The present invention is a reversible pump-turbine installation positioned in a vertical borehole instead of in a conventional underground powerhouse or deep concrete powerhouse. The required plant cavitation coefficient may be achieved by simply boring a vertical borehole to the required depth rather than routing the water flow to and from a deeply buried powerhouse. A pneumatically controlled pressure relief valve may be incorporated into this invention.

Provided is a method for estimating optimal efficiency point parameters in an axial-flow PAT power generation mode, including: I1, calculating an axial velocity of an optimal efficiency point; I2, calculating a flow rate of the optimal efficiency point; I3, calculating a theoretical hydraulic head; I4, calculating a frictional hydraulic head loss and a local hydraulic head loss of each segment; I5, calculating an output power of the optimal efficiency point; I6, calculating a hydraulic head of the optimal efficiency point in a power generation mode; and I7, calculating an optimal efficiency. Further provided is a method for estimating a performance curve in an axial-flow PAT power generation mode based on the above method for estimating an optimal efficiency point parameter, including: II1, calculating a normalized flow-hydraulic head curve; II2, calculating a normalized hydraulic head-output power curve; and II3, calculating a hydraulic head-efficiency curve.

A combined pump and turbine (electromechanical converter), which may be operable as a motorized centrifugal pump for starting a siphon and as an electromechanical turbine particularly for transmission of a liquid, such as water, in a water treatment plant.

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 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.

Provided is a method for estimating optimal efficiency point parameters in an axial-flow PAT power generation mode, including: I1, calculating an axial velocity of an optimal efficiency point; I2, calculating a flow rate of the optimal efficiency point; I3, calculating a theoretical hydraulic head; I4, calculating a frictional hydraulic head loss and a local hydraulic head loss of each segment; I5, calculating an output power of the optimal efficiency point; I6, calculating a hydraulic head of the optimal efficiency point in a power generation mode; and I7, calculating an optimal efficiency. Further provided is a method for estimating a performance curve in an axial-flow PAT power generation mode based on the above method for estimating an optimal efficiency point parameter, including: II1, calculating a normalized flow-hydraulic head curve; II2, calculating a normalized hydraulic head-output power curve; and II3, calculating a hydraulic head-efficiency curve.

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.