1

SAMIR RANJAN BEHERA,

Lecturer, Mechanical Engg.,
U.C.P. Engg. School, Berhampur, Odisha.
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HYDRAULIC TURBINE:
It’s a device that converts hydraulic energy to mechanical energy.

Classification of hydraulic turbines:

Hydraulic turbines are classified into two types.
i. Impulse turbine
ii. Reaction turbine

Construction of Impulse turbine:

Runner:
It is a solid circular-disc. Buckets are fixed on the periphery of the disc. A shaft is
keyed to the runner at its centre.

Buckets:
Buckets are cup type hollow hemispherical structures, bolted on the periphery of
the runner. Jet strikes these buckets to rotate the runner. Their design plays a
vital role in deciding the efficiency of a turbine.

Nozzle and Spear:

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Nozzle directs the flow of water to the buckets converting the high head of water
to high velocity. Spear is a conical part which regulates the flow of water striking
the buckets.

Casing:
Casing of an impulse turbine is a preventive shielding over the turbine. It prevents
the water from splashing and guides it to the spill way.

Working principle of impulse turbine:

The water with high potential energy enters the nozzle. The nozzle converts the
high potential energy into high kinetic energy. That means the water comes out of
the nozzle with high velocity. This water then strikes the buckets fitted on the
periphery of the runner. This striking of jet causes motion of the buckets. As a
result the runner and the shaft rotate and mechanical energy gets produced.

Pelton wheel turbine:

Pelton Wheel
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Orthographic view of a bucket Velocity triangle of pelton wheel

Let
V1= Absolute velocity of water jet at inlet= Vw1
V2= Absolute velocity of water jet at outlet.
Vr1= Relative velocity of water jet at inlet.
Vr2= Absolute velocity of water jet at outlet.
u1= Linear velocity of bucket at inlet.
u2= Linear velocity of bucket at outlet.
α = Angle of jet striking the bucket= 0o
β= Angle of jet leaving the bucket
θ = Angle of tip at inlet = 0o
ɸ = Angle of tip at outlet.
Vf1= Velocity of flow at inlet.
Vf2= Velocity of flow at outlet.
Vw1= Whirl velocity at inlet.
Vw1= Whirl velocity at outlet.
A= Cross-sectional area of jet.
N= Speed of the wheel in r.p.m
D= Mean diameter of the wheel.
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πDN
∴ u1 =
60
πDN
∴ u2 =
60

Expressions of u1 and u2 shows u1=u2

Force exerted by jet in the direction of motion,

Fx= ρAV1 [Vr1 − (−Vr2 cosϕ)]
=> Fx = ρAV1 (Vr1 + Vr2 cosϕ)
= ρAV1 [(V1 − u1 ) + (u2 + Vw2 )] (∴ From velocity triangle)
= ρAV1 [(Vw1 − u1 ) + (u2 + Vw2 )] (∴ From velocity triangle)
= ρAV1 (Vw1 − u1 + u2 + Vw2 )
= ρAV1 (Vw1 + Vw2 ) (∴ u1 = u2 )

Now work done per second by the jet on wheel

= Fx X u (∴ u = u1 = u2 )
= ρAV1 (Vw1 + Vw2 )u

Work done per second per weight of water striking per second
ρAV1 (Vw1 +Vw2 )u
=
ρAV1 X g

(Vw1 +Vw2 )u
=
g

Hydraulic efficiency:

Work done per second

ηh =
Kinetic energy per second

ρAV1 (Vw1 +Vw2 )u 2u(Vw1 +Vw2 )

=> ηh = 1 = (V1 )2
ρAV1 (V1 )2
2

Shaft power
Mechanical efficiency, ηm =
Runner power

Shaft power
Overall efficiency, ηo =
Kinetic energy per second
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Francis turbine:

Runner of Francis turbine

Velocity triangle
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Let
V1 and V2 = Absolute velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
Vr1 and Vr2 = Relative velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
u1 and u2 = Velocity of vane at inlet and outlet tip.
Vf1 and Vf2 = Velocity of flow at inlet and outlet.
Vw1 and Vw2= Whirl velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
α1 and α2 = Angle of absolute velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
β1 and β2 = Angle of relative velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
r1 and r2 = Outer and inner radii of runner.
N= Revolution per minute.
ω= Angular velocity of the runner.
H= Net head of water= Difference in head available at inlet of turbine and outlet
of draft tube.
πD1N
u 1 = ωr 1 = (D1 = Outer diameter of the runner)
60

πD2N
u 2 = ωr 2 = (D2 = Inner diameter of the runner)
60

Torque exerted by fluid on the runner,

T= Rate of change of angular momentum
= ρQ (r1V1 cos α1 – r2V2 cos α2)
= ρQ (r1 Vw1 - r2 Vw2)

Work done per second = Tω = ρQω(r1 Vw1 - r2 Vw2)

= ρQ (Vw1 u1 - Vw2 u2)

Work done per second

Hydraulic efficiency, ηh =
Water power per second

ρQ ( Vw1 u1 − Vw2 u2)

=
ρQgH

𝐕𝐰𝟏 𝐮𝟏 − 𝐕𝐰𝟐 𝐮𝟐
=
𝐠𝐇

Shaft power
Mechanical efficiency, ηm =
Runner power

Shaft power
Overall efficiency, ηo =
Water power
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Kaplan Turbine:

Velocity triangle

V1 and V2 = Absolute velocity at inlet and outlet tip.

Vr1 and Vr2 = Relative velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
u1 and u2 = Velocity of vane at inlet and outlet tip.
Vf1 and Vf2 = Velocity of flow at inlet and outlet.
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Vw1 and Vw2= Whirl velocity at inlet and outlet tip.

α1 and α2 = Angle of absolute velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
β1 and β2 = Angle of relative velocity at inlet and outlet tip.
r = Radius of turbine runner at both inlet and outlet.
N= Revolution per minute.
ω= Angular velocity of the runner.
H= Net head of water= Difference in head available at inlet of turbine and outlet
of draft tube.

For Kaplan turbine,

u1 = u2
Vf1 = Vf2
α2 = 90o
Vf2= V2

Torque exerted by fluid on the runner,

T= Rate of change of angular momentum
= ρQ (r V1 cos α1 – r V2 cos α2)
= ρQ (r1 Vw1)

Work done per second = Tω = ρQω(r1 Vw1)

= ρQ (Vw1 u1)

Work done per second

Hydraulic efficiency, ηh =
Water power per second

ρQ ( Vw1 u1)
=
ρQgH
𝐕𝐰𝟏 𝐮𝟏
=
𝐠𝐇

Shaft power
Mechanical efficiency, ηm =
Runner power

Shaft power
Overall efficiency, ηo =
Water power
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Difference between impulse turbine and reaction turbine:

Impulse turbine Reaction turbine

At inlet, only kinetic energy is available.
Pressure at both tips of the blade is
same.
Works under high head
At inlet, both kinetic and pressure
energy is available.
Pressure at inlet tip is more than that at
outlet tip.
Works under medium and low head.

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