Hydroturbine manufacture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12078141-B2
Application number	US-202318337792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2023
Priority date	Jan 25, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A runner for a hydraulic machine comprising a band, a crown, a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band, wherein the runner comprises a plurality of runner segments which together define the runner, each runner segment comprising a band portion, a crown portion and a blade, which portions are integrally formed with one another, each runner segment being attachable to another segment at a band joining edge and a crown joining edge, wherein the band joining edge and the crown joining edge are each spaced apart from the blade of the segment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A runner for a hydraulic machine, comprising:
a band;
a crown;
a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band,
a plurality of runner segments, wherein each runner segment comprises a band portion, a crown portion, and a blade of the plurality of blades;
wherein the band portion, the crown portion, and the blade of each runner segment are integrally formed with one another;
each runner segment attachable to another runner segment at a band joining edge and a crown joining edge;
wherein the band joining edge and the crown joining edge are each spaced apart along a length thereof from the blade of the respective runner segment;
each of the runner segments comprising an integral extension at the band joining edge and the crown joining edge;
the extensions meeting and defining a closed-end of a gap between the band or crown joining edges of adjacent runner segments, the gaps comprising an open-end facing outward from the runner and chamfered sides that angle towards the closed-end of the gap, the gap comprising a width to accommodate a narrow gap torch for subsequent welding together of the adjacent runner segments with a weld joint within the gap; and
wherein both of the band joining edges and the crown joining edges are continuously curved in a same direction along a complete length thereof, wherein the continuous curve comprises a varying radius profile.

2. The runner as in claim 1 , wherein each crown portion has a first crown joining edge and a second crown joining edge, and each band portion has a first band joining edge and a second band joining edge.

3. The runner as in claim 2 , wherein in each runner segment the blade extends between the band portion and the crown portion from a part of the band portion remote from both the first and second band joining edges, to a part of the crown portion remote from the first and second crown joining edges.

4. A hydraulic machine comprising the runner as in claim 1 .

5. The hydraulic machine as in claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic machine comprises a Francis turbine.

6. A method of assembling a runner for a hydraulic machine, comprising the steps of:
forming a runner segment comprising a band portion, a crown portion, and a blade as an integral component, such that the band portion comprises a curved first joining edge and a curved second joining edge, the crown portion comprises a curved first joining edge and a curved second joining edge, the crown portion and band portion first and second joining edges spaced apart along a length thereof from the blade of the segment;
the curved joining edges formed with an integral extension, wherein the extensions meet and define a closed-end of a gap between the curved band and crown joining edges of adjacent runner segments, the gap having an open-end facing outward from the runner and chamfered sides that angle towards the closed-end of the gap;
wherein the curved joining edges have a continuous varying radius curve towards a same direction along a complete length thereof;
joining a plurality of the runner segments together at the curved joining edges to form the runner, the joining process comprising:
with a robotic welding tool operating from outside of the runner, forming a weld within the gaps between the adjacent runner segments with a narrow gap welding torch;

wherein, for each of the crown portion and the band portion, the robotic welding tool follows a predetermined trajectory during the welding step that corresponds to the continuous varying radius curve of the crown portion and the band portion.

7. The method as in claim 6 , wherein the runner is a runner for a Francis turbine.

8. A runner for a hydraulic machine, comprising:
a band;
a crown;
a plurality of blades extending between the crown and the band,
a plurality of runner segments, wherein each runner segment comprises a band portion, a crown portion, and a blade of the plurality of blades;
wherein the band portion, the crown portion, and the blade of each runner segment are integrally formed with one another;
each runner segment attachable to another runner segment at a band joining edge and a crown joining edge;
wherein the band joining edge and the crown joining edge are each spaced apart along a length thereof from the blade of the respective runner segment;
each of the runner segments comprising an integral extension at the band joining edge and the crown joining edge;
the extensions meeting and defining a closed-end of a gap between the band or crown joining edges of adjacent runner segments, the gaps comprising an open-end facing outward from the runner and chamfered sides that angle towards the closed-end of the gap, the gap comprising a width to accommodate a narrow gap torch for subsequent welding together of the adjacent runner segments with a weld joint within the gap; and
wherein both of the band joining edges and the crown joining edges are continuously curved in a same direction along a complete length thereof, wherein the continuous curve comprises a profile corresponding to an arc of an ellipse or a portion of an elliptical curve.

Assignees

• Ge Renewable Tech

Inventors

• Vaichere Antoine
• Pein Erwan Gwenaël
• Gaudion Sylvain

Classifications

• F05B2260/02

  Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance · CPC title

• F05B2230/50

  Building or constructing in particular ways · CPC title

• F05B2230/232

  by welding · CPC title

• F05B2230/21

  by casting · CPC title

• B23K37/00

  Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass · CPC title