HM 421 Kaplan turbine trainer
Water turbines are turbomachines which convert water energy into mechanical energy. Mostly, they are used for driving generators for power generation purposes. The Kaplan turbine is a reaction turbine with an axial through flow. It has a high specific speed and is suitable for large water flows and small to medium heads. Therefore, the Kaplan turbine is used as a “classic” water turbine in run-of-the-river power plants.
The HM 421 helps to investigate the characteristic behaviour of a simple-regulated Kaplan turbine during operation. The trainer is provided with a closed water circuit with tank, submersible pump and throttle valve for adjusting the flow rate. The angle of attack of the rotor, and thus the power output of the turbine, are changed by adjusting the guide vanes. The turbine is loaded with a wear-free eddy current brake.
The speed is captured by means of an inductive, non-contact position sensor at the turbine shaft. For determining the turbine power, the eddy current brake is equipped with a force sensor for torque measurement. The pressures at the inlet and outlet of the turbine, the temperature and the flow rate are recorded with sensors. The recorded measured values are displayed digitally and processed further in a PC. The PC is used to calculate the power output data of the examined turbine and to represent them in characteristic curves.
- characteristics of a Kaplan turbine
- adjustable guide vanes for setting the power output
- GUNT software for data acquisition
Kaplan turbine
- max. output: 1000W
- max. speed: 3700min-1
- distributor
8 guide vanes, adjustable: -15°…45°
external Ø: 120mm,
internal Ø: 60mm
- rotor, 4 blades, fixed
external Ø: 120mm,
internal Ø: 60mm,
pitch: 80mm
Submersible pump with motor
- max. flow rate: 250m3/h
- max. pump head: 11m
- nominal power: 3,1kW
Tank: approx. 350L
Measuring ranges
- temperature: 0…100°C
- pressure (at turbine inlet): 0…1bar rel.
- pressure (at turbine outlet): -1…0,6bar rel.
- flow rate: 13…200m3/h
- torque: 0…10Nm
- speed: 0…6500min-1
400V, 50Hz, 3 phases
- function of a Kaplan turbine
- closed water circuit with submersible pump, throttle valve and tank
- adjustment of flow rate with throttle valve
- loading the turbine by use of air-cooled eddy current brake
- rotor with fixed blades
- adjustable guide vanes for setting different angles of attack
- non-contact speed measurement at the turbine shaft and force sensor at the brake for measuring the torque
- digital display for pressures, temperature, flow rate, speed and torque
- GUNT software for data acquisition via USB under Windows 7, 8.1, 10
- determination of power output curves at different speeds
- hydraulic power output
- mechanical power output
- determination of the head
- determination of turbine efficiency
- investigation of the influence of the guide vane position on power output and efficiency
