Kaplan turbines are the result of the mechanical improvement of the first propeller turbines developed in 1908. They are axial flow reaction turbines, resulting in higher specific speeds than was possible to achieve with radial turbines. It was developed by the Austrian engineer Victor Kaplan, who designed this new type of propeller turbine in 1912 with the ability to adjust the rotation angle of the blades. This invention aroused a lot of interest and represented a major advance in the use of the operating range even at very low partial flows.

The first Kaplan turbines were designed with a vertical arrangement in a spiral case and a curved draft tube, but new arrangements were developed and currently horizontal arrangements are very popular, such as the S-type Kaplan turbines in upstream or downstream orientation, Saxo turbines or horizontal spiral case. They are very suitable for low to medium heads, normally between 8 m and 40 m.

HACKER is a leader in the supply of Kaplan turbines, and was the first Brazilian company to master mechanical and hydraulic technology in the manufacture of this type of turbine. Our Kaplan turbines power small to large powerplants in Brazil and around the world, having manufactured the largest Kaplan turbines made in Brazil to date.

Mechanical and hydraulic technological advances allow Hacker to offer the best Kaplan turbines on the market, with high performance, incomparable robustness and extended lifetime. Its complete supply includes NEX bearings, KWM generators, as well as hydromechanical hydraulic units and auxiliary equipment.