FRANCIS

TURBINE
TEST RIG

OBJECTlVE:
A1M:

FRANCIS TURBINE TEST RIG:

To study the operation of a Francis Turbine.
To determine the output power of Francis Turbine.
To determine the efficiency of the Francis Turbine.

INTRODUCTION:
Francis Turbine, named after James Bichens Fransis, is a reaction type of turbine for
medium high to medium low heads and medium small to medium large quantities of
water.
The reaction turbine operates with its wheel submerged in water. The water before
entering the turbine has pressure as well as kinetic energy. The moment on the wheel is
produced by both kinetic and pressure energies. The water leaving the turbine has still
some of the pressure as well as kinetic energy.
THEORY:
Originally the Francis turbine was designed as a purely radial flow type reaction turbine
but modern Francis turbine is a mixed flow type in which water enters the runner radially
inwards towards the center and discharges out axially. It operates under medium heads
and requires medium quantity of water.
DESCRIPTION:
The Francis Turbine consists of spiral casing, an outer bearing pedestal and rotor
assembly with runner shaft and brake drum, all mounted on a suitable sturdy cast iron
base plate. A straight conical draft tube is provided for the purpose of regaining the
kinetic energy from the exit water and also facilitating easy accessibility of the Turbine
due to it locating at higher level than the tailrace. A transparent hollow Perspex cylinder is
provided in between the draught bend and the casing for the purpose of observation of
flow at exit of runner. A rope brake arrangement is provided to load the Turbine. The
output of the turbine can be controlled by adjusting the guide vanes for which a hand
wheel and a suitable link mechanism are provided. The net supply head on the turbine is
measured by a pressure and vacuum gauge.
UTILITIES REQUIRED:
1. Water supply (400 ltrs)
2. 3 phase supply, 440 volt AC
3. Drain
4. Space required: 2.2m x 1 m
EXPERIMENT AL PROCEDURE:
Starting Procedure:
1. Clean the apparatus and make Tank free from Dust.
2. Close the drain valve provided.
3. Fill Sump tank 3/4 with Clean Water and ensure that no foreign particles are there.
4. Fill manometer fluid i.e. Hg. in manometer.

5. Now switch on the Main Power Supply (440 V AC, 50 Hz).

6. Switch on the Pump with the help of Starter.
7. Open the Air release Valve provided on the Manometer, slowly to release the air from
Manometer.
8. When there is no air in the manometer, close the Air release valves.
9. Now regulate the Guide Vanes position with the help of a Hand Wheel provided for this
purpose.
10. Now turbine is in operation.
11. Regulate the discharge by regulating the Guide Vanes position.
12. Load the turbine with the help of hand wheel attached to the Spring Balance.
13. Note the Monometer Reading.
14. Note Pressure gauge reading.
15. Note Vacuum gauge Reading.
16. Note the RPM of the Turbine.
17. Note the Fixed and Adjustable Balance Readings.
18. Repeat the same experiment for different load and different discharge.
Closing Procedure:
1. When the experiment is over, first remove load on dynamometer.
2. Close the ball valves provided on manometer.
3. Switch OFF Pump with the help of starter.
4. Switch OFF main power supply.
SPECIFICATION:
Pump
Pump
Spring Balance
Runner diameter
Nos. of Guide Vanes

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Centrifugal type
A.C. 15 HP / 13.75KW, 3 Phase, 440 Volts.
10kg
162 mm
10 nos

FORMULAE:
Total Head
Discharge

H = 10 * P m of water
Q = A * V (m3/sec)

Where

V = Cd [2gh {(m / w)-1}]

(m/sec)

Turbine Input = w Q H / 75 watt

Turbine output = [(w1 + w3 - w2) Re 2N] / 4500
efficiency % = (output / input) 100
Re = (D + 2d) / 2

= 0.165 m

HP

OBSERVATION & CALCULATION:

DATA:
Flow measurement
A = Cross-section area of pipe
g = Acceleration due to gravity
m = Density of water
w = Density of Manometer fluid i.e. Hg
D = Diameter of Brake Drum
Cpitot = Co-efficient of pitot tube
d = Diameter of rope
Re = Effective radius
W3 = Weight of hanger

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Pitot tube in 108 mm diameter pipe

0.00916 m2
9.81 m/s2
1000 kg.m3
13550 kg/m3
0.3 m
0.98
15 mm
0.165 m
1.0 kg

OBSERVATION TABLE:
S. N. RPM (N)

Pr. Gauge reading Differential Pr. Dead weight Spring balance

P (kg/cm2)
H (m)
w1 (kg)
w2 (kg)

1
2
3
4
5
CALCULATION TABLE:
S.N.

Total
H

Head Velocity
v

Discharge
Q

1
2
3
4
5
NOMENCLATURE:
A = Cross-sectional area of pipe
P = Pressure gauge reading, kg.cm2
V = Vacuum gauge reading
m = Density of water
w = Density of Manometer fluid i.e. Hg

Output

Input

Turbine
Efficiency %