REACTION TURBINE

2.7.1 INTRODUCTION
In reaction turbine, a part of the head (H) acting on the turbine is converted into kinetic
energy and the rest remains as pressure head. The water first enters a set of movable blades
(guide vanes) and passes over a set of fixed runner blades. There exists a difference of
pressure between these two sets of blades which is called ‘reaction pressure’ and is
responsible for the motion of the runner blades.

Degree of reaction: it is defined as the ratio of the static pressure drop to the total pressure
Pr essure drop in rotor sec tion
drop in the stage. R 
pressure drop in the stage

By the application of Bernoulli’s equation to the inlet and outlet section of the runner blade,
2 2
p1  p2 V1  V2
= Wnet - ……..(1)
g 2g

Where p1,p2 = pressure at inlet and outlet

V1, V2 = absolute of velocity at Inlet and outlet section

W net = work done by the turbine runner

Thus, if the pressure is constant at the inlet and outlet sections than such a turbine behaves
purely as in impulse turbine. If on the other hand v1= v2 , then

 p  p2 
W net =  1  and this represents purely reaction turbine. Intermediate type of
 g 

turbine described by the degree of reaction.


W 

V12  V22 
 net 
 2g 
R = ……..(2)
 Wnet 
 
 

R =

1 

V12  V22   ……..(3)
 
 2 gWnet 
 Vu1u1
Wnet =
g

R
 
V 2  V22 
= 1  1
 …… (4)

 2Vu1u1 

2.7.2 COMPARISON BETWEEN REACTION AND IMPULSE

TURBINE
Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine

1. All the available hydraulic energy 1. Only a fraction of the available

is converted into kinetic energy by hydraulic energy is converted
into kinetic energy before the
a Nozzle and it is the jet so , fluid enters the runner.

produced which strikes the runner

2. Both pressure and velocity
blades. change as the fluid passes
through the runner, pressure at
2. It is the velocity of jet which changes, inlet is much higher than the
outlet.
the pressure through remaining

atmospheric.

3. Casing is not necessary. Casing has 3. The runner must be in closed

no hydraulic function perform. It only within a water tight casing.

serves as a safe guards.

4. Water is admitted over the entire

4. Water is admitted only in the form of
circumference of the runner.
jets.

5. Water completely fills at the

5. the turbine does not run full and air
 has a free access to the buckets. passage between the blades and

while flowing between inlet and

outlet sections does work on the

blades.

6. The turbine is always installed above 6. The turbine is connected to the

the tail race and there is no draft tube
used. tail race through a draft tube

which is a gradually expanding

passage. It may installed above

or below the tail race.

7. Flow regulations is done by means

Of a needle valve fitted into the
Nozzle.
7. The flow regulation is carried out
by means of a guide vane
assembly , other component parts
are scroll casing, stay ring, runner
and the draft tube.

2.7.3 TYPES OF REACTION TURBINE

Mainly two types of reaction turbine: ( i ) Outward radial flow reaction turbine

(ii) Inward flow reaction turbine.

(i) Outward radial flow reaction turbine. Fig. 2.13 shows outwards radial flow reaction
turbine in which water from casing enters the stationary guide wheel. The guide wheel
consists of guide vanes with direct water to enter the runner which is around the stationary
guide wheel. The water flows through the vanes of the runner in the outward radial direction
and is discharged at the outer diameter of the runner. The inner diameter of the runner is inlet
and outer diameter is the outlet. The velocity triangle at inlet and outlet will be drawn by the
same procedure as adopted for inward flow turbine. The work done by the water on the
runner per second, power output developed and hydraulic efficiency will be obtained from
the velocity triangle. In this case as inlet of the runner is at the inner diameter of the runner,
tangential velocity at inlet will be less than of at outlet

u1 < V2 as D1<D2

Fig. 2.13 Outward radial flow reaction turbine

(ii) Inward flow reaction turbine: Fig 2.14 shows inwards radial flow reaction turbine in
which water from casing enters the ‘Guide Vanes Section’ through the guide vanes water
flows to the runner in the inward radial direction and discharge at the inner diameter of the
runner. The inner diameter of runner is outlet and diameter of runner is inlet.

Fig. 2.14. Outward radial flow reaction turbine.

2.7.4 COMPARISON BETWEEN OUTWARD AND INWARD FLOW

TURBINE
 Outward Flow Turbine Inward Flow Turbine

1. Water enters at the inner periphery and 1. Water enters at the outer periphery
discharges at the outer periphery and discharges at the inner
periphery
2. Flow inward
2. Flow outward 3. Flow rate does not increases
4. Turbine runner V1>V2, because of
3 Flow rate increases
V12-V22 imparted to water as it flow
4. Turbine runner V1<V2, because of
2g through the turbine runner is
V12-V22 imparted to water as it flow
Negative.
2g through the turbine runner is

Positive.
5. Easy to control the speed

6. Good for medium and high heads

5. very difficult to control the speed
and best suitable for large output units.
6. Good for low medium heads

2.7.5 CONSTUCTIONAL DETAILS OF THE FRANCIS TURBINE

The Francis turbine was developed by James B. Francis. It is an inward flow reaction turbine
that combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common turbine
in use today. They operate in a head range of thirty meters to several hundred meters and are
primarily used for electrical power production. The Francis turbine is a reaction turbine,
which means that the working fluid changes pressure as it moves through the turbine, giving
up its energy. A casement is needed to contain the water flow. The inlet is spiral shaped.
Guide vanes direct the water tangentially to the runner. This radial flow acts on the runner
vanes, causing runner to spin. The guide vanes (or wicket gate) may be adjustable to allow
turbine operation for a range of water flow conditions. As the water moves through the runner
its spinning radius decreases, further acting on the runner. Imagine swinging a ball on a string
around in a circle. If the string is pulled short, the ball spins faster. This property helps inward
flow turbines harness water energy. At the exit, water acts on cup shaped runner features,
leaving with no swirl and very little kinetic or potential energy. The turbine‘s exit tube is
specially shaped to help decelerate the water flow and recover kinetic energy. The Francis
turbines may be divided in two groups, the one group with horizontal and the other with
vertical shaft. In practice it is normal that turbines with comparatively small dimensions are
arranged with vertical shaft. The vertical arrangement is normally used also for small
dimensions if the tail race water level is above the turbine centre.

(a)
(b)

Fig. 2. 15. Francis Turbine

Components parts:

 Penstock. It is a large sized conduit which conveys water from the upstream of the
dam to the turbine runner. Trash rack is provided at inlet of the penstock in order to
obstruct the entry of debris and other foreign matter.
 Scroll Casing. The water from the penstock is conducted through the scroll casing
and distributed around the stay ring and the complete circumference of the guide vane
cascade. The decrease in area is in proportion to the decreasing volume of water to be
handled and that ensure velocity of water is constant along its path. The scroll casings
are normally welded steel plate construction for turbine at low, medium as well as
high heads. The stay vanes are given a favourable hydraulic shape to conduct the
 water towards the guide vanes with minimum losses. The stay vanes also carry the
axial forces inside the scroll casing. The scroll casing is provided with taps for
pressure measurements, drain, air vent outlets and a manhole.
 Guide Vanes . A series of air foil shaped vanes, called the guide vanes or wicket
gates, are arranged inside the casing to form a number of flow passages between the
casing and the runner blades. The vanes are shaped according to hydraulic design
specification and given a smooth surface finish. The bearings of the guide vane shafts
are lubricated with oil or grease. The guide vanes direct the water onto the runner at
an angle appropriate to the design. It provides the degree of adaptability to the
quantity of water to be admitted to the runner in the wake of load variations
 Runner and Runner Blades. Runner is a rotor which has passages formed between
crown and shroud in one direction and two consecutive blades on the other. These
passages take water in at the outer periphery in the radially inward direction and
discharge it in a direction parallel to the axis of rotor. The driving force on the runner
is both due to impulse and reaction effects. It may either be of cast steel or a welded
construction where hot pressed plate blades are welded to the cast hub and ring. In
most cases the runner is made of stainless steel.The water flow through the labyrinth
seals is a leakage flow and is not utilized by the runner. On high head turbines the
leakage water is normally utilized as cooling water for the generator, transformers
and bearings.

Fig. 2.16. Francis Runner

 Draft Tube. The draft tube forms the water conduit from the runner to the draft outlet.
It consists of the draft tube cone and the draft tube steel plate lining. It consists of the
draft tube cone and the draft tube steel plate lining. The aim of the draft tube is also to
convert the main part of the kinetic energy at the runner outlet to pressure energy at