American University of Beirut

MECH 410L- Thermal and Fluid System Lab

Experiment 3: Pelton wheel

Section 6: Friday at 8:00 am

Done by: Ahmad El Haj (ID:202001178)

Date of Submission: October 7, 2021

CALCULATIONS:
Question 1:

A- Inlet Head:
𝑃1 0.4×105
H1= = = 4.08 m
𝜌𝑔 1000×9.81

𝑃2 1×105
H2= = = 10.19 m
𝜌𝑔 1000×9.81

B- Flow Rate: Convert from m3/h to m3/s by dividing by 3600

Q1= 1.48/3600= 4.11*10-4 m3/s
Q2= 0.6/3600= 1.66 *10-4 m3/s

C- Incident Velocity:

V1= √2𝑔𝐻1 = √2(9.81)(4.08)= 8.947 m/s

V2= √2𝑔𝐻2 = √2(9.81)(10.19)= 14.139 m/s

D- Pelton wheel Velocity at the Outer Radius:

➔Calculation is done at zero weight.
𝑅𝑃𝑀×2𝜋 1241×2𝜋
U1= 𝜔 × 𝑅= × 𝑅= × 50 × 10−3 = 6.497 m/s
60 60
1825×2𝜋
U2= × 50 × 10−3 = 9.55 m/s
60

E- Torque:
Torque can be calculated using the following equation:

𝜏 = 𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 × 𝑅𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 = (𝐹𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝐹𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 ) × 𝑅𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦

➔Sample calculation for P1=0.4 bar, RPM=844
➔𝜏 = (750 − 300) × 10−3 × 9.81 × 30 × 10−3 = 0.132435 N.m
 F- Power Output:
➔ It can be calculated using the following expression:
𝜏 × 𝑅𝑃𝑀 × 2𝜋
𝑊 =𝜏×𝜔 =
60
Sample calculation for P1=0.4 bar, RPM=844.
0.132435×844×2𝜋
𝑊= =11.7 Watt
60

G- Efficiency:
𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝜂= =
𝑊𝑖𝑛 𝑃×𝑄
➔Sample calculation for P1-0.4 bar, RPM=844.
𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 11.7
𝜂= = = = 0.711
𝑊𝑖𝑛 𝑃×𝑄 0.4×105 ×4.11×10−4

Question 2:

Torque vs RPM
0.35

0.3

0.25
Torque (N.m)

0.2

0.15 P1=0.4 bar

P2=1 bar
0.1

0.05

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
RPM
 Output Power vs RPM
16
14
12
10
Output Power (Watt)

8
P1=0.4 bar
6
P2=1 bar
4
2
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
RPM

Efficiency vs RPM
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
Efficiency

0.5
0.4 P1=0.4 bar
0.3 P2=1 bar
0.2
0.1
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
RPM

Question 3:
 Torque vs U/V
0.35

0.3

0.25
Torque

0.2

0.15 P1=0.4 bar

0.1 P2=1 bar

0.05

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
U/V

➔The table below shows all the calculations needed for the calculation section:

P1=0.4 P1=0.4 P1=0.4 P1=0.4 P1=0.4 P2=1

bar bar P1=0.4 bar bar bar bar P2=1 bar bar P2=1 bar P2=1 bar P2=1 bar P2=1 bar
rot. V Torque rot.v Torque
(rad/s) RPM (N.m) W n U (m/s) (rad/s) RPM (N.m) W n U (m/s)
129.95722 1241 0 0 0 6.4978608 191.11355 1825 0 0 0 9.555678
107.54719 1027 0.0632745 6.804995 0.4139291 5.3773594 150.37757 1436 0.0632745 9.515065 0.570927 7.518878
104.19616 995 0.0809325 8.432855 0.5129474 5.2098078 137.39232 1312 0.0809325 11.1195 0.667197 6.869616
99.588487 951 0.0985905 9.818479 0.5972311 4.9794244 134.87904 1288 0.103005 13.89322 0.833626 6.743952
88.383473 844 0.132435 11.70507 0.7119869 4.4191737 97.494092 931 0.1368495 13.34202 0.800553 4.874705
81.26253 776 0.1495044 12.14911 0.7389967 4.0631265 79.901173 763 0.153036 12.22776 0.733695 3.995059
71.104714 679 0.1662795 11.82326 0.7191762 3.5552357 63.041293 602 0.1692225 10.66801 0.640106 3.152065
69.219758 661 0.1809945 12.5284 0.7620679 3.4609879 49.218285 470 0.182466 8.980664 0.538861 2.460914
49.532444 473 0.211896 10.49573 0.6384262 2.4766222 22.410028 214 0.214839 4.814548 0.288884 1.120501
43.458698 415 0.2280825 9.912169 0.60293 2.1729349 9.2153385 88 0.220725 2.034056 0.122048 0.460767
30.892328 295 0.2398545 7.409664 0.4507095 1.5446164 0 0 0.220725 0 0 0
26.808257 256 0.2545695 6.824565 0.4151195 1.3404129
10.576695 101 0.2869425 3.034903 0.1846048 0.5288348
6.7020643 64 0.2987145 2.002004 0.1217764 0.3351032
0 0 0.2943 0 0 0
Questions:
1-Explain the significance of the dimensionless number U/V1. Derive the functional
dependence of the torque generated by Pelton wheel on U/V1.

➔ The dimensionless number U/V is the ratio of the Pelton wheel speed to the jet speed. Thus, it
represents how much of the jet speed is converted into Pelton wheel speed. Therefore, it represents
the efficiency of transmission of speed from the jet to the Pelton wheel.
➔𝜂 = 2(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽)(𝜑)(1 − 𝜑) where 𝜑 = 𝑈/𝑉 Equation 1
And 𝜂 = (𝜏 × 𝑅𝑃𝑀 × 2𝜋)/(60 × 𝑃𝑄) Equation 2
Solve for 𝜏 after equating equation 1 and 2, we get:
𝑈 𝑈
60𝑃𝑄(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽) (𝑉 ) (1 − 𝑉 )
𝜏=
𝜋 × 𝑅𝑃𝑀

2- Plot the experimentally derived and theoretical (from question 1) torque and power versus
U/V1.
Take 𝛽= 150.

Torque vs U/V
0.35
0.3
0.25
Torque (N.m)

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
U/V

P=0.4 bar exp P= 0.4 bar theo

 Torque vs U/V
0.25

0.2

0.15
Torque

0.1

0.05

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
U/V

P=1 bar exp P=1bar theor

Power vs U/V
18
16
14
Power (Watt)

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
U/V

P= 0.4 bar exp P= 0.4 bar theo

 Power vs U/V
18
16
14
12
Power W

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
U/V

P=1 bar exp P=1bar theor

3-What does the theoretical analysis of question 2 tell us about how (in terms of load and
speed) to operate the Pelton wheel if we want to maximize power? And efficiency?
➔ According to the plots of question 2, the power increases with the increase of the ratio U/V
until it reaches a maximum at U/V equal 0.5 for both pressures (for theoretical results), and 0.47
for both pressures (for experimental results). Therefore, it is recommended to use these ratios to
maximize the power and efficiency.

4-Pelton wheels are devices used to convert hydraulic power to electrical power. Assuming
that a similar Pelton wheel was installed on a river with water velocity equal to that found in
the experiment. Moreover, assuming that the flow in the river channel is friction-less.
Calculate the hydraulic power of the river, and the output power of the Pelton wheel. Assume
an electric efficiency of the electric generator to be 90%.
➔ Using Bernoulli’s equation: 𝜌𝑔𝐻 = (0.5)𝜌𝑉 2
➔ The pressure P=(0.5)𝜌𝑉 2
➔P1 = 40024.4045 Pa, P2 =99955.6605 Pa
Therefore, the hydraulic power of the river is:
P1-Hydraulic= 40024.4045Q1
P2-Hydraulic=99955.6605Q2
Poutput-1=𝜂𝑃𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑛 × P1 − Hydraulic
Poutput-2=𝜂𝑃𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑛 × P2 − Hydraulic
➔ Take the maximum Pelton efficiency to be 0.7620679 for P1=0.4 bar, and 0.833626 for P2=1
bar.
➔ Poutput-1=𝜂𝑃𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑛 × P1 − Hydraulic = 0.7620679*40024.4045Q1=30501.31389Q1 watt.
➔ Poutput-2=𝜂𝑃𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑛 × P2 − Hydraulic = 0.833626*99955.6605Q2= 83325.63744Q2 watt.

5-. A village that needs 10 MW of electric power is to be provided with electricity from a
Pelton wheel construction. Estimate the flow of a river that may provide power to this village.
You may refer to question 4.
➔ Pelectric-1 =0.9*30501.31389Q1= 27451.1825Q1 watt
➔ Pelectric-2 =0.9*83325.63744Q2= 74993.0737Q2 watt

10×106
➔Q1=27451.1825 =364.283 m3/s
10×106
➔ Q1=74993.0737 =133.3456 m3/s

6-Based on your observations in questions 4 and 5, is it effective to use the Pelton Wheel to
generate electricity?

We need a very high flow rate to generate 10MW of electric power assuming 90% efficiency.
Amazon River has the greatest water flow in the world, according to some resources. Amazon
discharges about 200,000 m^3/s into the Atlantic Ocean.
➔P = (0.5) ρV2 = 1881.8 𝑃𝑎
➔𝑃river = 1881.8 𝑄 = 376.36 𝑀w

Nile river, for example, discharges about 3000 m^3/s and using the same process we end up with
a power generation approximately 4000 w which is much lower than what we need.
Therefore, the use of Pelton wheel is very effective in rivers having high flow rate.

N.B: Calculation in this part is not accurate and it is just used as approximation
Appendix:

Torque Torque Power

experimentally Theoretically experimentally Power Theoretically
U/V P=0.4 bar exp P= 0.4 bar theo P= 0.4 bar exp P= 0.4 bar theo
0.726261 0 0.093859417 0 12.1977085
0.601024 0.0632745 0.136800874 6.804994579 14.71254937
0.582297 0.0809325 0.143222026 8.432855423 14.92318465
0.556547 0.0985905 0.152051111 9.818478739 15.14254011
0.493928 0.132435 0.17352184 11.70506529 15.33646288
0.454133 0.1495044 0.187166789 12.14910579 15.20964677
0.397366 0.1662795 0.206630907 11.82325625 14.6924315
0.386832 0.1809945 0.210242805 12.52839551 14.55295614
0.27681 0.211896 0.247967076 10.49572679 12.28241536
0.242867 0.2280825 0.259605415 9.912168572 11.28211343
0.172641 0.2398545 0.283684737 7.409663829 8.76368187
0.149817 0.2545695 0.291510516 6.824564659 7.814888932
0.059107 0.2869425 0.322612974 3.034903382 3.412179112
0.037454 0.2987145 0.330037431 2.002003795 2.211932095
0 0.2943 0 0

Torque Torque Power Power

experimentally Theoretically experimentally Theoretically
P=1bar
U/V P=1 bar exp theor P=1 bar exp P=1bar theor
0.675838 0 0.071017986 0 13.57249954
0.531783 0.0632745 0.102577926 9.515065449 15.42541902
0.485863 0.0809325 0.112638164 11.11950383 15.47561847
0.476975 0.103005 0.114585306 13.89321599 15.45515665
0.34477 0.1368495 0.143549056 13.34201775 13.99518488
0.282556 0.153036 0.157179056 12.22775594 12.55879096
0.222934 0.1692225 0.170241139 10.66800513 10.73222146
0.174052 0.182466 0.180950425 8.980663574 8.906069556
0.079249 0.214839 0.201719948 4.814547919 4.520549607
0.032588 0.220725 0.211942448 2.034055579 1.953121392
0 0.220725 0 0