Bulb: bulb hydro turbine up to 76.5 MW, head 0.5–30 m
Bulb hydro turbine for very low heads of 0.5–30 m and outputs up to 76.5 MW per unit. Horizontal shaft, generator in a watertight bulb. Used at run-of-river plants, tidal stations and low-head dams.
- Output
- up to 76.5 MW per unit
- Head
- 0.5–30 m
- Runner diameter
- up to 7,700 mm
- Shaft
- horizontal
Price, availability and lead time on request. We help with analogue selection, customs clearance and delivery.
Description
Bulb turbines are intended for very low heads and relatively small unit outputs, in particular for run-of-river hydropower plants on lowland rivers, tidal stations and low-head dams. The main feature is the horizontal shaft, which reduces dimensions compared with a vertical arrangement. The generator sits in a watertight casing called the bulb.
After the intake, water passes through the movable guide vanes, which together with the runner regulate flow and output. The vanes are connected by levers and rods to a regulating ring, which is moved by two double-acting servomotors. After passing the runner, the water leaves through the draft tube. The runner has adjustable blades, so flow and output are regulated simultaneously by the guide vanes and the blades.
The manufacturer calls itself the world leader in bulb units: installed capacity of about 6,500 MW and a market share of over 70 %. More than 300 units have been supplied for heads from 0.5 to 30 m with runner diameters up to 7,700 mm and outputs up to 76.5 MW. Among the references are the world's largest bulb turbines at the Jirau and Santo Antônio hydropower plants (Brazil, 2011). The manufacturer's overall experience in turbine design exceeds 180 years, over 31,900 of its turbines with a total output of over 471,000 MW operate worldwide, and the full range of the program reaches heads up to 1,800 m and outputs up to 800 MW per unit.
For stations with very low heads, the PIT arrangement may be more economical. A speed-increasing gearbox raises the generator speed, making it more compact and cheaper. For small hydropower plants, bulb units are offered with a belt drive (head up to 5 m, up to 600 kW), with a bevel gearbox (up to 12 m, up to 2,600 kW), bulb units up to 15,000 kW (up to 15 m) and PIT up to 10,000 kW. There are also ECOBulb turbines and oil-free versions of bulb turbines. Such units are installed at run-of-river plants, in cascades, at navigation locks and at tidal power plants.
Technical specifications
| Output | up to 76.5 MW per unit |
|---|---|
| Head | 0.5–30 m |
| Runner diameter | up to 7,700 mm |
| Shaft | horizontal |
| Regulation | guide vanes with two double-acting servomotors + adjustable blades |
| Market | about 6,500 MW installed, market share over 70 %, more than 300 units |
| Small hydropower | ECOBulb, bulb units with belt/bevel drive, PIT up to 10 MW |
Request a price and lead time
Bulb: bulb hydro turbine up to 76.5 MW, head 0.5–30 m. We reply within one business day.
Or email sales@usk.ua or call 044 339-50-20.
Questions and answers
What head and output are bulb turbines built for?
Supplied units work at heads from 0.5 to 30 m and have an output up to 76.5 MW. The runner diameter reaches 7,700 mm.
How does a bulb turbine differ from a vertical one?
The shaft is horizontal and the generator sits in a watertight bulb, so the dimensions are smaller than in a vertical arrangement.
What bulb units are offered for small hydropower plants?
Units with a belt drive (up to 5 m, up to 600 kW), with a bevel gearbox (up to 12 m, up to 2,600 kW), bulb units up to 15,000 kW and PIT up to 10,000 kW.
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