# US 10,480,480 B2 · Hydraulic turbine

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- Number: US 10,480,480 B2
- Document ID: US10480480B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/655,166
- Filed: 2017-07-20
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25
- Assignees: GE Renewable Technologies
- Applicants: Ge Renewable Technologies
- Inventors: Lionel Martinez; Jean-Bernard Houdeline; Geoffrey Darona; Claude Beral
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480480B2

## CPC

- F03B 3/18: Stator blades; Guide conduits or vanes, e.g. adjustable {(conduits in dams or the like F03B13/08; arrangement of valves F03B11/004)}
- F03B 3/02: with radial flow at high-pressure side and axial flow at low-pressure side of rotors, e.g. Francis turbines {(rotors per se F03B3/125)}
- F03B 3/125: {Rotors for radial flow at high-pressure side and axial flow at low-pressure side, e.g. for Francis-type turbines}
- F03B 11/006: {Sealing arrangements (F03B3/14, F03B3/183, F03B13/083 takes precedence; sealings in general F16J)}
- F03B 11/04: for diminishing cavitation or vibration, e.g. balancing
- F05B 2260/96: Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
- F16J 15/164: {the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid}
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A hydraulic turbine includes a rotor with a runner, which is concentrically surrounded by a stator, whereby the runner comprises a plurality of runner blades arranged and distributed in a ring around a rotor axis, and each runner blade extends between a runner crown and a runner band; whereby the stator comprises a plurality of guide vanes arranged and distributed in a ring around the rotor axis, and each guide vane extends between an upper stator ring and a lower stator ring; and whereby a predetermined clearance is provided at least between the runner band and the lower stator ring. A substantial reduction of pressure pulsations in the vane-less gap between said runner blades of said runner is achieved by substantially increasing said predetermined clearance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydraulic turbine, comprising:
a runner comprising a runner crown, a runner band, and a plurality of runner blades extending between the runner crown and the runner band; and
a stator surrounding the runner, the stator comprising an upper stator ring, a lower stator ring, and a plurality of guide vanes extending between the upper stator ring and the lower stator ring,
wherein a crown clearance is defined between the runner crown and the upper stator ring, wherein a first ratio of the crown clearance and a crown radius of the runner crown is greater than or equal to 0.02 so as to minimize pressure pulsations developing in a vane-less gap between the plurality of runner blades of the runner and the plurality of guide vanes of the stator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hydraulic turbine according to claim 1, further comprising:
a band clearance between the runner band and the lower stator ring,
wherein a second ratio is defined between the band clearance and a second radius of the runner band.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hydraulic turbine according to claim 2, wherein the second ratio between the band clearance and the second radius is 0.02.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The hydraulic turbine according to claim 2, wherein the second ratio between the band clearance and the second radius is less than 0.02.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The hydraulic turbine according to claim 2, wherein the second ratio between said second clearance and said second radius is greater than 0.02.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The hydraulic turbine according to claim 2, wherein the first ratio is equal to the second ratio.