Spiral Case Shells Transportation Optimization and Automation Using UG/KF

Abstract

Reaction turbine efficiency is greatly increased if the entering water has a strong rotational motion orwhirl. To provide such whirl, the water enters a tapered spiral chamber known as a spiral case. As the casing isspiraled and large scale, with a maximum outer diameter, it is difficult to carry entire spiral case in-route forcomplete transportation to the power station as a single piece. So the casing has to be divided into several partsof welded shell groups in the shop floor for effective transportation. But as the spiral case is of non-linear crosssection, hence the major problem is in determination of how many spiral case shells are to be welded together fora vehicle/service trip in- route to power station. The present work develops an automated application inUnigraphics NX3.0 and knowledge fusion to calculate the number of spiral case shells to be welded together,that best fit for a transportation vehicle of given dimensions. Also determines the optimum/minimum number ofsuch trips/vehicles needed for complete transportation of Spiral Casing shells to power station. This results intransportation cost savings and time involved for manual computations. Finally the design validation of spiralcase shells is done through Unigraphics NX 3.0 Structural Analysis and proved the design is safe.