Francis-Type Pump for a Hydroelectric Power Plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a Francis-type pump, comprising the following features: a blade wheel; a spiral housing; a suction pipe; a counter-swirl generator which is arranged in the inlet to the blade wheel and which can be activated during the start-up and deactivated after start-up, and which generates a swirl acting against the direction of rotation of the blade wheel.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A Francis-type pump comprising:
 a blade wheel;   a spiral housing;   a suction pipe;   a counter-swirl generator which is arranged in the inlet to the blade wheel and which can be activated during the start-up in the pumping direction, and which can be deactivated after start-up, and which generates a swirl acting against the direction of rotation of the blade wheel.   
     
     
         8 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 7 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is a component of a pump turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 7 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises guide elements. 
     
     
         10 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises guide elements. 
     
     
         11 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 7 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of swirl-generating nozzles. 
     
     
         12 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of swirl-generating nozzles. 
     
     
         13 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 7 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is arranged in the outlet section of the suction pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is arranged in the outlet section of the suction pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is arranged in the outlet section of the suction pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is arranged in the outlet section of the suction pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is arranged in the outlet section of the suction pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the counter-swirl generator is arranged in the outlet section of the suction pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 7 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         20 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         21 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         22 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         23 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         24 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         25 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 13 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis. 
     
     
         26 . The Francis-type pump according to  claim 14 , wherein the counter-swirl generator comprises a plurality of units which are grouped around the rotational axis.