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Hydraulic Turbine Design
Hydraulic Turbine Design
Hydraulic turbines extract energy from the gravitational potential of water sources
or from the kinetic energy of flowing water or from a combination of the two.
These turbines are generally classified as either impulse or reaction. Reaction
turbines are further classified as radial and mixed-flow (Francis) turbines or as
axial-flow or propeller turbines.
Efficiency generally governs which turbine type is selected. Figure 16.141 plots
efficiency against specific speed (Ns) for the three turbine types.
Ns
ne gpm
3
h4
Where h is in feet and ne is that rpm corresponding to optimum operating
efficiency.
Finnemore, E.J. and Franzini, J.B., Fluid Mechanics with Engineering Applications, 10 ed., p. 707,
McGraw Hill, 2002.
Nozzle Design
V0
Vi1
Figure 1
Id., p. 686.
The ideal exit velocity, Vi1, is calculated from the Bernoulli equation:
P0 V02
P1 Vi12
z0
z1
2g
2g
The ideal velocity is multiplied by a velocity coefficient, Cv , to account for
friction and turbulence. Cv varies from about 0.95 (needle valve partly closed) to
0.99 (needle valve fully opened).3
V1 CvVi1
The actual quantity rate is obtained by multiplying the ideal rate by a discharge
coefficient, Cd. The discharge coefficient is the product of the velocity coefficient
and the contraction coefficient, Cc, (ratio of area of emerging jet to the area of the
nozzle at the discharge point). The value of Cc is about 0.94.4
Conservation of mass leads to:
Q Cd AV
1 1
Where : Cd Cc Cv
Nozzle Dimensions
The nozzle diameter at discharge is made about 20% greater than the calculated
diameter of the jet. The nozzle should terminate in a cone of 30-45.5
Rotational Velocity
Calculate rpm from the specific speed that results in reasonable efficiency.
Guidelines follow:
Head (ft)
1000
2000
n W&shaft
H 5/ 4
Where: n = rpm; W&shaft = shaft horsepower; H = turbine head, ft. If the turbine
drives a generator select a rotational velocity equal to the nearest synchronous
speed calculated from:
Id., p. 695.
Id., Figure 11.13, p. 506.
5
Marks Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, 8 ed,, p. 9-145, McGraw-Hill, 1978.
4
120 f
p
Dp
1840 H
n
6
7
V 2 U W2 cos
V V 2 V 1
& V
W& mU
Where: V tangential velocity
U = peripheral velocity
m& mass flow rate
W& power
8
9
Design
The turbine buckets are tangent to the entering relative velocity at the tip. They
are designed to leave without appreciable tangential velocity (whirl). Thus, the
exit term in Eulers equation can be neglected, and the angle between the exiting
absolute velocity and the tangent, 2 , can be set at 90. Refer to Figure 2 for the
velocity triangles. The power equation becomes:
Vr1
W1
& 1
W& mUV
V1
W2
U
V2=Vr2
Figure 2
Selection of Speed
Economics calls for high rotational speeds resulting in small units.
Considerations of efficiency, cavitation and structural strength, however, place an
upper practical limit on speed.
Figure 16.14 (see page 1) plots efficiency against specific speed (Ns) for the three
principal turbine types. Figure 16.16 (following page) plots specific speed against
maximum effective head (h). To select a practical speed, enter Figure 16.16 with
maximum effective head and draft head and select the highest specific speed
outside of the cavitation region. Then calculate the resulting rpm. Enter Figure
16.14 to estimate efficiency. Select the nearest synchronous speed corresponding
to the value calculated from specific speed.
The runner diameter is determined from a formula similar to that for the
centrifugal pump.10
1840e h
D
ne
Where D is in inches and the peripheral-velocity factor, e , is found from
Figure 16.14.
The number of buckets can be estimated from:11
z
55
n1/s 3
The usual range is 21 for low and 12 for high specific speed. Refer to Marks for
other runner dimensions.
10
11
Draft Tubes
After passing through the turbine, the water enters a draft tube, Figure 16.11,
(page 6). The purpose of this tube, which is an integral part of the turbine design,
is threefold:
1) To permit the turbine to be set above the tailwater level without loss of head.
2) To recover a reasonable amount of the kinetic energy leaving the runner by
diffuser action.
3) To facilitate inspection and maintenance.
Note that the pressure at the upper end of the draft tube is below atmospheric thus
limiting the height above the tailwater because of cavitation considerations. The
velocity at the upstream end of the tube ranges from 24 to 30 ft/s; at the lower
end, 5-7 ft/s. The included angle of the diffuser tube should be kept reasonably
small, say 8-12, to limit losses due to separation. Typical loss coefficients are:12
Cone Angle
8
12
Loss Coefficient
0.23
0.33
hL
V V
K 1 2
2g
Where: K = Loss Coefficient and numerals 1 and 2 refer to entering and leaving stations.
12
10