THE PELTON TURBINE

Special Instructions On the Pelton Turbine

In order to ensure that the nozzle manifold does not “calcify” and sets in one position, it
should be taken out and cleaned at least once a year, removing also calcium deposts also from
the jet housing. Before reinstalling put some light machine grease on the O ring.

Optimizing the turbine

The jet is aligned at the factory for optimal operation but it may be necessary to reaadjust it
whenever a jet is changed and after student’s experimentation.
Operate the turbine at a fixed speed against a fixed load. Loosen the four screws on the
quadrant holding the jet manifold,

Adjust the manifold until the highest volts reading is obtained. Carefully tighten all the
screws

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Operation of the Pelton Turbine

U = -20 km/hr V = 20 km/hr

Let us consider a tennis racquet which strikes a tennis ball with mass m travelling towards it
at a velocity u = -20km/hr (Taking right to left as positive). If the coefficient of elasticity is
unity and the tennis racquet is moving at v = +20km/hr, then the final velocity will be +20 +
40 = 60km/hr governed by the formula:

vfinal = -u +2v

This formula holds for all velocity and magnitudes

The final energy of the ball is of course ½ mv2

Consider some situations:

The racquet is stationary

v =0 and vfinal = -u
The final velocity has the same magnitude as the initial one but the direction has
reversed.
The energy has not changed

Both ball and racquet move in the same direction and the ball overtakes the racquet
Both u and v are negative and the formula vfinal (-u +2v) is the sum of a +ve number
(-u) and a –ve number 2v. Its final velocity is therefore less than the original one and
its energy is therefore reduced.

If v = ½ u then vfinal = 0 (You have probably seen tennis players stopping the ball
dead at the net and let it drop dead over the net)

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Let us see how this affects the motion of a Pelton turbine. (Take friction as being negligible)

The drawing above shows the jet of water hitting the edge of an hemispherical vane of a
turbine and being turned back.

If the vane does not move the only energy lost it that of friction as its velocity has not
changed.

As with the racquet-ball example, if the vane moves towards the jet, the water will gain
speed.

If the jet overtakes the vane which is moving away from it, it will lose speed.

If the vane (racquet) moves at half the speed of the jet (ball), then the jet loses all its speed
and just drips out from the vane.

Since total energy remains constant, the kinetic energy lost by the water is transferred in total
to the rotating energy of the turbine. By adjusting the speed of the jet to twice that of the
rotating vane, almost all the energy of the water jet can be converted to useful energy.

The striking of the vane on its edge and reversing the full flow could be taken tp resemble the
classic elastic collision while striking the vane in the centre, with the water splashing every
which way, resembles inelastic collision.

There are many anecdotes telling how Pelton discovered this, but the one we like best is he
developed it from observing the breath from cows’ nostrils hitting the water while drinking.
Others say that he mistakenly misaligned a standard water wheel and amazingly saw it speed
up, and many others.

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Before proceeding with the experimental section the relative theory should be discussed with
special reference to:

Revision of Bernulli’s equation

Bernulli’s equation tells us that energy is conserved

Energy per Unit volume is conserved

p +½ρVU2 + ρgz = constant

Using Hydrostatic pressure

H + 1 U2 +z = constant
2g
density is ρ, volume is V and velocity of U

The relationship between static pressure and static head

Relationship between energy and power and how the rate of flow of energy is related to the
transmitted power

Energy:
Units: 1 Joule (J) = 1Nm = 1kgm2/s2
Potential Energy mgz (m = ρV)

The kinetic energy of a fluid whose density is ρ, volume is V and a velocity of U is given
by:

Ek = ½ρVU2
The Pressure energy in a volume of fluid V at pressure p is given by

Ep = pV

Power
Power is the rate of change of energy, either the rate of conversion of energy or the rate at
which energy passes through a certain surface or volume

Units: watts (W) 1W = 1J/s = 1Nm/s = 1kgm2/s3

Flow of kinetic energy ½ mU2 = ½ ρQU2 = ½ρAU3
Flow of Pressure Energy ρQ

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Hydrostatic Pressure
p = ρgH

where H is the head of the column or static head

Hydraulic Power

This makes use of hydrostatic pressure and flow energy, hence

Hp = pQ = ρgHQ

Efficiency
η = Power Input
Power Output

Pelton Turbine Ppt output

Ppt = ρg HQ η

Pptin kW when: Q is in m3/sec - H is in m - g is 9.81 m/s2

Idling Speed is reached when the angular velocity of the wheel is equal to that of the liquid
through the jet.

Maximum torque is reached when the velocity of the wheel is 45% of the jet velocity.

A useful conversion of Torque into output power for an electric generator is

kW = n Torque
9550

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EXPERIMENTS

The Pelton Turbine is fed by a virtual head created by Pump P1 in conjunction with valves
V1 and V2. The head is indicated on Gauge G1.

The variable speed drive allows the experimenter to vary the flow at will and most
parameters can be changed and the performance examined.

Loading of the turbine is effected by introducing a variable resistive load on the output of the
generator connected to the Pelton wheel.

The jet is positioned at the most effective angle allowing the jet to strike the paddles exactly
in the middle of the two sides. In this position a 100V output will be detected at zero loading.

To show the considerable loss of power with imperfect impact direction

Open V1 – Close V2 and start the pump – Load setting zero – Note the Amps Volts and RPM
Loosen the four screws holding the jet and ligthly push the rubber hose leading to the jet. and
note the immediate drop in RPM and output. Realign the Jet for maximum output and lightly
tighten the screws.

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 To show the effect of the size of the jet

A second jet is supplied with the unit.

Run the pump and register at any suitable setting and complete the first line of the table
below.

(a) Do not use

tools – hand
tighten only

Unscrew by one or two turns the flange (a) leaving the

valve housing and piping hanging loose.

Unscrew the four quadrant screws on the jet holding

ring. This will leave the jet housing to come free by
swinging the piping as shown . Pull G1 at the
same time to avoid straining at the joints. Change
the jet and adjust the head to the same value as for the
fist jet. Adjust the jet direction for best output. Do not
change the value of the load and note the effect on the
Amps and Volts.

Jet Size Head Turbine RPM Load Amps Volts

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Turbine Loading Characteristics

Open V1 – Close V2, V3 and V4 – Run the pump at its rated speed. Note that the head
generated is 37m which is the rated turbine head.
Complete the table below:

Head Load set RPM Volts Amps VA

3.5 0 4563 99 0 0
1 929 20.2 1.27 25.6
2 1420 30.8 1.17 36
3 2200 47.8 0..93 44.4
4 2268 49.3 0.91 44.8
5 2910 64.6 0.61 39.4
6 3256 70 0.49 34.3
3.7 0 4770 103 0 0
1 1120 24.4 1.4 34.16
2 1540 33.4 1.27 42.18
3 2355 51.4 1 51.4
4 2430 52.9 0,98 51.84
5 3202 69.4 0.66 45.8
6 3576 77.6 0.5 38.8
2.0 0 3370 73.2 0 0
1 615 13.4 0.78 10.45
2 885 19.3 0.75 14.47
3 1406 30.4 0.61 18.54
4 1450 31.5 0.6 18.9
5 2095 45 0.45 20.25
6 2380 51.8 0.35 18.13
VA

50

40

30

20

10

1000 2000 3000 4000 RPM

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42