This is a 1200kW hydropower project for our North Korean client, featuring a 1.2-meter diameter axial-flow turbine runner. Axial-flow 

turbines are among the optimal choices for low-head hydropower development, and the project's parameters perfectly match their 

technical characteristics:

Applicable Head: Conventional axial-flow turbines are suitable for low-head conditions of 1.5~20m. The combination of a 1.2m dia runner 

and 1200kW corresponds to a design head of approximately 6~12m and a rated flow rate of approximately 15~25m³/s (calculated using 

the turbine output formula P=9.81⋅Q⋅H⋅η, with an efficiency of 85%~92%), perfectly suited to the hydraulic conditions of small and 

medium-sized rivers and irrigation canals in North Korea.

Structural Advantages: The unit adopts a horizontal axial arrangement, with the main shaft extending directly from the tailrace pipe to the 

generator. This eliminates the need for complex shaft/bulb-type structures, resulting in lower costs and simpler installation and maintenance, 

making it ideal for the construction needs of small and medium-sized power plants in North Korea.

Efficiency characteristics: If a propeller-type structure is adopted, the weighted average efficiency can be improved by 10% to 15% 

compared with the fixed-pitch type, which can better adapt to the seasonal fluctuations in the water volume of the Korean River and 

increase the annual power generation.

Project Technical Highlights and Adaptability

Customized Design for North Korea Project

Operating Condition Adaptation: Addressing the significant seasonal variations in river water volume in North Korea, the turbine blade 

profile can be optimized to improve partial load efficiency and ensure stable output even during the dry season.

Operation and Maintenance Friendly: The shaft-extended axial turbine has a simple structure, and the generator is located within the 

plant, eliminating the need for underwater maintenance and significantly reducing the difficulty of local operation and maintenance in 

North Korea, making it suitable for the skill level of local technical personnel.

Reliability Design: The main shaft uses hollow forgings to increase rigidity, and the water-guided bearings employ a self-lubricating/oil

-lubricating structure to meet the requirements of continuous operation and the stable power supply requirements of the North Korean

 power grid.

The project's choice of a shaft-extension axial flow type represents the optimal balance between cost, efficiency, and operation and 

maintenance, perfectly matching North Korea's construction needs for small and medium-sized power plants.

Project Background and Significance

North Korea has long considered the construction of small and medium-sized hydropower stations as a core part of its energy strategy. 

This 1200kW shaft-extended axial-flow turbine project is a typical example of Sino-North Korean hydropower equipment trade: It is 

suitable for the abundant low-head river resources within North Korea, allowing for rapid construction and supplementing the regional 

power grid.

Chinese-made small and medium-sized turbines are globally competitive in terms of cost-effectiveness and reliability, making them one

 of the mainstream choices for small and medium-sized power plants in North Korea.

This unit can achieve unmanned/minimal-manned operation, adapting to the operation and maintenance management model of North 

Korean power plants.