Abstract: A hydro turbine with a runner unit allows adjusting the gap clearance downstream and between the runner end tip portion and the inner edge of the blades. This gap clearance may depend on the angular position of the runner blades.

Abstract: A runner for a tidal power plant, comprising a hub body provided with openings for receiving blades, individual rotating means for rotating each blade with respect to the hub body, around an axis that is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the runner. The rotating means include at least one linear servomotor or an electric motor capable of rotating a corresponding blade independently of the other blades, over an angle superior or equal to 180° around its axis.

Abstract: To recover the axial forces transmitted by a rotating shaft, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of distributed bearing units. Each bearing unit comprises: a stationary base; a resilient member having a stationary portion and a portion that is completely movable in a main direction of the forces to be supported; and a bearing surface that defines, together with the shaft, a water film. The bearing surface is connected to the movable portion. The minimum radius of the bearing surface is between 1 m and 3 m. The resilient member and the base define at least one water chamber. A plurality of ducts are arranged so as to connect the chambers together, thereby defining a closed circuit.

Abstract: This hydraulic machine (1) has a wheel (2) mounted to move in rotation relative to a stationary structure (9) and about a stationary axis of rotation (X2), the wheel (2) being designed to pass a forced flow (E) of water therethrough. A hydrostatic bearing (100), provided between firstly an element (111) constrained to rotate with the wheel (2) and, secondly a portion (91) of the stationary structure (9), is disposed between a first zone (Z1) of the machine, which zone is in fluid communication with the forced flow (E) and in which zone, during operation, a pressure prevails that is similar to the pressure of the forced flow, and a second zone (Z2) of the machine that is isolated from the forced flow by said bearing.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine including an impeller which rotates with respect to a fixed structure and about an axis of rotation by a forced flow of water passing through it and at least one device for limiting water leaks is positioned between the impeller and the fixed structure so as to define an operating clearance between the impeller and the fixed structure and including at least one member that can be deformed or moved, while the impeller is rotating and being fed with water, in a redial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: This hydraulic machine comprises a wheel supported by a shaft (5), the wheel and the shaft being able to rotate about a vertical axis (X5) while a radial hydrostatic or hydrodynamic bearing (100) is formed between, on the one hand, a radial peripheral surface (52) of the shaft and, on the other hand, an internal radial surface (102) of a member (101) that is fixed relative to the vertical axis. The bearing (100) extends between two edges (121, 122) which, in normal operation, constitute regions for the removal of a film of water formed in the bearing. At least one cavity (130) is created in the fixed member (101) and opens onto its internal radial surface (102) near a first edge (122) of the bearing. The machine comprises means (131, 132, 133) for placing the cavity (130) in fluidic communication with a volume (V1) situated outside the bearing near the second edge (121) of the bearing (100).

Abstract: This member (4) can be attached to the crown (12) of a wheel (1) of a hydraulic machine. It is provided with a skin (42) of which a surface (421) is able to be arranged in the continuation of a wet surface (121) of the crown. This member is equipped with at least one fun (43) arranged radially inside the skirt (42) and projecting axially (h) from the skirt (42) in the downward direction.

Abstract: To recover the axial forces transmitted by a rotating shaft, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of distributed bearing units. Each bearing unit comprises: a stationary base; a resilient member having a stationary portion and a portion that is completely movable in a main direction of the forces to be supported; and a bearing surface that defines, together with the shaft, a water film. The bearing surface is connected to the movable portion. The minimum radius of the bearing surface is between 1 m and 3 m. The resilient member and the base define at least one water chamber. A plurality of ducts are arranged so as to connect the chambers together, thereby defining a closed circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Pelton turbine that comprises a plurality of sub-assemblies arranged about the rotation axis of the wheel and each including a bucket (111) and an anchoring leg (112). At least one blocking pin (13) is provided in a direction (X13) parallel to the rotation axis (X1) of the wheel between two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112?), wherein said pin is inserted into two housings (1126, 1127) respectively formed in the two anchoring legs (112, 112?). According to the method of the invention, the blocking pin (13) is placed by inserting the same into the two housings (1126, 1127) of two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112?). The pins are placed into the housings with a clearance, thereby allowing the relative sliding of the anchoring legs (112, 112?) before blocking them with the pins (13).

Abstract: This hydraulic machine comprises a wheel supported by a shaft (5), the wheel and the shaft being able to rotate about a vertical axis (X5) while a radial hydrostatic or hydrodynamic bearing (100) is formed between, on the one hand, a radial peripheral surface (52) of the shaft and, on the other hand, an internal radial surface (102) of a member (101) that is fixed relative to the vertical axis. The bearing (100) extends between two edges (121, 122) which, in normal operation, constitute regions for the removal of a film of water formed in the bearing. At least one cavity (130) is created in the fixed member (101) and opens onto its internal radial surface (102) near a first edge (122) of the bearing. The machine comprises means (131, 132, 133) for placing the cavity (130) in fluidic communication with a volume (V1) situated outside the bearing near the second edge (121) of the bearing (100).

Abstract: This member (4) can be attached to the crown (12) of a wheel (1) of a hydraulic machine. It is provided with a skin (42) of which a surface (421) is able to be arranged in the continuation of a wet surface (121) of the crown. This member is equipped with at least one fun (43) arranged radially inside the skirt (42) and projecting axially (h) from the skirt (42) in the downward direction.

Abstract: This hydraulic machine has a wheel (2) mounted to move in rotation relative to a stationary structure (9) and about a stationary axis, said wheel being designed to pass a forced flow of water therethrough. At least one leak limiter device (100) for limiting water leaks is disposed between the wheel (2) and the stationary structure (9), said device defining operating clearance (J) between the wheel and the stationary structure. Said leak limiter device (100) has at least one deformable and/or movable member (103) that is deformable and/or movable in a radial direction (F1) relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel, while the wheel is rotating.

Abstract: This hydraulic machine (1) has a wheel (2) mounted to move in rotation relative to a stationary structure (9) and about a stationary axis of rotation (X2), the wheel (2) being designed to pass a forced flow (E) of water therethrough. A hydrostatic bearing (100), provided between firstly an element (111) constrained to rotate with the wheel (2) and, secondly a portion (91) of the stationary structure (9), is disposed between a first zone (Z1) of the machine, which zone is in fluid communication with the forced flow (E) and in which zone, during operation, a pressure prevails that is similar to the pressure of the forced flow, and a second zone (Z2) of the machine that is isolated from the forced flow by said bearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Pelton turbine that comprises a plurality of sub-assemblies arranged about the rotation axis of the wheel and each including a bucket (111) and an anchoring leg (112). At least one blocking pin (13) is provided in a direction (X13) parallel to the rotation axis (X1) of the wheel between two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112?), wherein said pin is inserted into two housings (1126, 1127) respectively formed in the two anchoring legs (112, 112?). According to the method of the invention, the blocking pin (13) is placed by inserting the same into the two housings (1126, 1127) of two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112?). The pins are placed into the housings with a clearance, thereby allowing the relative sliding of the anchoring legs (112, 112?) before blocking them with the pins (13).