Abstract: A centrifugal pump assembly includes an electric drive motor (6, 8), a driven impeller (14) and a pump casing (2) which surrounds the impeller (14). A movable element (24; 24?) is arranged a valve element. A section of the valve element is movable from a released position into a bearing position, fixed on a contact surface (60), by pressure which is produced by the impeller in the pump casing. A control device (64) moves the valve element from one switching position into another switching position and reduces the speed of the drive motor. Upon pressure in the pump casing dropping such that the valve element is no longer fixed on the contact surface and the valve element has been moved into the other switching position, the control device increases the speed of the drive motor again. A method for moving a valve element is provided.

Abstract: A debris trap for capturing debris flowing in a stream of liquid, the debris trap includes a housing, a fluid inlet channel in connection with a space in the housing, a fluid outlet channel in connection with the space, the fluid outlet channel comprising a fluid outlet port, a float member, a guide element configured to guide movement of the float member when a liquid level in the space changes when in use, a stopper in connection with the fluid outlet port configured to stop the movement of the float member when the liquid level in the space raises, the fluid outlet port which, when the float member is against the stopper, remains partially open and the float member, when brought against the stopper, form a fluid communication path with a reduced area, which restricts the size of the debris capable of flowing through the outlet port.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump assembly includes an electrical drive motor (4, 6), an impeller (14) which is driven by the electrical drive motor (4, 6) as well as with at least one valve element (18) which is directly or indirectly movable along a first movement path between at least two switching positions, by the electrical drive motor (4, 6). At least a part of the valve element (18) is additionally movable along a second movement path which is different to the first movement path, between a released position, in which the valve element is distanced to at least one contact surface and a bearing position, in which the valve element bears on the at least one contact surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tank (32) for liquid, in particular of a turbine engine such as an aircraft turbojet engine, the tank comprising an external wall (36) with an inner surface (48); an inner chamber intended for containing the liquid of the tank (32) and defined by the inner surface of the external wall; and a system (42) for measuring the level of liquid. The system comprises: a submersible portion matching the inner surface of the wall (36); a clearance (52) separating the submersible portion from the inner surface; and a liquid detector (54) configured to emit a signal towards the submersible portion through the clearance, said signal being configured to be modified in the event that liquid is present in the clearance (52). The invention likewise relates to a method for measuring a level of liquid, and an associated computer program.

Abstract: A liquid propellant rocket engine includes a pump that is disposed along a central axis. The pump includes a purge system, a collection annulus in fluid communication with the purge system, and a drain. The collection annulus has an outer diameter wall, an inner diameter wall, and an end wall. The end wall defines an annular channel that has a channel depth that varies circumferentially. The drain opens to the collection annulus. At the drain, the annular channel has a lowest point at which the channel depth is maximum depth.

Abstract: A system includes a rain gutter of a property, wherein at least a portion of the rain gutter is positioned on a roof of the property, a rain gutter power generator that is coupled to the rain gutter, and a control unit that controls the device at the property. The rain gutter power generator includes a water turbine that transforms kinetic energy of water collected by the rain gutter of the property into mechanical energy and an electromagnet that transforms the mechanical energy into electricity that powers a device at the property.

Abstract: A system includes first and second dam modules, a power generation unit, and first and second turbine modules. The first dam module can be secured to a foundation of a dam site and redirect a first flow of water. The second dam module can be secured to the first dam module opposite the foundation and redirect a second flow of water. The first turbine module can be secured to the foundation. The second turbine module can be secured to the first turbine module opposite the foundation. The power generation unit includes a turbine to be driven by a third flow of water at least partially including at least one of the first flow of water or the second flow of water. The first turbine module includes a draft tube having an inlet to receive water from the turbine and an outlet to discharge water from the first turbine module.

Abstract: A runner assembly for a circumferential seal assembly includes a runner defined about an axis. The runner has an inwardly extending runner mounting flange. A radially flexible clamp is engaged with the inwardly extending mounting flange. An axial spring is trapped between an axial retainer and the runner. The runner, the radially flexible clamp, the axial spring, and the axial retainer are co-rotatable about the axis. The axial retainer is radially inline with the runner and spaced from a radially inner surface of the runner such that there is a radial gap between the axial retainer and the radially inner surface of the runner permitting radial movement of the runner.

Abstract: A hydroelectric system converts kinetic energy from water flowing off a roof of a building into electrical energy. The system comprises a turbine having a rotor and a generator disposed in a down pipe. The down pipe has an upper end that receives water running off the roof via gutters. The down pipe comprises first and second channels that extend from the upper end to respective outlets. Each of the outlets direct water onto the rotor causing rotation in the same direction. The channels are configured in a manner so that water entering the down pipe initially flows through the first channel and out from a first outlet. However in a heavy downpour the first channel may overflow into the second channel to subsequently flow out of a second outlet providing further drive to the rotor. A regulating reservoir is provided at the upper end of the down pipe to provide a controlled steady flow of water through the first channel. The reservoir has an upright wall provided with a lower outlet and an upper outlet.

Abstract: A turbine installation comprising a turbine in combination with an electrical closed-loop control system. The turbine is disposed in a flow of water for producing electrical energy. The turbine includes a hollow hub and a plurality of runner blades pivotally connected to a hollow hub. Each blade comprises a hydrofoil being bounded by an inner surface and a distal outer surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. The blades are adjustable in pitch from a maximum pitch position in which an inner portion of the water directing surface extends substantially in a direction of the water flow, to a minimum pitch position in which an outer portion of the water directing surface is substantially perpendicular to the water flow. The hollow hub has spaced apart inner and outer surfaces and a hub longitudinal axis. Each blade is pivotally connected to the hub about a rotational axis.

Abstract: In a pump turbine which can be operated in a pumping mode or a generating mode by switching the rotating direction of a runner, the discharge passing through the runner is adjusted based on a wicket gate opening; the speed of the runner is sensed; a target speed is temporarily set to a first speed different from a rated speed on generation starting; a response speed of a speed control via discharge adjusting means is controlled to a lower level after the speed reaches the target speed than that before the speed reaches the target speed; and finally, the target speed is slowly led to the rated speed, thus enhancing the stability of the speed when the turbine is started and enlarging a head range in which synchronization is achieved.

Abstract: A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with a gap shielding device designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis. The gap shielding device may comprise a plurality of independently biased pins, a plurality of fluid jets, a plurality of flexible members, a fluid-filled boot, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A shaft seal system prevents working gas in a centrifugal compressor from leaking outside from the compressor. The shaft seal system is of an oil film seal type and located in the compressor in which a plurality of centrifugal impellers are fitted on a single rotary shaft and are adapted to be rotated at a high speed. The system has two kinds of seal rings, that is, an atmospheric side seal ring and a gas side seal ring, which are loosely fitted in a casing in which bearing for rotatably journalling the rotary shaft are incorporated. A sealing sleeve shrinkage-fitted on the rotary shaft is arranged on the inner diameter side of the two kinds of seal rings. The rotary shaft is formed in its center axial part thereof with a bore extending from a suction side end to a position where the oil film seal is arranged, and a plurality of oil feed holes extending through the rotary shaft from the bore to the outer periphery of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An upper reservoir-side conduit or a lower reservoir-side conduit is branched in the vicinity of pump-turbine ends and at least a first pump-turbine out of a plurality of pump-turbines which share the conduit portions located farther than the branch points with the other pump-turbine or pump-turbines is provided with a rotational speed increase detector. When it is detected that the rotational speed of the first pump-turbine has exceeded a second predetermined value higher than a rated speed, a command is issued also to at least one of the other pump-turbines to limit the guide vane closing speed in that pump-turbine to a speed approximately equal to or lower than the speed after the shift to a slow closing of the guide vanes.

Abstract: The present invention is for an evacuation system which preferrably in its entirety is connected to and operates at the outlet side of a pump. The evacuation system is connected to the socket 5 by the connector 9 and one of the valves 15 or 16. In the evacuation system there is a compressor 19 and a pressurized air ejector 18. Air from the ejector exits through a pipe 24.

Abstract: A turbine, disposed in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner surface and a distal outer surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The hub includes a spherically-shaped outer surface in a region of the hub swept by the inner surface of the blades when the blades are rotated from maximum to minimum pitch. The hub may also be associated with blades in which the chord is reduced in the root region of the blade. The turbine may also include seals attached to the blade inner surface and an essentially spherically-shaped discharge ring to improve certain turbine parameters such as cavitation, efficiency, flow disturbance, and fish survivability.

Abstract: A turbine, adaptable to improve the survivability of fish present in water flowing therethrough, includes a hub and associated runner blades. Each blade comprises an inner edge and a distal outer edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge separated by a water directing surface. Each blade is rotatable relative to the hub about a blade rotational axis. The turbine is provided with features designed to shield a gap formed between the hub and the blade inner edge as the blade is rotated about its axis.

Abstract: A pump assembly, comprising a pump with a chamber having a vacuum region therein, a priming fluid reservoir, a suction line for fluid communication between the vacuum region and a fluid source, and a priming suction line for fluid communication between the vacuum region and the priming fluid reservoir, in order to deliver priming fluids to the vacuum region so as to establish a primed condition in the pump; a suction flow control in the suction line and a priming flow control in the priming suction line; the flow controls being operable to restrict flow through the suction line and the priming suction line, in order to establish a vacuum in the vacuum region to substantially fill the suction line with fluid from the source while maintaining the primed condition, wherein the vacuum is variable up to a maximum suction capacity of the pump.

Abstract: A mechanism for preventing back-flow for a discharge pipe of a pump. The discharge pipe terminates in a container and essentially runs vertically upward. A bell-shaped hood is turned over the exit opening of the discharge pipe so as to form a low-loss siphon. At least one venting apparatus is connected to one of the discharge pipe and the hood.

Abstract: A water level regulating system controlling the water level of a head tank of each of a plurality of hydroelectric plant installed in cascade along a stream by using an opening of guide vanes of a hydraulic turbine as a manipulated variable, and the water level of the head tank as a controlled variable. Each hydroelectric plant has a water level regulator constituting the water level regulating system. Each of the water level regulator of an upstream hydroelectric plant and the water level regulator of a downstream hydroelectric plant has a device varying PID parameters for controlling the water level in accordance with the opening of the guide vanes, and a device varying a reference water level to a set water level.

Abstract: A drainage pump (10) in which the portion near the entrance of the impeller (12) in the suction tube (11) is open to the set lowest suction water level (L.W.L.) through an air intake pipe (15), so that air is introduced into the portion near the entrance of the impeller (12) when the suction water level (W.L.) is lower than the preset lowest suction water level. An air intake hole (14) may also be provided through the water intake suction tube (11) near the impeller.

Abstract: A vertical shaft pump to be disposed in a pump pit comprises a pump casing having a suction opening, and an impeller disposed in the pump casing below a position corresponding to the lowest water level in the pump pit below which the pump starts to suck air through the suction opening during operation. A series of intake ports are provided in the pump casing below the impeller with equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the pump casing. These intake ports act to introduce atmospheric air into the pump casing through intake pipes when the pressure at the intake ports is lowered below the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A deep-water oil and gas production and transportation system including a wet Christmas tree, a 2-phase oil/gas vertical separator, a gas cooler, a vertical tubular scrubber and a motor-pump, and a platform which includes a velocity variator for the motor-pump, a pressure-relief valve for simultaneous control of a gas pipeline, the scrubber and the 2-phase separator, and, a programmable logical controller.

Abstract: A method of operating a pitot pump that pressurizes a first fluid of a first viscosity and first density wherein the pump includes a rotatable housing and a stationary probe disposed within the housing includes the steps of providing a source of a second fluid having a second viscosity and second density less than the first viscosity and first density, detecting a physical condition in the housing indicative of the presence of the first fluid at a second radial position inside the first radial position and connecting the source of the second fluid to an inner annular chamber of the housing when the detected physical condition indicates that the first fluid is present at the second radial position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pump particularly adapted for pumping fibrous suspensions from within a reservoir, wherein the pump includes a rotor arranged wholly within the reservoir for cooperation with the bottom wall thereof to effect fluidization of suspension and discharge of the fluidized suspension from the reservoir for passage through the pump, wherein an entrained gas, such as air, is withdrawn from the pump by means of a unique pump-out mechanism disposed rearwardly of a shroud of an impeller of the pump and including pump-out vanes and a repeller shroud cooperating with the impeller shroud and pump-out vanes to define radially opening flow paths, wherein flow openings extend across the impeller shroud for flow communication with the radially opening flow paths. The mechanism may also include repeller vanes carried by the repeller shroud to extend rearwardly of pump-out vanes.

Abstract: According to the vertical pump of the present invention, a reverse U-shape air suction passage is connected to a suction casing which communicates with the impeller chamber, and a U-shape branch passage is branched from a hanging portion of the air suction passage. According to this vertical pump, when the water level is raised in the air operation state, air suction into the suction casing through the air suction passage and the branch passage is stopped when the water level reaches the pumping starting water level, so that the operation of the vertical pump may be changed to the water pumping operation. Where the water level is lowered in the state of water pumping operation, air suction into the suction casing through the branch passage and the air suction passage may start at the pumping stopping water level which is lower than the pumping starting water level. Accordingly, the operation of the vertical pump may be changed to the air operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pump of the type adapted for use in pumping multiple phase liquids, i.e. liquids having entrained gas and liquids having both entrained gas and solids. The pump includes means for effecting an initial separation of gas from the liquid, as by centrifugal action, and a final separation by means of a unique pump-out mechanism disposed rearwardly of a shroud of an impeller of the pump and including pump-out vanes and a repeller shroud cooperating with the impeller shroud and pump-out vanes to define radially opening flow paths, wherein flow openings extend across the impeller shroud for flow communication with the radially opening flow paths. The mechanism may also include repeller vanes carried by the repeller shroud to extend rearwardly of pump-out vanes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a submerged type pump which is vertically seated on the seating face arranged on the bottom of the fluid lifting column and is comprised of a motor section and a pump section with a casing in which the treating fluid may pass, wherein a check valve is arranged at a pump discharge port and an automatic switch valve is arranged on the top of the casing so that the automatic switch valve is released by closing the fluid lifting column with the pump seating face and the check valve to discharge the treating fluid suspended in the fluid lifting column.

Abstract: A fluid container associated with the wicket gate operating ring to receive fluid from a source so as to add an emergency counterweight to the gate operating ring upon failure of the gate operating ring servomotors.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring hydro turbine plants. The device comprises one or several hydro turbines, at least one of them having adjustable vanes. For optimum utilization of the available amount of water, the vane angles in the turbine are automatically adjustable in dependence on the level in the water dam, which level is measured at predetermined intervals. When the plant comprises several turbines, the level indicator is also used for start and stop.

Abstract: An inventory control device for a pitot pump used in a two-phase flow system, such as a closed-cycle Rankine system or a two-phase cooling loop for space vehicles. In these systems, there is a change of phase between liquid and vapor, dependent upon a change of power level or thermal transport rate. With these systems being used in devices that are subject to significant attitude change or acceleration forces or zero gravity conditions, the inventory control device is gravity insensitive and utilizes a second tube mounted in the pitot pump which is connected to an external accumulator. A pressure relation is established whereby the second tube will maintain a constant level of liquid within the rotating drum of the pitot pump.

Abstract: A control system for a hydroelectric power plant of the run-of-river type wherein the load on the turbine-generator units is matched to the flow of the river so that the units operate at the maximum head available for existing flow conditions to produce the maximum energy available from the river flow for the installed capacity of the plant and within the allowable, safe operating capability range of the turbine-generator units. Reservoir water level sensors provide a signals indicative of changing water level, sensors for generator electrical and thermal operating characteristics provide a signals related thereto, and a control connected to the water level sensors, to the generator sensors and to the turbine governor adjusts the turbine flow control devices to change the turbine power in response to changing river level within the safe and allowable operating range of the generator.

Abstract: In a water level depressing operation of a multistage hydraulic machine, first, the guide vane in the maximum-pressure stage is totally closed. Then, the respective guide vanes in the remaining stages are left opened more or less, and compressed air is supplied, whereby the water level is depressed below the runner in the runner chamber in the minimum-pressure stage. Thereafter, the respective guide vanes in the stages other than the maximum-pressure stage are also totally closed. Then, when the water level in each of the runner chambers is raised as a result of, for example, leakage of water from the associated guide vane, compressed air is individually replenished to each of the runner chambers.

Abstract: A multi-stage hydraulic machine which includes a plurality of runner housings or chambers each having a runner positioned therein, a head cover and an intermediate speed ring, movable guide vanes at an outside portion of the runner housing or chamber of the highest pressure stage, each of the runners having a runner crown with an exhaust hole bored through it, each of the runner housings or chambers having an exhaust chamber formed at the exit portion of the exhaust hole and a device for sealing water at the radially outside portion of the exhaust chamber, and a plurality of exhaust paths provided in each of the exhaust chambers to the exterior of the machine respectively. Additionally, a method for operating the machine is disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary type pumping machine such as a pump turbine in a pumped storage hydro-electric plant, wherein, when the pumping operation of the runner of the machine is started, compressed air is introduced into the runner chamber to depress the water surface in the runner chamber to facilitate the start up of the runner and, when the runner is accelerated to a predetermined speed, the air in the runner chamber is discharged through an air discharge valve to commence the pumping operation. Water pressure available in the water passageway on upper reservoir side of the runner chamber is applied to the valve closing mechanism of the air discharge valve. The valve opening force exerted by a valve operating mechanism and acting on the valve opening mechanism of the air discharge valve is selected to be greater than the valve closing force generated by the water pressure applied to the valve closing mechanism of the air discharge valve.

Abstract: A method of controlling a two-stage hydraulic pump-turbine, rotating at a constant speed under a steady condition, in which high and low pressure stages are connected through a return passage. The variable degrees of openings of movable guide vanes of the high and low pressure stages are equally controlled to the same extent when the hydraulic pump-turbine operates as a pump and independently controlled to the different extents when the pump-turbine operates as a turbine in accordance with a change of an operational condition such as water level or load at a time of the steady operation.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine, such as a reversible pump-turbine, is provided with an automatic air vent valve disposed in the casing area and a conduit having a valve for providing direct fluid communication between the casing area and the draft tube, in addition to compressed air means for depressing the water level within the draft tube below the runner, when the guide vanes are closed so that the runner may be rotated substantially only within air.