Acoustic emission detection of Three Gorges hydropower volute

Using acoustic emission methods to monitor and detect leaks in the spiral case during the water filling pressurization and holding pressure stages, while also performing localization. Qawrums Ltd. has conducted detection and evaluation on the stay ring machining and spiral case of the №1 hydraulic generator unit in the left bank powerhouse of the Three Gorges Project.

The Three Gorges Project involves a massive investment, and the only means of recovering this investment is through the power generation revenue of the Three Gorges Power Station. Therefore, the performance and operational reliability of the hydraulic turbine, as one of the core components of the power station, are crucial for realizing the project’s benefits. The rated output of the Three Gorges hydraulic turbine is 710 MW, with a runner diameter of 10 meters, making it the largest mixed-flow hydraulic turbine in the world in terms of output and size. The structural design and manufacturing process of large-capacity, large-size mixed-flow hydraulic turbines also present a technical challenge.