Study of performance characteristics of Pelton turbine

Aim:
To study performance characteristics of Pelton turbine

Apparatus reqd.:
1) Pelton turbine with water supply pump set and rope brake type
dynamometer
2) Flow measuring unit – Orifice meter and pressure gauge
3) Piping system
4) Storage tank
5) Hand held tachometer

Theory:
Hydraulic turbines are defined as those machines which convert hydraulic energy
into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is used in running an electric
generator which is directly coupled to the shaft of the turbine.
Pelton wheel is a tangential flow impulse turbine. This turbine is used for higher
heads. Figure shows schematic layout of a Pelton wheel. A Pelton wheel
consists of four major components:
Nozzle and flow regulating arrangement (spear)
Runner and buckets
Casing and
Breaking jet

Nozzle and flow regulating arrangement (spear):

The amount of water striking the buckets of the runner is controlled by providing
a spear in the nozzle as shown in the fig. A spear is a conical needle which is
operated either by a hand wheel or automatically in an axial direction. When the
spear is pushed forward the amount of water is reduced and viceversa.

Runner with buckets:

It consists of a circular disc on the periphery of which a number of buckets evenly
spaced are fixed. The shape of the buckets is of a double hemispherical cup or
bowl. Each bucket is divided into two symmetrical parts by a dividing wall which
is known as splitter. The splitter divides the jet into two equal parts and the jet
comes out at the outer edge of the bucket. The buckets are shaped in such a
way that the jet gets deflected through 160 0 or 1700.
Casing:
Casing prevents splashing of the water and discharges it to tail race.

Breaking jet:
When the nozzle is completely closed there would not be any discharge from the
nozzle. However, the runner continues to rotate because of inertia. In order to
stop the runner in a shorter period, a small nozzle is provided to direct the jet of
water on the back of vanes. This jet is called the breaking jet.

Casing

Vane
(Bucket)
Runner

Spear
Nozzle

Procedure:
1) Ensure the turbine is not loaded by moving the spear to the closed
position
2) Prime the pump and start it with closed gate valve
3) Slowly open the gate valve situated above the turbine and set the
pressure head to the required level (4m) by monitoring the pressure
gauge.
4) Slowly open the turbine spear by rotating the hand wheel until turbine
attains the required speed.
5) Allow the turbine to stabilize by running it in this condition for about 30
minutes.
6) After stabilizing slowly load the turbine using dead weights in steps of 5kg
and open the spear at the same time for attaining its normal speed and
note down the readings.
 7) After each load settings, note down the supply head pressure gauge
readings, discharge manometer readings, turbine shaft speed, brake
weight and spring balance readings and tabulate as shown.
8) Calculate the input supply to the turbine and output from the turbine and
the turbine efficiency for each setting using the necessary formulae as
mentioned.
9) After the completion of one set of readings, repeat the steps 6-8 by
unloading the turbine in steps of 5kg.
10) Calculate the efficiency values in each case.
11)Plot the efficiency v/s load graph to study performance characteristic of
the given turbine.

Equipment specifications:

Turbine:
Rated supply head 45m
Discharge 630lpm
Normal speed 1000rpm
Power ouput 3.7kW
Jet diameter 22mm
PCD 260mm
Jet ratio 12
No. of buckets 18
Brake drum diameter, D 300mm
Rope brake diameter, t 15mm
Mass of rope, m 1 kg

Supply pumpset:
Brand/Model CRI/ 15 H4
Rated head 45m
Discharge 630lpm
Normal speed 2880 rpm
Power required 15hp
Size 65mmx65mm
Type Centrifugal, single and suction volute

Flow measuring unit:

Inlet dia of orifice 65mm
Diameter ratio 0.6708
Area ratio 0.45
Diameter of orifice plate 43.602
Manometer type Double column
Orifice meter constant, K 4.4414 x 10-3 m5/2/s
Calculations:
 Effective brake drum radius, Re = D/2 +t = 0.165m
 Input total head, H = Pressure gauge reading, P (kg/cm 2) x 10 m of water
 Orifice meter head,
h = (p1 – p2) x 10 m of water (if pressure gauges are used)
h = (h1 – h2) x 13.6 m of water (if Hg U-tube manometer is used)
 Discharge, Q = K √h m3/s
 Input power, IP = γ x Q x H kW , where γ = 9.81kN/m
 Brake drum net load, W = W1 + m – W2 kg, where,
W1 = Dead balance weight in kg
W2 = Spring balance reading in kg
 Turbine output, OP = 2πNWRe x 9.81 / 60000 kW
 Efficiency, η = OP/IP x 100 %

Conclusion:
ManometerOrifice pr. Orificemeter Spring Net
Discharge reading Speed Output Input Efficiency
reading gauge/ head balance load

p1/h1 p2/h2 p/h h Q W1 W2 W N OP IP η

kg/cm2 m m3/s kg rpm kW %

 Pressure
gauge

kg/cm2
P
reading
Sl. No.

Hydraulic turbines are classified based on the type of energy available at the
inlet, direction of flow, head at the inlet and specific speed. These types, with
brief description are given below:
Type of energy at inlet:
Impulse turbine – The energy available at the turbine inlet is only kinetic energy.
Reaction turbine - The energy available at the turbine inlet has both kinetic as
well as pressure energy.
Direction of flow:
Tangential flow – Water flows along the tangent to the runner
Radial flow – Water flows in the radial direction through the runner
Axial flow – Water flow is along the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of
runner
Mixed flow – Water enters in the radial direction but leaves in the axial direction.
Head at the inlet:
High head, medium head and low head
Specific speed of the turbine:
Low specific speed, medium specific speed and high specific speed