in the form of columns. At that, the columns are combined with chords from above and from below. The method consists in measuring average flow velocity by using acoustic method and determining water volume rate as per the measured velocity value and constant flow coefficient. Acoustic beam is formed with acoustic converters. Flow coefficient is determined at power tests performed at a certain site. As per the first version of the invention, one of acoustic converters is installed on upper or lower belt of the stator, escaping stator column. At that, the second acoustic converter is installed on the spiral chamber wall in horizontal plane or at an angle thereto. As per the second version of the invention, acoustic beam reflector is installed on upper or lower belt of the stator. Both acoustic converters are installed on the spiral chamber wall. At that, one branch of acoustic beam cut off with the reflector is routed in plan at an angle of installation of stator columns. The second branch of the beam is routed in plan at an angle of 90° to the first one.

EFFECT: invention allows providing high measuring accuracy of turbine flow rate of river-run hydraulic power plants and reliability of the measuring system allowing to perform continuous operating control of flow rate.

4 cl, 11 dwg