Impulse and Reaction Turbines Explained

Turbines
Intended Learning Outcome

1. Differentiate impulse and reaction turbines in terms
of construction, operation, and function;
2. Enumerate the different types of impulse and
reaction turbines,
3. Solve problems related to impulse and reaction
turbines.
Hydroelectric Energy
• Water-driven turbines are used
primarily for the development of
hydroelectric energy.
• Turbines extract energy from flowing
water and convert it to mechanical
energy to drive electric generators.
• In the United States about 15% of the
electric energy is derived from
hydropower, though in some
countries, such as Norway and Brazil,
over 70% of the electric energy is
developed at hydroelectric plants.
Components of Hydroelectric Power Plant
Reservoir
Stores the water coming from the upper
river or water falls.
Head water
Water in the reservoir
Spillway
Weir in the reservoir which discharges
excess water so that the head of the
plant will be maintained.
Dam
The concrete structure that encloses the
reservoir
Silt sluice
A chamber which collects the mud and
through which the mud is discharged.
Valve
Device that opens or closes the
entrance of the water into the penstock.
Trash Rack
A screen which prevents the leave,
branches and other water contaminants
to enter into the penstock.
Penstock
The channel that leads the water from
the reservoir to the turbine.
Surge chamber
A standpipe connected to the
atmosphere and attached to the
penstock so that the water will be at
atmospheric pressure.
Generator
A device that converts the mechanical
energy of the turbine into electrical
energy.
Hydraulic turbine
A device that converts the energy of
water into mechanical energy.
Tail Race
A channel which leads the water from
the turbine to the tail water.
Tail water
The water that is discharged from the
turbine.
Draft tube
Device that connects the turbine outlet
to the tail water so that the turbine can
be set above the tailwater level.
Tail Race
A channel which leads the water from
the turbine to the tail water.
Tail water
The water that is discharged from the
turbine.
Draft tube
Device that connects the turbine outlet
to the tail water so that the turbine can
be set above the tailwater level.
Performance of Hydroelectric Power Plant
Gross head
The difference between headwater and tailwater
elevations.
hg = hhw − htw
Friction head loss
Head Loss due to frictional disturbances set up by
the moving fluid and its containing conduit.
Darcy’s equation:
fLV 2
hf =
2gD
Morse equation:
2fLV 2
hf =
gD
Where: hf = friction head, L = total length, D = inside
diameter, f = coefficient of friction.
Performance of Hydroelectric Power Plant
Net head
Difference between the gross head and the
friction head loss.
hnet = hg − hf
Penstock efficiency
Ratio of net head to the gross head
hnet
ηpen =
hg
Volume flow rate of water
Q = AV
Water Power
Wwater = ρgQhnet
Hydraulic Turbine
There are two basic types of hydraulic turbines.
• In the impulse turbine a free jet of water impinges on the
revolving element of the machine, which is exposed to
• In a reaction turbine, flow takes place under pressure in a closed
chamber.
• Although the energy delivered to an impulse turbine is all kinetic,
while the reaction turbine utilizes pressure energy as well as
kinetic energy, the action of both turbines depends on a change
in the momentum of the water so that a dynamic force is exerted
on the rotating element, or runner.
Impulse or Velocity Turbines
• In the case of impulse turbine, all the
available potential energy or head is
converted into kinetic energy or velocity
head by passing it through a contracting
nozzle or by guide vanes before it
strikes the buckets of the turbine.
• The wheel revolves free in air and water
is in contact with only a part of the wheel
at a time.
• The pressure of water all long is
atmospheric.
• In order to prevent splashing and to
guide the water discharged from the
bucket to the tail race, a casing is
provided.
Characteristics of Impulse Turbine
• The wheel passages are not completely
filled.
• The water acting on the wheel vanes is
under atmospheric pressure.
• The water is supplied at a few points at
the periphery of the wheel (usually one
point, occasionally two or more points).
• Energy applied to the wheel is fully
Kinetic.
• An impulse turbine is essentially a low-
speed wheel and is used for relative
high heads.
Examples of Impulse Turbine
• Pelton Wheel turbine
• Turgo-impulse wheel turbine
• Girad turbine
• Banki turbine
• Jonval turbine
Out of these, the Pelton Wheel turbine is predominantly used

at present.
Pelton Wheel Turbine
Turgo-impulse wheel turbine
Girad turbine
Banki turbine
Jonval turbine
Pelton Turbine is a
tangential flow impulse
turbine in which the pressure
energy of water is converted
into kinetic energy to form
high speed water jet and this
jet strikes the wheel
tangentially to make it rotate.
It is also called as Pelton
Wheel.
Parts of Pelton Turbine
Schematic diagram of a Pelton-type impulse turbine; the turbine shaft is turned when high-speed fluid from
one or more jets impinges on buckets mounted to the turbine shaft. (a) Side view, absolute reference frame,
and (b) bottom view of a cross section of bucket n, rotating reference frame.
1. Nozzle and Flow Regulating Arrangement
• The water from source is transferred through
penstock to which end a nozzle is provided.
• Using this nozzle, the high-speed water jet
can be formed.
• To control the water jet from nozzle, a
movable needle spear is arranged inside the
nozzle.
• The spear will move backward and forward in
axial direction.
• When it is moved forward the flow will
reduce or stopped and when it is moved
backward the flow will increase.
2. Runner and Buckets
• A Pelton turbine consists of a runner, which is
a circular disc on the periphery of which a
number of buckets are mounted with equal
spacing between them.
• The buckets mounted are either double
hemispherical or double ellipsoidal shaped.
• A dividing wall called splitter is provided for
each bucket which separates the bucket into
two equal parts.
• The buckets are generally made of cast iron or
stainless steel or bronze depending upon the
head of inlet of Pelton turbine.
3. Casing
• The whole arrangement of runner and
buckets, inlet and braking jets are
covered by the Casing.
• Casing of Pelton turbine does not
perform any hydraulic actions but
prevents the splashing of water while
working and also helps the water to
discharge to the tail race.
4. Braking Jet
Braking Jet
• Braking jet is used to stop the running wheel

when it is not working.
• This situation arises when the nozzle inlet is
closed with the help of spear then the water jet
is stopped on the buckets.
• But due to inertia, the runner will not stop
revolving even after complete closure of inlet
nozzle.
• The brake nozzle directs the jet of water on the
back of buckets to stop the wheel. The jet
directed by brake nozzle is called braking jet.
Working of Pelton Turbine
• The water is transferred from the
high head source through a long
conduit called Penstock.
• Nozzle arrangement at the end of
penstock helps the water to
accelerate and it flows out as a
high speed jet with high velocity
and discharge at atmospheric
pressure.
• The jet will hit the splitter of the
buckets which will distribute the
jet into two halves of bucket and
the wheel starts revolving.
Working of Pelton Turbine
• The kinetic energy of the jet is
reduced when it hits the bucket and
also due to spherical shape of
buckets the directed jet will change
its direction and takes U-turn and
falls into tail race.
• The water collected in tail race
should not submerge the Pelton
wheel in any case.
• To generate more power, two
Pelton wheels can be arranged to a
single shaft or two water jets can be
directed at a time to a single Pelton
wheel.
Design Aspect of Pelton Turbine
• The velocity of jet at inlet is given by
𝐕𝟏 = 𝐂𝐯 𝟐𝐠𝐇
• The velocity of wheel is given by
𝐮 = 𝛗 𝟐𝐠𝐇
• The angle of deflection of jet after striking the bucket is taken as 165
degrees if no deflection angle is given.
• The mean diameter or the pitch diameter D of the Pelton turbine is
given by
𝛑𝐃𝐍
𝐮=
𝟔𝟎
• The jet ratio is defined as the ratio of the pitch diameter (D) of the
Pelton turbine to the diameter of the jet (d)
𝐃
𝐦=
𝐝
Jet ratio lies between 11 to 16 for maximum hydraulic efficiency. In most
cases, it is taken as 12.
• Bucket dimensions are designed in such a way its breadth should be 3

to 4 times of diameter of jet, length should be 2 to 3 times of diameter
of jet and thickness should be 0.8 to 1.2 times the diameter of jet.
• The number of jets is obtained by dividing the total rate of flow through
the turbine by the rate of flow through a single jet. In general, the
number of jets are limited to two in case of vertical runner and six in case
of horizontal runner.
• The number of buckets (z) on a runner is given by
D
Z = 15 +
2d
Where, 𝐶𝑣 = coefficient of velocity = 0.98 or 0.99, H = Net head on turbine, 𝜑 = speed ratio =
0.43 to 0.48, D = pitch diameter, d = diameter of jet (d).
Analysis of Pelton Turbine
The head of impulse turbine,
2
P V
h= +
ρg 2g
The power output of a Pelton wheel turbine by using the Euler
turbomachine equation:
Wሶ shaft = ωTshaft = ρωQ(r2 V2,t − r1 V1,t )

Reaction or Pressure Turbines
• In case of reaction turbine, only a
part of the available potential
energy is converted into velocity
head, at the entrance to the runner
and the balance that forms a
substantial portion remains a pressure
head.
• The pressure at the inlet to the
turbine is much higher than the
pressure at the outlet and it varies
through the passage of water through
the turbine.
• Major part of the power is derived
from the difference in pressure acting
on front and back of runner blades
and only a minor part from the
dynamic action of velocity.
• The water being under pressure, the

entire flow from head race to tail race
takes place in a closed conduit system
and the atmospheric air has no access
to any point.
Characteristics of Reaction
Turbine
• The wheel passages are completely
filled with water.
• The water action on the wheel is
under pressure greater than
atmospheric.
• The water enters all around the
periphery of the wheel.
• The energy in the form of both
pressure and kinetic is utilized by
the wheel.
Examples of Reaction Turbine
• Fourneyron turbine
• Thompson turbine
• Propeller turbine
• Francis turbine
• Kaplan turbine
Out of these, Francis and Kaplan turbines are

predominantly used at present.
Fourneyron Turbine
Thompson Turbine
Propeller Turbine
Francis Turbine
Kaplan Turbine
A reaction turbine differs
significantly from an impulse
turbine; instead of using
water jets, a volute is filled
with swirling water that
drives the runner. For hydro
turbine applications, the axis
is typically vertical. Top and
side views are shown,
including the fixed stay vanes
and adjustable wicket gates.
Francis radial flow Francis mixed flow
Propeller Mixed flow Propeller Axial flow

Francis Turbine
• A combination of both impulse and
reaction turbine, where the blades
rotate using both reaction and
impulse force of water flowing
through them producing electricity
more efficiently.
• Used for the production of electricity
in hydro power stations. There are
two (2) turbines flow patterns on
which they work, namely radial and
axial flow concepts.
The runner of a Francis The runner of a Francis
radial-flow turbine mixed-flow turbine
Components of Francis Turbine
• The main reason of higher efficiency
of Francis turbine lies in the design of
blades, these blades rotate using
both reaction and impulse force of
water flowing through them.
• Due the use of this type of turbines
the main problem faced due to the
water head availability is eliminated as
the turbine uses both the kinetic and
potential energy to produce power.
• For this, it is also known as Mixed
Flow turbine.
Typical setup and terminology for a hydroelectric plant
that utilizes a Francis turbine to generate electricity.
1. Spiral casing
• The inlet medium of water to the
turbine. The water flowing from the
reservoir or dam is made to pass
through this pipe with high
pressure.
• The blades of the turbines are
circularly placed, which mean the
water striking the turbines blades
should flow in the circular axis for
efficient striking.
2. Stay Vanes
• Stay vanes and guide vanes
guides the water to the runner
blades.
• Stay vanes remain stationary at
their position and reduces the
swirling of water due to radial
flow, as it enters the runner
blades.
3. Guide Vanes
• Guide vanes are not stationary, they
change their angle as per the
requirement to control the angle of
striking of water to turbine blades to
increase the efficiency.
• They also regulate the flow rate of
water into the runner blades thus
controlling the power output of a
turbine according to the load on the
turbine.
4. Runner Blades
• The performance and efficiency of the
turbine is dependent on the design of the
runner blades.
• In a Francis turbine, runner blades are
divided into 2 parts. The lower half is
made in the shape of small bucket so that
it uses the impulse action of water to
rotate the turbine.
• The upper part of the blades use the
reaction force of water flowing through it.
These two forces together makes the
runner to rotate.
5. Draft Tube
• The pressure at the exit of the runner of
Reaction Turbine is generally less than
• The water at exit cannot be directly discharged
to the tail race.
• A tube or pipe of gradually increasing area is
used for discharging water from the exit of
turbine to the tail race.
• This tube of increasing area is called Draft
Tube.
• One end of the tube is connected to the outlet
of runner while the other end is sub-merged
below the level of water in the tail-race.
Kaplan Turbine
• Kaplan Turbine works on the principle
of axial flow reaction.
• In axial flow turbines, the water flows
through the runner along the
direction parallel to the axis of
rotation of the runner.
• The water at the inlet of the turbine
possesses both kinetic energy as well
as pressure energy for effective
rotation the blades in a hydro-power
station.
Kaplan Turbine
• It is also called as propeller turbine
and evolved from the Francis
Turbine.
• It is capable of working at low head
and high flow rates very efficiently
which is impossible with Francis
turbine.
Main Components of Kaplan Turbine
1. Scroll Casing
• It is a spiral type of casing that has
decreasing cross section area.
• The water from the penstocks enters the
scroll casing and then moves to the
guide vanes where the water turns
through 90° and flows axially through
the runner.
• It protects the runner, runner blades
guide vanes and other internal parts of
the turbine from an external damage.
2. Guide Vane Mechanism
• It is the only controlling part of the whole
turbine, which opens and closes
depending upon the demand of power
requirement.
• In case of more power output
requirements, it opens wider to allow
more water to hit the blades of the rotor
and when low power output requires it
closes itself to cease the flow of water.
• If guide vanes is absent than the turbine
can not work efficiently and its efficiency
decreases.
3. Draft Tube
• The pressure at the exit of the runner of
Reaction Turbine is generally less than
• The water at exit cannot be directly
discharged to the tail race.
• A tube or pipe of gradually increasing area
is used for discharging water from the exit
of turbine to the tail race.
• This tube of increasing area is called Draft
Tube.
• One end of the tube is connected to the
outlet of runner while the other end is sub-
merged below the level of water in the tail-
race.
4. Runner Blades
• The heart of the component in
kaplan turbine are its runner blades,
as it the rotating part which helps in
production of electricity.
• Its shaft is connected to the shaft of
the generator.
• The blades of the Kaplan turbine has
twist along its length.
The five-bladed propeller of a Kaplan
turbine
Analysis of Impulse Turbine

The ideal power production:
Wሶ ideal = ρgQHgross
Shaft power output:
Wሶ shaft = ωTshaft = bhp = ρωQ(r2 V2,t − r1 V1,t )
Turbine efficiency:
bhp
η=
ρgQH
Runner leading edge:
V2,n
V2,t = ωr2 −
tan β2
Runner trailing edge:
V1,n
V1,t = ωr1 −
tan β1
Analysis of Impulse Turbine

Volume flow rate:
Q = 2πr1 b1 V1,n = 2πr2 b2 V2,n
The head of impulse turbine,

2 2
P V1 − V2
h= + +Z
ρg 2g
Classification of turbines
• Tangential flow turbine
• Radial flow turbine
• Axial flow turbine
• Mixed flow turbine
• In the tangential flow turbine, the water strikes on the run
along the tangent to the part of rotation of the runner, such as
in the Pelton wheel turbine.
• In radial flow turbine, the water flows along the radial
direction and remains in a plane normal to the axis of rotation,
as it passes through the runner.
• The radial flow may be inward (i.e. is water entering the outer
circumference and flowing radially inward) such as in the
Francis turbine, Thomson turbine or Girad turbine.
• The flow may be outward (i.e. water entering at the center and
flow radially outward), such as in Fourneyron turbine or Boyden
turbine.
• In an axial flow turbine or parallel flow turbine, water enters
and leaves the runner along the direction parallel to the axis of
the turbine shaft such as in Jonval turbine, Girad turbine,
Propeller turbine and Kaplan turbine.
• In the mixed flow turbine, water enters the runner at the
outer periphery in the radial direction and leaves it at the
center in the direction parallel to the axis of the shaft such as
the is modern Francis turbine.
Selection of Suitable Type of Turbine
Selection of suitable type of turbine depends on the available
head and the quantity of water required.
On this basis turbines may be classified as follows:

a) Low head turbine.
b) Medium head turbine.
c) High head turbine.
Selection of Suitable Type of Turbine
• Low head turbines are those which are capable of working under
head less and their heads less than 30 m such as Propeller Turbine
and Kaplan turbine. Propeller turbine and Kaplan turbine used large
quantity of water.
• Medium head turbines are capable of working under the heads
ranging from 30 to 150 m. Modern Francis turbine is coming under
this categories.
• High head turbines are those turbines which are capable of
working under very high head ranging from 150 to over 1000
meters. Impulse turbines are high head turbines and require
relatively less quantity of water.

Impulse and Reaction Turbines Explained

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Impulse and Reaction Turbines Explained

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Turbines

Intended Learning Outcome

Out of these, the Pelton Wheel turbine is predominantly used

• Braking jet is used to stop the running wheel

• Bucket dimensions are designed in such a way its breadth should be 3

Wሶ shaft = ωTshaft = ρωQ(r2 V2,t − r1 V1,t )

• The water being under pressure, the

Out of these, Francis and Kaplan turbines are

Propeller Mixed flow Propeller Axial flow

Analysis of Impulse Turbine

Analysis of Impulse Turbine

The head of impulse turbine,

On this basis turbines may be classified as follows:

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