The Kaplan turbine manufactured in the Bohemian-Moravian
Kolben-Dan╪k factory in Prague in the 30s of 20th century
and shown in the exhibition of mechanical engines represents
an important type of water engine designed at the former
Brno German Technical University by professor Viktor Kaplan.
The Kaplan turbine was patented in 1912-1913 and thanks to
its excellent performance it was soon applied in such cases
where it was necessary to modify the working regime of the
turbine according to actual operating conditions,
particularly to fluctuating flow rate. The collections of
the National Technical Museum contain also the testing
Kaplan turbine on which the inventor tested different
calculations and shapes of blades of the runner. As a matter
of fact, this exhibit is the first Kaplan turbine in the
world.
