ECOBulb™
TURBINE GENERATOR
VA TECH Hydro, a world leader in
Compact turbines, introduces the devel-
opment of the ECOBulb™ Turbine
Generator. The unit design minimizes
investment in civil work and electro-
mechanical equipment and significantly
reduces maintenance costs throughout
the life cycle of the plant. The result
is the economical development of
sites having low head potential while
minimizing the ecological impact.
The ECOBulb™ unit is the unique combina-
tion of a single or double regulated axial
turbine with a direct coupled low speed
synchronous generator including a permanent
magnet rotor (PMG) integrated into an air
pressurized bulb. The removal of the
step-up gear allows a simplification of the
mechanical elements, a reduction of the size
of the bulb and a huge life extension of the
generating unit.
The ECOBulb™ turbine generator brings the
industry unmatched advantages in invest-
ment costs for civil and electro-mechanical
equipment as well as the ability to tap low
head potential with high economic results.
The unit design minimizes maintenance costs
and provides the maximum energy generation
through high levels of hydraulic and electrical
efficiencies.
The ECOBulb™ design also provides many
ecological advantages. Generator cooling
is achieved without external auxiliary systems
by utilizing the bulb surfaces cooled by the
surrounding river water. The two bearings
supporting the shaft system are lubricated by
biodegradable oil and grease. Since the units
are completely submerged, the reduction in
noise emission makes their installation in
residential areas possible. Finally, the low
profile of the ECOBulb™ allows an aesthetic
integration of the unit’s installation into the
site’s landscape.
The hydraulic profiles used have been devel-
oped and tested in our hydraulic laboratories
and the electrical and thermal technologies
are derived from large bulb generator units
built by VA TECH HYDRO.
Technical data
O
Head H between 2 and 15 m
O
Flow Q between 15 and 100 m
3
/s
O
Output P between 500 and 5000 kW
Application range