Kaplan Turbine Viktor Kaplan ( )

Specifications: Turbine was designed by Austrian engineer Viktor Kaplan in Brno in Kaplan turbine is the only type of water turbine with adjustable blades. Adjustable blades allow work with low performance. For example in small hydro power plants. Operation: Water under pressure flush draft tube through the wicket gate and falls on the adjustable blades, which enables adjust the flow. After crossing propeller is the kinetic energy of water converted into rotational motion shaft. The shaft powered generator producing electric power. The draft tube muss full water, because the suction causes pressure drop which results in cavitation. Vocabulary: adjustable blades – nastavitelné lopatky shaft – hřídel wicket gate – rozvaděč (vody) propeller – vrtule draft tube – sací potrubí low performance – nízký výkon suction – pod tlakem flush – proud (vody) electric power – elektrická energie cavitation – kavitace

Application: Kaplan turbine has efficiency up to 90 percent. Because has adjustable blades are suitable for uneven flow rate, and small gradient. Disadvantage is big purchase cost. In Czech republic (for examlpe): Reservoir - Orlík - Vrané - Slapy - Štěchovice - Kamýk - Hněvkovice Vocabulary: effeciency – efektivita adjustable blades – nastavitelné lopatky suitable – vhodný uneven flow rate – nerovnoměrný průtok small gradient – malý spád reservior – přehrada