Hydraulic Turbine

• Hydraulic turbine: the hydraulic machines which converts hydraulic energy to mechanical energy are known as
turbine. On the other hand, a hydraulic machine which convert mechanical energy into hydraulic energy is called
pump. A hydraulic turbine consists of wheel call runner having a number of evenly placed/ spaced vanes (blades or
buckets) on its periphery.
• Classification of hydraulic turbine:
i. According to the types of energy available at the inlet:
a. Impulse turbine. Example- Pelton turbine, Banki turbineand Jonval turbine.
b. Reaction turbine. Example-
ii. According to the direction of flow through runner:
a. Tangential flow turbine. Example: Pelton turbine
b. Radial flow turbine. Example: Old Francis turbine, Thompson turbine.
c. Axial flow turbine. Example: Propeller turbine, Kaplan turbine.
d. Mix flow turbine. It is the combination of tangential flow turbine and axial flow turbine.
Example: Modern Francis turbine
iii. According to head available at the inlet of turbine:
a. High head turbine: the hydraulic turbines are capable of working very high head more
than 250m. Example: Propeller turbine.
b. Medium head turbine: the hydraulic turbines are capable of working under medium head
range in 60 m- 250m. Example: Modern Francis turbine
c. Low head turbine: the hydraulic turbines are capable of working under height of less
than 60 m. Example: Propeller turbine, Kaplan turbine
iv. According to specific speed of turbine:
a. Low specific speed turbine: speed range 8.5- 50 rpm. Example: Palton wheel with
double jet.
b. Medium specific speed turbine: speed range 50- 255rpm. Example: Francis turbine
v. According to name of originator:
a. Pelton turbine: This kind of turbines are operated high head, low discharge, low
specific speed.
b. Francis turbine: This kind of turbines are operated medium head and medium discharge
and medium specific speed. It is known as a reaction turbine but modern Francis
turbines are made of mix flow turbine.
c. Kaplan turbine: It is a axial flow reaction turbine and operated low head high discharge
type of turbine.
vi. According to the turbine shaft orientation:
a. Horizontal shaft turbine. E.g.: Pelton turbine.
b. Vertical shaft turbine. E.g.: Kaplan turbine.
• Essential components of a hydro-electric power plant:
i. Dam.
ii. Penstock.
iii. Turbine.
iv. Tail race.
v. Forebay.
vi. Surge tank.
vii. Runner.
viii. Turbine blade.
• Important terms of hydroelectric turbine:
a. Gross head( Hg)
4flv2
b. Net head(H)=Hg-hf (hf= where f= frictional loss, l= length of pipe, v=velocity of fluid
2gD
D= diameter of pipe)

runner power
Hydraulic efficiency of turbine (𝜂ℎ )= water power

shaft power shaft power

Mechanical efficiency (𝜂)=runner power overall efficiency=water power