We have developed and patented a methodology for optimizing the settings of the valve pre-stress forces that is applicable to hydropower units such as FRANCIS, KAPLAN, and BULBE turbines. This optimizes availability, maintenance costs and performance by:
- Reducing mechanical wear over time,
- Optimizing the forces passing through the valve kinematics,
- Reducing production losses,
- Homogenizing the hydraulic flow of the machine,
- Ensuring an improvement in safety for the hydropower unit.
Our experts work on your site (one to two weeks of work) to implement baseline settings and also provide you with recommendations for adjustments for long-term operation at the end of the process.
Our optimization method has already made it possible to achieve gains in production and availability. For example:
- Availability: on a 150 MW installation, improvement of approximately 3 weeks per year of unavailability avoided for 3 years (elimination of twice-yearly maintenance interventions),
- Reduction in the cost of corrective maintenance: 80% reduction in breakages of the rods of two KAPLAN turbines,
- Performance optimization: 50% improvement across 3 units thanks to the previous need to unlock them due to frequent rod breakage.