1.

0 INTRODUCTION
A hydro turbine (more specifically, an impulse turbine) known as a Pelton turbine
or Pelton wheel is one that is widely employed in hydroelectric projects. Typically, sites
with heads more than 300 meters use these turbines. Besides, it stated that Lester Pelton
invented this kind of turbine during the 1880s gold rush (G.Boyle, 2004). In a Pelton
turbine, the water is travelling swiftly, and the turbine converts the water's energy into an
impulse by slowing it down. Furthermore, Pelton's paddle shape was created so that
practically all of the water's impulse energy could be collected while the rim ran at half the
speed of the water jet, leaving the wheel with very little speed. This resulted in an extremely
effective turbine.

In addition, the Pelton turbine is often positioned over a water reservoir while it is
being utilized to generate energy. After passing through the penstock, it said that the water
travels to specialized nozzles that pressurize the water before it enters the turbine.
According to the BrightHub Engineering (2015), the penstock is equipped with a surge
tank that absorbs unexpected changes in water that could change the pressure to prevent
abnormalities. This simply means that water generates some impulse on the turbine to
cause it to move rather than moving as a result of a reaction force (G.Boyle, 2004).

Besides, in this experiment there are some useful formulas that needed to find the
values of Flowrate, Q (m3/s), Pw(W), Pm(W), Rotation, 𝜏 (Nm), and Efficiency, 𝜂 (%).
These are the equations:

2π
o Angular velocity, 𝜔 = (𝑟𝑎𝑑⁄𝑠)
60
o Rotation, 𝜏(𝑁𝑚) = 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠
o Mechanical power, 𝑃𝑚(𝑊) = 𝜏 × 𝜔
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
o Flowrate, 𝑄(𝑚3⁄𝑠) =
time
o Water’s power, 𝑃𝑤(𝑊) = 𝜌𝑔𝐻𝑄
𝑃𝑚
o Turbine efficiency= ×100%
𝑃𝑤

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Figure 1.1: Pelton Turbine Machine for Figure 1.2: Real Big Pelton Turbine.
laboratory experiment.

1.2 OBJECTIVE
a) to comprehend the process by which mechanical energy is transformed into electrical
energy and to determine the conversion's efficiency.
b) to ascertain a Pelton turbine's performance parameters at various speeds.

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2.0 METHODOLOGY
Steps and procedure is the most important to know before start any laboratory
experiment to ensure that the experiment to be done is done with the correct steps based on
the procedure described. Moreover, the component parts for the inside of the Pelton
Turbine machine also need to be identified along with their functions so as not to
misunderstand the experiment while conducting it. There are some main components of
Pelton Turbine that need to know such as brake nozzle, buckets, runner, spear, casing, and
nozzle.

As for the brake nozzle, it functions to direct the jet of water on the back of buckets
to stop the wheel and the nozzle transport the water from penstock which used to create a
high-speed water jet. Meanwhile, the buckets and runner rotates and possesses kinetic
energy, with evenly distributed hemispherical or double ellipsoidal buckets around the
runner. For the spear, there will be very little energy loss since the Needle Spear controls
the water flow, travels inside the nozzle, and offers smooth flow. The last one is casing
which is functions to minimize water splashing while operating and aids in water discharge
to the tail race.

Figure 2.0: Diagram of Basic Operating System of the Pelton Turbine

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2.1 APPARATUS

APPARATUS FUNCTION

 Water pressure energy is transformed

into kinetic energy in this apparatus.

 Its purpose is to aid in the formation of a

high-speed water jet, which tangentially
impacts the wheel to cause it to rotate.

Figure 2.1: Pelton Turbine Machine

 To record the time for water reach 5L

Figure 2.2: Stopwatch

 To measure the reading of RPM.

Figure 2.3: Tachometer

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2.2 PROCEDURE

STEPS PICTURE PROVE

1. First, the pump was turned on.

Figure 2.4: Turn on the pump

2. Then, the controller valve was opened

gradually until the pressure gauge
reads 2.

Figure 2.5: Pressure Gauge reaches 2.0 bar.

3. Make sure there are no bubble trapped.

Figure 2.6: Check and correct the bubble.

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4. For the initial phase, the load for W1
and W2 were set up to 0.

Figure 2.7: Adjust W1 and W2 to 0.

5. From the pulley wheel, the belt brake

was disengaged.

Figure 2.8: Disengage the belt brake.

6. After that, a tachometer was used to

capture the RPM reading. The readings
that recur the most was recorded,
together with the pressure and W2
readings.

Figure 2.9: Taking RPM average data and

reading of value W2.

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7. The ball in the turbine drum should be
released.

Figure 2.10: Releasing the ball.

8. The time was recorded beginning at 0.

Figure 2.11: Recording the time.

9. When it reaches 5 liters, the watch was

stopped.

Figure 2.12: Stopping the time when

reaches 5 liters.

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10. Next, the ball in the turbine drum
should be lifted.

Figure 2.13: The ball is lift up.

11. The pulley wheel's belt brake was put

in position, for the second phase.

Figure 2.14: Belt brake is placed on pulley

wheel

12. Then, with the use of a tensioning

screw, the W1 was set to 100g.

Figure 2.15: The ball is lift up.

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13. The previous steps were repeated for
the following step after reading the
RPM. Then, W1 was increase
gradually for 5 to 10 measurements in
the next phase.

Figure 2.16: Setting the load of W1.

14. Lastly, the ball was lifted up after

completing all the steps and the valve
controller was gradually close until the
pressure gauge reading is 0.

Figure 2.17: Lift up ball and close the

valve controller to 0.

15. Turn the pump off.

Figure 2.18: Ending of the experiment.

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3.0 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Results of Pelton Turbine experiment
RPM
2044.88 1766.63 1535.93 1259.43 887.93 488.00

(rad/s) 0
214.14 185 160.84 131.89 92.98 51.10
W1 (N)
0 1.0 2.0
1.5 3.0
2.0 4.0
2.5 5.0
3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0
W2 (N)
0 1.2 2.7 4.0 5.8 7.0
W2 –W 1 (N)
0 0.2 0.7 1.0 1.8 2.0
Drum Radius
x10-3m 0.3
30 0.3
30 0.3
30 0.3
30 0.3
30 30
0.3 30 30 30 30 30 30
Rotation
 (Nm) 0 0.06 0.21 0.30 0.54 0.6
Pm(W)
0 11.10 33.78 39.57 50.21 30.66
Volume (l)
5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Volume (m³) 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005
Time(s)
21.86 20.71 20.25 19.97 19.52 18.86
Flowrate (m3/s)
x 10^-4 2.287 2.414 2.469 2.504 2.562 2.651
Pressure (mH2O)
2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
Pw (W)
44.87 47.36 48.44 49.13 50.27 52.01
Efficiency  (%)
0 23.44 69.74 80.54 99.88 58.95
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3.1 CALCULATIONS
Calculations for results of data table:

 Example: Calculation for W1 (N) = 1.0

a. Angular velocity, 𝜔 (𝑟𝑎𝑑⁄𝑠)
𝑅𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑥 2𝜋 2𝜋𝑁
𝜔= =
60 𝟔𝟎
2𝜋𝑁
= x 1766.63
60

= 185 rad/s

b. Force (N)
𝑊2 − 𝑊1 = 1.2 – 1.0
= 0.2 N

c. Rotation, 𝜏(𝑁𝑚)
𝜏 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢s
= 0.2 x 0.3
= 0.06 Nm

d. Mechanical Power, 𝑃𝑚(𝑊)

𝑃𝑚 = 𝑅𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝜏 × Angular 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜔
= 0.06 x 185
= 11.10 W

e. Flowrate, Q (𝑚3⁄𝑠)

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 0.005
Q= =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 21.86
= 2.287 x 10-4 m3/s

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f. Water power, 𝑃𝑤(𝑊)
 Head = 20m
𝑃𝑤 = 𝜌𝑔𝐻𝑄
= (1000) (9.81) (20) (2.287 × 10−4)
= 44.87 W

g. Efficiency, 𝜂 (%)
Pm
𝜂 = 𝑃𝑤 × 100%

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3.2 GRAPH

i. Graph Rotation 𝜏(𝑁𝑚) VS Motor Speed (RPM)

Graph 3.1: Result of Graph Rotation Power against Motor Speed

Based on the Graph 1.1 above, it shows that the graph is decreases as the
more value of Motor Speed (RPM), the lower value of Rotation Power.

ii. Graph Flowrate, Q(m3/s) VS Motor Speed (RPM)

Graph 3.2: Result of Graph Flow Rate against Motor Speed

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 According to the graph 3.2 above, it also shows a fall graph which the more
value of Flow rate, the lower value of Motor Speed (RPM).

iii. Graph Efficiency, 𝜂 (%) VS Motor Speed (RPM)

Graph 3.2: Result of Graph Efficiency against Motor Speed

Through the graph 3.3 above, it illustrates the value of efficiency Vs Motor
Speed is fluctuated at the first and the middle of the graph and then fall at the end of
the graph.

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4.0 DISCUSSION
Based on the data and results obtained, the first graph which is Rotation Power
against Motor Speed (RPM) indicates that as the speed decreases, the Rotation Power will
continue to rise until the end of the selected measurement. This case happens because when
a load delivered to the Pelton Turbine, friction is created between the belt and the wheel,
which generates torque and the power needed to turn the turbine.

Next, according to the graph of Flowrate against Motor Speed, the data and results
obtained from the experiment also shows that as the speed declines, the Flow rate remain
increasing to the end of the selected measurement. For some reasons, the value of Flow
rate could be in error just because it is influenced by time that have been recorded along
the experiment. The recorded time also can be error at first just because of bubble happened
during the water lift up to 5 liters. Thus, the bubble is one of the big factor that affects the
recorded time and affects the value of Flow rate because the faster the pump speed, the
higher the Flow rate.

For the last graph of Efficiency Vs Motor Speed, it shows that efficiency decrease
with RPM. It is because the engine cannot breathe any rapidly, so the volumetric efficiency
diminishes. In addition, at higher RPMs, mechanical efficiency also decreases as a result
of greater frictional resistance. Therefore, torque at the output is further reduced as a result.
These restricting variables become less important as RPM falls from high levels, which
enables torque to rise.

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5.0 CONCLUSION

As a result, the experiment of Pelton Turbine is important to be conducted as we

can see and learn the constructional details and performance parameters. Furthermore,
through this experiment, we able to know the factors that influence the efficiency of
turbine. The performance of Pelton turbine mostly influenced by the load, flowrate, and
rotational speed. It is because the higher wheel rotational speed, torque, volume flow rate,
and power output, the lower the efficiency. In addition, Pelton Turbine’s performance also
depends upon the shape, size and the shape of buckets. Overall, this type of turbine has
high overall efficiency as well as this experiment also considered accomplished.

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6.0 REFERENCES
1. Pelton Turbine. Retrieved from:

https://energyeducation.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Pelton_turbine&oldid=10460

2. Pelton Turbine (Sadanandam A.) - Parts, Working, Design and Aspects.

Retrieved from: https://theconstructor.org/practical-guide/pelton-turbine-parts-working-

design-aspects/2894/

3. Pelton Wheel Turbine (A. Kumar, 2016): Definition, Parts, Working Principle,
Advantages, Application.

Retrieved from: https://themechanicalengineering.com/pelton-wheel-turbine/

4. Pelton Wheel Turbine: Hydraulic Turbines in Hydroelectric Power Plants (2009).

Retrieved from: https://www.brighthubengineering.com/fluid-mechanics-
hydraulics/26777-hydraulic-turbines-the-pelton-turbine/

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7.0 APPENDIX

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