Bulb hydro units 6–80 MW, head 7–30 m
Bulb (horizontal straight-flow) hydro units are intended for low-head run-of-river hydropower plants, including those on navigable rivers. Power from 6 to 80 MW for heads from 7 to 30 m. 131 units have been supplied for 34 hydropower plants in various countries.
- Power
- 6–80 MW (1.25–80 MW per the general list)
- Head
- 7–30 m
- Deliveries
- 131 units for 34 hydropower plants
- Record
- 22 units of 75 MW each for the Jirau plant (Brazil), the largest bulb units in the world by power and runner diameter
Price, availability and lead time on request. We help with analogue selection, customs clearance and delivery.
Description
Hydropower is historically the manufacturer’s core business, and the enterprise was founded in 1958 in Deyang as a hydropower equipment plant. The manufacturer has a national hydraulic laboratory, test benches for model testing of turbines and thrust bearings, and its own calculation and design centre.
In a bulb unit, the generator is housed in a sealed bulb inside the flow passage, coaxially with the turbine. This arrangement gives a compact power house and high efficiency at large flows. According to the manufacturer, bulb units are built for heads from 7 to 30 m and a power from 6 to 80 MW, and the general product list gives a range of 1.25–80 MW.
The best-known project is 22 units of 75 MW each for the Jirau plant in Brazil. These are the largest commissioned bulb units in the world, both by unit power and by runner diameter, and the work received the highest award of Sichuan province for 2016. Other sites include Qiaogong (57 MW), Shaping-2 (58 MW, 4 units), Xincheng (36 MW) and Tongnan (3×14 MW). At Tongnan, the industry’s first intelligent ventilation control system for a bulb unit was introduced.
The units are supplied complete: turbine, generator, excitation system, governor and auxiliary systems. Production is located in Deyang (Sichuan, China). In total, 131 units have been supplied for 34 hydropower plants in various countries.
For comparison, the manufacturer’s Kaplan units are intended for heads of 10–50 m and a power of 10–200 MW, and Francis units for heads of 40–500 m. The bulb arrangement occupies the lower part of the head range. The horizontal axis and the straight-flow passage without sharp bends reduce hydraulic losses at low heads. For pumped-storage plants, the manufacturer separately offers reversible units for heads of 50–850 m with a power of 10–450 MW, and contracts have been signed for 60 units. These data are given from the manufacturer’s materials. The parameters of a specific unit are determined by the head and water flow at the site.
Technical specifications
| Power | 6–80 MW (1.25–80 MW per the general list) |
|---|---|
| Head | 7–30 m |
| Deliveries | 131 units for 34 hydropower plants |
| Record | 22 units of 75 MW each for the Jirau plant (Brazil), the largest bulb units in the world by power and runner diameter |
| Other | Qiaogong 57 MW; Shaping-2 58 MW; Xincheng 36 MW; Tongnan 3×14 MW |
Request a price and lead time
Bulb hydro units 6–80 MW, head 7–30 m. We reply within one business day.
Or email sales@usk.ua or call 044 339-50-20.
Questions and answers
For which hydropower plants are bulb units suitable?
For low-head run-of-river plants, including those on navigable rivers, where a compact power house and high efficiency at large flows are important. Heads from 7 to 30 m.
What power do bulb units have?
According to the manufacturer, from 6 to 80 MW. The general product list gives a range of 1.25–80 MW.
What is the largest project with bulb units?
The Jirau plant in Brazil, 22 units of 75 MW each. These are the largest commissioned bulb units in the world by power and runner diameter.
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