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Turbines are often required to work under varying conditions of head, speed, output and
gate opening. As such, in order to predict their behavior, it is essential to study the
The head and output of the turbine may change. In this case, keeping the discharge
Keeping the head and the speed constant, the output may vary by adjusting the discharge.
These are the normal operating conditions, and the curves drawn for these conditions are
Keeping the head and discharge constant, the speed may vary by adjusting the load on the
turbine. These conditions are possible only in the laboratories. The curves so obtained for
The head and speed may vary. This is common in turbines working under low heads.
In order to predict the behaviour of a turbine working under varying conditions of head,
speed, and power, recourse has been made to the concept of unit.
The unit quantities give the speed, discharge and power for a particular turbine under a
head of 1m assuming the same efficiency. The following are the three important unit
quantities.
Unit speed
Unit power
Unit discharge
Unit speed (Nu): The speed of the turbine, working under unit head (say 1m) is known as
60
= =
60
If H=1; then = √
Where, H = head of water, under which the turbine is working; N= speed of turbine under
a head, H; u= tangential velocity; Nu= speed of the turbine under a unit head.
Unit Power (Pu): The power developed by a turbine, working under a unit head (say 1m)
= 2
/
=
/
= 1 =
/
=
Thus, = /
Unit discharge (Qu): The discharge of the turbine working under a unit head (say 1m) is
= √1 =
Or, = √
Thus, =
√
If a turbine is working under different heads, the behaviour of the turbine can be easily
= =
= =
= =
Where H1, H2 are the heads under which a turbine works; N1,N2 are the corresponding
speeds; Q1,Q2 are the discharges, and P1,P2 are the power developed by the turbine,
Example 6.7: A turbine is to operate under a head of 25 m at 180 rpm. The discharge is
10 cumec. If the efficiency is 90%, determine the performance of the turbine under a
head of 20 m.
Solution: Data given: Head on turbine, H1=25 m; speed, N1=180 rpm; discharge, Q1 =10
= =
.
0.9 =
9.81 10 25
180 √20
=
√25
= 161.0
10.0 √20
=
√25
= 8.94
2207 20
=
25
= 1579.20
The concept of the specific turbine is useful for comparing the turbines of different types.
The performance of turbines under unit head gives us the comparison of turbines of the
same type.
proportions, blade angles, gate openings, etc.,) with actual turbine, but reduced to such a
The actual turbine under unit condition and specific turbine both work under unit head
(1m head), whatever the velocity triangle holds good for the actual turbine, will hold
= ; = ;
Similarly, = =
Therefore, =
Because, = ; =
= 1 ; = 1
= =
The power of geometrically similar turbines working under the same head vary as the
Since, the specific turbine develops 1kW under a unit head, P s=1, therefore,
But, = /
/
Therefore, = =
√
/
Further, = , =
But , =
Therefore, =
Or, = = √
But, =
√
√
Thus, = /
This value of Ns, the speed of the specific turbine is known as specific speed of the
turbine.
Example 6.8:- A turbine develops 10,000 kW under a head of 20 m at 150 rpm. What is
the specific speed? What would be its normal speed and output under a head of 25 m?
√
=
150√10000
= = 354.65
20 /
25
= 150
20
= 167.7
25
= 10000
20
= 13975.42.7
SIMILARITY LAWS
Similarity laws have been developed for characterizing turbine performance of units
of different size and type.
The fact that the similarity laws can be used is often referred to as the homologous nature
of turbines.
When turbines of different sizes are designed to have corresponding linear dimensions
with a common geometric ratio, the turbines are said to be homologous.
The power outputs, speeds and flow characteristics are proportional and they tend to have
equal efficiencies.
These similarity laws are developed and presented in a series of formulas that define the
turbine constants