Kaplan Turbine (Variable-Pitch Runner)

Category: science

An axial-flow propeller turbine featuring adjustable runner blades and wicket gates to maintain high efficiency across variable water flows.

Pioneered for low-head, high-volume river installations, the Kaplan turbine allows for dual regulation. Both the inlet guide vanes (wicket gates) and the runner blades adjust dynamically via hydraulic actuators to match changing river discharge rates. This prevents flow separation and maintains a flat efficiency curve across a massive operating envelope, making it ideal for run-of-the-river infrastructure.

Common Examples

• The automated control engine dynamically adjusts the angle of the Kaplan turbine blades to optimize output based on real-time stream flow logs.
• Unlike fixed-propeller systems, a Kaplan turbine maintains excellent performance profiles even when seasonal river levels drop significantly.