Indian Institute of Technology Patna

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME – 314 Applied Thermodynamics

(Lab)
Lab Report 1
Pelton Turbine Test Rig

Submitted by:-
Madhu sri kiran Batchu
1901me15
1. Objective:
To obtain the performance characteristic curves for the given flow
turbine.
2. Experimental setup:
Computer controlled axial flow turbine (Edibon made), computer for
aquiring data

3. Experimental Procedure:
1. Switch on the computer and run the TFAC interface software.
2. Select the number of nozzles.
3. For constant head readings, set the speed of the pump corresponding
to a head for which the experiment is to be conducted.
 4. Vary the load on the turbine by operating the screw of the belt
dynamometer from 0 to 8 N.
5. Average the acquired data corresponding to each value of the load.
Save the result table for further analysis and plotting of the curves.
6. Similarly, for constant speed readings, the turbine speed is set
constant say 1500 rpm. The turbine speed adjustment can be done
by varying the speed of the pump for a given load.
4. Results and Discussion:
Questions:
1. Draw and discuss the main characteristics curves
i) Qu vs Nu
Qu vs Nu
25

20

15
Qu

10

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Nu

ii) Pu vs Nu

Power vs N
25

20

15
Pu

10

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Nu

iii) η vs Nu
 n vs Nu
100
90
80
70
efficiency 60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Nu

2. Draw and discuss the operating characteristics curves

i) Po vs Q
Po vs Q
12
10
8
6
P

4
2
0
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Q

ii) η o vs Q
no vs Q
60

50

40

30
n

20

10

0
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Q

iii) η o vs Po
 no vs P
60

50

40

30
n

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
P

3. Find out the average efficiency of the Pelton turbine.

Constant Head = 21.84% Constant Speed = 19.237%

4. Find out the specific speeds (based on one reading only) for both the
cases of experiments.
Constant Head = 341.58 rpm Constant Speed = 244.96 rpm
5. Write the advantages and disadvantages of using sensors (present
experiment) in comparison to direct measurements as made in previous
experiments.
It reads the errors for every vibration caused in experiment
6. Comments and Suggestions:
 The Discharge rate is constant.
 We can see the Power Output and Efficiency first increase and
then decrease this is due to Power is dependent on both torque
and runner speed, while efficiency is proportional to power.
 Sensors causes fluctuations in the plot.
 Due to fluctuations the plots are different from given in manual.