Application of Novel Leakage Action Test Equipment for Kaplan Turbine Runner

The leakage action test for Kaplan turbine runners is generally carried out within each maintenance cycle. The test requires the runner chamber to maintain 0.5MPa pressure for 24 hours. During this period, the blades are opened and closed twice or three times per hour to observe the blades’ movement and the leakage of sealing devices. To improve the automation level of testing, this paper designs a novel runner leakage action test equipment. Its working principle, as well as the feasibility of its application in hydro-power plants, are illustrated. Functions, such as automatic oil filling and discharging, one-key start-stop testing, automatic data recording and query, and automatic test report creation, are detailed. The advantages and limitations of the proposed equipment are also discussed, followed by future development direction and improvement suggestions.