Pelton wheel turbine experiment

Objectives:It is required to the performance of a Pelton Wheel turbine and plot the relation
between the specific speed (Ns) and the mechanical efficiency ().
Procedure:1. At no flow, read the balance zero reading at the zero position.
2. Start the pump, fully open both the pump discharge valve and the turbine needle
valve then operate the pump at a certain speed.
3. Get the mercury U-tube reading (y) and the turbine inlet head (H).
4. Adjust the turbine brake, load, to get a certain turbine speed (N).
5. At this speed; use masses and screw to restore original zero position and take the
balance reading.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 at different turbine speeds and loads.

Calculations steps:1. Discharge:

y=6 cm
u = 13.6

Cd = 0.94
dpipe = 10 cm

dthroat = 6.86 cm

f = 1

h = 0.06 * ((13.6/1)-1) = 0.756

Apipe = (pi/4) * (0.1^2) = 7.854*10^-3 m^2

Athroat = (pi/4) * (0.0686^2) = 3.696*10^-3 m^2
Q = 0.94 *((7.854*10^-3 *3.696*10^-3)/root ((7.854*10^-3) ^2 (3.696*10^-3)
^2))
*root (2*9.8*0.756) =0.01515m^3/s

Counter balance
masses (kgf)
3.5

y (cm)

H (ft) N (rpm) Balance reading (kgf) F (N)

74

1040

7.3

1.96

74

5.88

74

1000
960

6.9

3.5

6
6

24.5

3.5

74

900

3.7

37.24

3.5

2. Brake force:
F = Counter balance masses + zero reading balance reading
F (N) = F (kgf) * 9.8
Where, the "Counter balance masses" are the masses added to ensure a net tension
force on the balance.
Balance zero reading =4 (kgf)

3. Efficiency:
= (O/P) / (I/P)
Where:
I/P = water x H x Q
R (brake radius) = 0.46 m

O/P = T x

T=FxR

= 2 N / 60

4. Specific speed:

Counter balance
masses (kgf)
3.5

y (cm)

H (ft) N (rpm) Balance reading (kgf) F (N)

74

1040

7.3

1.96

74

5.88

74

1000
960

6.9

3.5

6
6

24.5

3.5

74

900

3.7

37.24

3.5

Where: O/P in kw

5. Results:

Q (m3/s)

I/P
F (N)
(watt)

W
(rad/s)

T (N.m) O/P (watt)

Ns(SI
units)

(%)

0.015157

3350

1.96

108.909

0.902

98.236

6.632

2.9

0.015157

3350

5.88

104.72

2.705

283.2676

10.83

8.455

0.015157

3350

24.5

100.531

11.27

1132.984

20.79

33.82

0.015157

3350

37.24

94.248

17.13

1614.468

23.27

48.193

6. Graph:

7. Conclusion & comments:

From books:

From internet:
The difference between the curve result from the experiment and those from book &
internet:
1-In the experiment the head on turbine and discharge were constant and the speed
is variable with load but in the real turbines the head and discharge is variable with
load and the head could be fluctuating but the speed must be constant to ensure
constant electric frequency of the generators which coupled with the turbine.
2- it is observed that Pelton wheel turbine design used when the specific speed is law
(lower than France's and Kaplan turbines) the cause is the Pelton wheel turbine used
when the head before it is high so that from
we can see that the specific
speed is inverse proportional to the head on the turbine.

3-pelton wheel turbine theory depend on impulse theory so that it needs a high head
before it if the head on the Pelton wheel is low the turbine will work with poor
efficiency and this is not practical.