An hydroelectric unit extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a least one rim-driven hydraulic machine comprising an impeller provided with at least two blades, and at least one motor/generator configured to selectively supply mechanical energy to the impeller or convert mechanical energy produced by the impeller into electricity. The motor/generator includes an annular rotor arranged about the impeller and an annular stator arranged, at a distance, about the annular rotor; the annular rotor being coupled to the impeller and including a plurality of rotor poles, which are distributed along an annular surface, are arranged parallel one to another and extend transversal to a plane containing the longitudinal axis forming a first angle with the plane containing the longitudinal axis. The annular stator includes a plurality of stator windings and a plurality of stator slots configured to guide the magnetic flux and to house respective stator windings. The stator slots are arranged parallel one to another and extend transversal to a plane containing the longitudinal axis forming a second angle with the plane containing the longitudinal axis.

The present invention generally relates to hydraulic machinery, such as hydraulic turbines. More specifically, the invention is directed to optimizing power consumption when the turbine is used in condenser mode. The present invention provides a novel hydraulic installation where the reduction of pressure in the spiral case during condenser mode operations is more efficient, limiting the power consumption if compared to state-of-the-art installations.

The present invention relates to a flow controller configured to selectively act as a pump or as a flow regulator. The flow controller comprises: an inlet for a fluid; an outlet for the fluid; a pump assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet and configured to pump the fluid through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet; a hydro electrical generator assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the hydro electrical generator assembly configured to allow the fluid flow through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet and to generate electricity by transforming flow energy of the fluid flowing through the flow controller into electricity; and a mode controller configured to selectively set the flow controller in a pumping mode or in an electricity generating mode.

The invention relates to an impeller for a pump or turbine, comprising at least one blade, which blade is provided on the pressure side thereof with a standing edge on its outer peripheral edge zone. The invention also relates to a pump for pumping water or a turbine for generating energy from water and having a casing and such an impeller.

The present invention relates to a flow controller configured to selectively act as a pump or as a flow regulator. The flow controller comprises: an inlet for a fluid; an outlet for the fluid; a pump assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet and configured to pump the fluid through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet; a hydro electrical generator assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the hydro electrical generator assembly configured to allow the fluid flow through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet and to generate electricity by transforming flow energy of the fluid flowing through the flow controller into electricity; and a mode controller configured to selectively set the flow controller in a pumping mode or in an electricity generating mode.

A reversible water pump and hydroturbine including a housing and a rotor is provided. The housing includes two end boards, which have the same shape, and a sideboard that connects the two end boards respectively. Each end board includes two coaxial semicircle boards having two different radiuses, that is, a large semicircular board and a small semicircular board which are joined together at their diameter; the side board includes a first round sideboard and a second round sideboard, two inlets/outlets, i.e. a first inlet/outlet and a second inlet/outlet, are formed at the ends of the first round sideboard. The rotor includes a rotary shaft, a rotary wheel and at least two blades, a service channel forms between the rotary wheel and the second round sideboard, and a return channel forms between the rotary wheel and the first round sideboard.

The invention concerns a method for starting a hydroelectric turbine (10) in a pumping mode, said turbine being provided with a runner (6) mechanically coupled to a shaft line (8) and a variable speed electric motor connected to a grid, a distributor (4) comprising guide vanes to control a flow of water to said runner, the method comprising: a) a step of operating the variable speed motor at least partly at fixed speed, said guide vanes being only partially opened, and of defining or calculating: data of a plurality of hydraulic characteristics (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.i) of the turbine for an operation without cavitation; data of an operation range of the electric motor, giving the speed of the motor as a function of its power; b) then a step of operating the turbine in a power control mode.

The invention concerns a method for starting a hydroelectric turbine (10) in a pumping mode, said turbine being provided with a runner (6) mechanically coupled to a shaft line (8) and a variable speed electric motor connected to a grid, a distributor (4) comprising guide vanes to control a flow of water to said runner, the method comprising: a) a step of operating the variable speed motor at least partly at fixed speed, said guide vanes being only partially opened, and of defining or calculating: data of a plurality of hydraulic characteristics (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.i) of the turbine for an operation without cavitation; data of an operation range of the electric motor, giving the speed of the motor as a function of its power; b) then a step of operating the turbine in a power control mode.

The present invention relates to a flow controller configured to selectively act as a pump or as a flow regulator. The flow controller comprises: an inlet for a fluid; an outlet for the fluid; a pump assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet and configured to pump the fluid through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet; a hydro electrical generator assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the hydro electrical generator assembly configured to allow the fluid flow through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet and to generate electricity by transforming flow energy of the fluid flowing through the flow controller into electricity; and a mode controller configured to selectively set the flow controller in a pumping mode or in an electricity generating mode.

This installation for converting a hydraulic energy into electrical energy comprises a hydraulic adapted to be operated either in a pump mode or in a turbine mode.

It further comprises means (25) for applying an electric torque to the rotor to control the rotation speed of the machine during transitions between the pump mode and the turbine mode.