HYDROELECTRIC TURBINE–DISTRIBUTOR FALL ARREST ANCHOR SYSTEM DESIGN
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Date
2019-12-04
Authors
Fernandez, John Paul
Yu, Haoyu
Johannson, Sabryna
Feng, Kailin
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Abstract
Currently faces an issue regarding the fall protection of workers conducting routine maintenance work on turbine runners and liners. Currently, two methods of fall arrest anchor systems are used by the workers during maintenance work. First, an anchor strap is wrapped and secured around the bottom of wicket gates or stay vanes, both located at foot level. Second, a cable is wrapped around the circular perimeter of the stay vanes, above head level. Depending on the method used, workers can connect their fall arrest lanyards either to the anchor of the strap, or the cable wrapped around the stay vanes to use as an anchor point. Current fall arrest anchor methods are undesirable as these are not engineered solutions and poses safety risks to workers such as trip hazards and increased potential free-fall distance. has asked that an engineered fall arrest anchor device be designed to reduce worker’s free-fall distance and improve their safety. After examining the client’s requests, the team identified the most important needs to be reduction of free-fall distance, easy and safe installation and disassembly, minimized number of components, lightweight, and ability to fit through the scroll hatch opening which is 30” by 24”.The team created target specifications and metrics for each of these needs during the problem definition phase of the project. During the second phase of the project, the team broke down the fall arrest anchor system design into three main sections. The three sections included anchor type, ability to fix the anchor onto the fall arrest anchor system, and fixture method of the fall arrest anchor system to the existing structures. A total of 13 concepts were generated using the three sections and these concepts were presented to the client. Following client evaluation, the team was requested to further explore a clamp style design for the fall arrest anchor system. The 13 concepts were compared to current fall arrest anchor methods and screened using criteria developed by the team with input from the client. These criteria included safety, compatibility, performance, design mobility, worker mobility, ease of use and manufacturability. Seven concepts passed the initial ...