Laser Tracker Measurements for Hydro Units: Benefits Evaluation and Sharing of Techniques

Abstract

Hydro turbine units are large, awkward and assembled in place, and the alternative to a laser tracker is a lot of scaffolding and a lot of time. Jean-Francois Normand and Dany Lessard set out where a tracker earns its place in a hydro power plant – controlling assembly and welding of large components on site – and then get practical: on-site tests at large distances, on-site verification of the accuracy of level readings and an experiment to determine it, and a frank account of techniques, good practices and tips. The talk ends on the benefits, the limitations and the return on investment, which is the part most conference papers leave out.