Isogyre pump turbine

Cross-section through an Isogyre pump turbine in the Galgenbichl station of the Maltakraftwerke

Isogyre pump turbine in the Handeck 3 headquarters of the Oberhasli power plant

The Isogyre pump turbine (from the Greek isos 'equal' and gyros 'rotating' ) is a special type of Francis turbine for use as a pump turbine in pumped storage power plants . The rarely used design was developed in the 1970s by Ateliers des Charmilles SA in Geneva .

Working method

It contains a second impeller for pumping side by side with the turbine impeller. To switch between pump and turbine operation, the direction of rotation of the turbine does not have to be reversed. The specially designed volute casing guides the water in when the turbine is in operation and out in the pump operation. Whether pump or turbine operation is used depends on the position of the three gate valves. In addition, two ring-shaped slides arranged in front of the guide vanes enable either the exit from the pump wheel to the spiral housing or the entry from the spiral housing to the turbine wheel. Because, in contrast to normal pump turbines, the direction of rotation does not have to be changed between the turbine and pump operating modes, it is possible to switch back and forth between the two operating modes very quickly.

application

Isogyre pump turbines are used in the following power plants:

• Robiei power plant of Maggia Kraftwerke in Switzerland , horizontal arrangement, commissioning in 1968, first industrial application of an Isogyre pump turbine
• Handeck 3 power plant of the Oberhasli power plants in Switzerland , horizontal arrangement, commissioning 1976
• Galgenbichl power plant of Maltakraftwerke in Carinthia , vertical arrangement, commissioning 1977/78

literature

• A. Tschumy, G. Hausmann, G. Vullioud: The Handeck III hydropower plant of the Oberhasli power plants: conception et dimensionnement de la pompe turbine Isogyre . In: Schweizerische Bauzeitung . 1979, p. 255–260 , doi : 10.5169 / SEALS-85447 (French, longitudinal section on page 256).

Web links

Commons : Isogyre Pump Turbines  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Jean-Emile Graeser: The electromechanical equipment of the Robiei cavern center . 1970, p. 219 , doi : 10.5169 / SEALS-84449 .