Overview
- Efficient, reliable clean energy production
- Submersible and quiet, for seamless integration
- Easy to install, inspect, service and troubleshoot
- Heads from 2.5 m to 20 m (8 ft to 65 ft)
- Flows up to 10 m3/s per unit
- Power from 40 to 700 kW (50 Hz); 40 to 850 kW (60 Hz)
- Requires no flood protection
Flygt submersible hydro turbines harness energy from the water flowing through dams, weirs, locks, water facilities and more. These turbines are highly adaptable, operate out of the way and require minimal supporting infrastructure.
Seamless integration into a wide range of applications
The compact, modular Flygt submersible hydro turbine was built with versatility at its core. The units can produce clean energy in applications with heads up to 20 m (65 ft) and flows up to 10 m3/s per unit. They are designed to fit easily into new or existing infrastructure, automatically adapt to varying water flows, and provide quick connection to the power grid.
Flygt hydro turbines are well-suited to:
- Repurpose inactive hydropower plants like old mills as well as non-powered dams, weirs, and unused water locks
- Modernize existing power plants to increase efficiency and capacity
- Future-proof new hydropower plants
- Generate power from water infrastructure systems, including wastewater treatment plants, stormwater pump gates, irrigation canals, pipelines and more
Minimal footprint
Flygt hydro turbines can be added to new and existing structures with less civil work than is required for a standard hydropower station. Plus, the station itself can be hidden, and the turbine operates quietly, so sites with natural or social heritage values can remain intact.
Durable construction for superior operation
Flygt submersible hydro turbines are built to last and offer important customizations to meet the unique needs of your operation.
Long-lasting generator
The Flygt hydro turbine’s integrated generator is fully submersible (IP68) to depths up to 20 m (65 ft). Long-life bearings and class H insulation provided extended operational life. Temperature sensors in the stator winding and main bearing, as well as leakage sensors in the stator housing and cable entry, allow effective monitoring of the generator and early intervention. The generator is efficiently cooled by the environmental water flow.
For hydro turbines that require a speed increaser with the generator, Flygt also offers a heavy-duty planetary gearbox.
Customizable hydraulics
Flygt hydro turbine runners are available with four or five blades in stainless steel. The blade angle can be manually set in 1-degree increments.
In addition, four or five different fixed guide vane angles are available to provide optimal performance over a wide range.
An easy-to-replace wear ring helps maintain high efficiency over the life of the turbine.
Reliable seals
Flygt mechanical seal systems minimize shaft overhang and maximize seal cooling and lubrication. Two pairs of mechanical shaft seals work independently for double safety. Double-grommet cable sealing adds an extra level of safety.
Fish friendly to protect natural habitats
At Xylem, minimizing environmental impact and actively protecting natural habitats are paramount to our hydropower solutions. When it comes to fish friendliness, creating extra space between turbine blades is no longer enough. Migrating fish are safest when they avoid turbines altogether.
That’s why Xylem has developed fish attraction flow for downstream fish passage, effectively guiding migrating fish away from the turbine. This unique method reorients fish just in front of the turbine intakes, then directs them to a channel where water velocity steadily increases. The high-velocity flow prevents fish from returning to the turbines.
Xylem also partners with universities and energy companies to develop new methods for controlling downstream migratory fish to increase passage efficiency and minimize production losses.
Easy to install and service
Flygt submersible turbines can be installed in minutes, with no assembly or shaft alignment needed. It is simply lowered down into the turbine seat and held in place by its own weight and the water pressure while running. As it is not bolted into the structure, it can easily be raised for inspection and service.
An anti-rotation device prevents the turbine from rotation if a shock load should occur.
The most common Flygt hydro turbine installations are:
- Penstock
- Intake siphon
- Open or covered flume with cylinder gate
- Traditional open or covered flume
- Submerged underwater chamber
Prefabricated elbow or straight conical draft tubes recover dynamic energy downstream of the runner. Each turbine size has a matched draft tube to maximize the energy recovery.
