MI 304 FLUID MACHINES

LECTURE 16
B. K. Gandhi
 Governing
The basic condition to be fulfilled in the running of turbines is that the
frequency of generation is to be maintained constant

This can be achieved in two ways, namely:

• By keeping the speed constant, irrespective of the load on the machine,

• By allowing a small speed drop, not exceeding 5 per cent, between no load and
full load and by adjusting the load on the machine correspondingly.

Qualities of Governor:
• Sensitiveness
• Rapidity of action = If pipeline is long compared to head (5 to 6 times of head)
than problem of pressure rise becomes serious.
• Stability
• Isochronism
• Hunting = Caused if governor is too sensitive.
• Speed Regulation = To return a normal speed
Governing of Water Turbines

Pelton Turbine  regulating the needle (spear) in nozzle

Fancies Turbine  regulating wicket gates

Kaplan Turbine  regulating wicket gates and runner blades

Principal Elements of Oil Pressure Governor:

 Speed Responsive Element

• Pendulum or governor head and
• Drive of pendulum or governor head.

 Power Element
• Servo motor
• Distributor or Relay value
• Pressure oil supply unit

 Stabilizing or Compensatory unit

• Dash pot
• pilot value
• Starting and stopping gears
• safety devices
• load limiting devices
• Speed changer or speed setting
• Hydraulic Return motion gear
 Water Hammer
A gate pressure valve at the end of the penstock pipe controls the discharge to the
turbine.

As soon as this governor-regulated gate opening is altered, the pipe flow has to be
adjusted to the new magnitude of flow.

In doing so, there are rapid pressure oscillations in the pipe, often accompanied by
a hammering like sound. Hence this phenomenon is called as water hammer.

There are basically two approaches to the water hammer problem

• The compressibility effects of water are neglected. The resulting analysis is called
'Rigid Water Column Theory

• The compressibility effects are taken into account and it is termed as 'Elastic
Water Column theory'
Rigid Water Column theory:

Consider the simple case of a pipe of uniform diameter and of length L, taking off
from a reservoir where the static head is h0

If we neglect the head losses in the pipe, the velocity of flow is given by

V0  2 g h0

Q0  A 2 g h0
where A is the c/s area of the pipe
The maximum additional water
hammer head hw
over that of normal head h0
can be worked out with the
help of Newton's Second Law.
Considering the volume of water in the pipe that is retarded, we can write

wAL  dV 
F  pw A   
g  dt 
the water hammer pressure Pw  whw
L  dV 
hw    
g  dt 
On the other hand, the velocity past the gate at any instant, is given by

V  2 g  h0  hw 
If the total time of closure of the gate is T, then for complete closure, assuming
uniform gate movement,

it can be shown that maximum water hammer head

hwm K1 K12
  K1 
h0 2 4
2
 LV0 
K1   
 0 
g h T

In most cases, for small values of K1 equation simplifies to

hwm K1
  K1
h0 2
Limitations of the rigid water column theory

• It ignores the elastic effects due to sudden pressure changes

K
Vc 


2L
Tc 
Vc
Generally, if the actual valve closure time T is greater than Tc
rigid water column theory gives fairly correct estimation of the excess head
built up due to valve closure

Based on this, we define the valve closure as gradual T  Tc 

or as rapid T  Tc 

• The derivation is essentially for simple conduits

Elastic Water Column Theory:

The water hammer pressures are usually high enough and the
compressibility/elasticity effects of the water are no more negligible

The pressure variations with respect to time at the valve end, at the mid-length
of the pipe and at the mouth of pipe

For sudden closures,

Total kinetic energy before closure = Strain energy of water after closure
+ Strain energy of pipe

  D 2  wV02 pw2   D 2  f 2
 L   L   Dt L 
 4  2g 2K  4  2E

On substituting the value of f  hoop stress in pipe wall

wV02
pw  whwm 
1 D
g  
 K tE 
 Sugar Tanks:

The surge tank or the surge tower is a structure which forms an essential part
of the conveyance pressure conduit system whenever such systems are long.

Their main function is to

protect the low pressure
conduit system from high
internal pressures. whenever
there is an abrupt load
rejection by the power
system, the turbine governors
regulate the water entering
into turbines in a matter of
some seconds, so as not to
allow change in the frequency.
 Types of Surge Tanks

Surge tanks may be classified in different ways such as:

• The material of construction, concrete or steel etc.

• Location with respect to ground: underground or over
ground.

• Location in the hydraulic system, namely, whether it is on the

upstream side or downstream side of the power house.

• Hydraulic functioning and cross sectional shape.

The most useful classification is on the basis of their shape which also
determines their hydraulic characteristics
A usually followed classification is as follows
• Simple cylindrical surge tank.
• Restricted orifice surge tank.
• Simple surge tanks of special design.
• Differential surge tank.