Fluid Flow and Hydraulic

turbines
 TYPES OF FLUID FLOW

Fluid flow can be classified into the following types:

1) Uniform and non-Uniform flow

2) Steady and Unsteady Flow

3) Rotational and Irrotational Flow

4) Compressible and Incompressible Flow

5) Viscous and non-Viscous Flow

6) Laminar and Turbulent flow

7) 1D, 2D, and 3D Flow

 1. Uniform and non-Uniform flow

UNIFORM FLOW :

• A flow is said to be uniform, when the velocity of flow does not change either in
magnitude or in direction at any point in a flowing fluid, for a given time.
• For example, the flow of liquids under pressure through long pipelines with a constant
diameter is called uniform flow.
NON-UNIFORM FLOW:
• When there is a change in velocity of the flow at different points in a flowing
fluid, for a given time.
• For eg., the flow of liquids under pressure through long pipelines of varying
diameter is referred to as non-uniform flow.
 2. Steady and Unsteady flows:

STEADY FLOW

A steady flow is one in which the fluid characteristics like velocity, density,
pressure, etc. DO NOT change with time.

Eg. Flow of water through pipeline with constant discharge.

UNSTEADY FLOW
The Unsteady flow is defined as the type of flow in which the fluid
characteristics like velocity, density, pressure, etc. change at a point
with respected to time.

Eg. Flow of water through pipeline with varying discharge.

3. Rotational and Irrotational Flow

• If the Fluid particles rotate about their axis while

moving in the streamline, it is called Rotational flow.

• If the fluid particles move in a streamline and don’t

rotate about their axis, it is called Irrotational flow.
 4. Compressible and Incompressible Flow

• In Compressible flow, the density of fluid changes with time and

space.
• While, In Incompressible flow, the density of fluid remains
constant.
• This flow finds its Application in Brake Fluid.
• In the Braking System, Brake Fluid transfers the Pressure created
by the foot to wheels for Breaking.
• If Fluid is Incompressible, it will transfer the Exact Pressure
applied by the foot to the wheels for effective braking.
 5. Viscous and Non-Viscous Flow:

In Viscous flow, Fluid Particles experience viscosity between the Subsequent layers,
and Hence, Relative motion occurs between the layer of fluid particles.

In Non-Viscous Flow, Fluid Particles don’t experience any viscosity between the
Subsequent layers, and Hence, there is no relative Motion between the Fluid
Particles.
 6. Laminar and Turbulent Flow

Laminar Flow : The flow in which the adjacent layer do not cross to each other and move
along the well defined path is called as laminar flow. E.g. flow of blood in small veins.
Viscous fluids such as honey and other syrups exhibit laminar flow

Turbulent Flow : The flow in which the adjacent layers cross each other and do not
move along the well define path is called as turbulent flow. E.g. flow through a river
or canal, smoke from chimney, flow through pump, turbines, etc.
 One, Two and Three-dimensional fluid Flow:

One dimensional flow is that type of flow in which the flow parameter such as velocity is a function of time and
one space co-ordinate only, say x.
u=f(x), v=0 and w=0
Where u,v and w are velocity component in x,y and z directions respectively.

It is readily seen that velocity at any location depends just on the radial distance from the centreline and is
independent of distance, x or of the angular position . This represents a typical one-dimensional flow.

x
Two-dimensional fluid flow is the type of flow in which velocity is a function of time and two rectangular space
co-ordinate say x,y.
u= f1(x,y,), v= f2(x,y,) and w= 0.

Now consider a flow through a diverging duct as shown in Fig. 2. Velocity at any location depends not only upon
the radial distance but also on the x-distance. This is therefore a two-dimensional flow

X
Three-dimensional fluid flow is the type of flow in which velocity is a function of time and three
mutually perpendicular directions. The function of 3 space coordinates (x,y,z).

u= f1(x,y,z), v= f2(x,y,z) and w= f3(x,y,z).

Reynold’s expt.

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 13

Hydro-Electric Power Plants
• Hydroelectric power plants convert the potential energy from
water into electrical energy. Such plants are suitable where
water with suitable head is available.
• It is the most widely used form of renewable energy.

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 14

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 15
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 16
Classification based on installed capacity

• Micro: upto 100 KW

• Mini: 101KW to 2 MW
• Small: 2 MW to 25 MW
• Mega: Hydro projects with installed capacity >= 500 MW
Thermal Projects with installed capacity >=1500 MW

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 17

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 18
 TURBINES

Turbines are the hydraulic machines

which convert hydraulic energy into
mechanical energy.

HYDRAULIC TURBINES MECHANICAL

ENERGY ENERGY
 CLASSIFICATION OF TURBINES

➢ According to the type of energy at inlet:

▪ Impulse turbine :
▪ (P.E. of water converted to K.E. before striking to runner )
▪ Reaction turbine:

➢ According to the direction of flow through runner:

▪ Tangential flow turbine

▪ Radial flow turbine
▪ Axial flow turbine
▪ Mixed flow turbine.
➢ According to the head at the inlet of turbine:

▪ High head turbine

▪ Medium head turbine
▪ Low head turbine.

➢ According to the specific speed of the turbine:

▪ Low specific speed turbine

▪ Medium specific speed turbine
▪ High specific speed turbine.
 Types of Turbines
• Pelton turbines - It is impulse turbine which is
normally used for more than 250 m of water head.
• Francis - This is a reaction turbine which is used for
head varying between 2.5 m to 450 m
• Kaplan – It is propeller type of plant with adjustable
blades which are used for heads varying between
1.5 m to 70 m
• Propeller – It is used for head between 1.5 to 30 m
• Tubular – This is used for low and medium height
projects. Normally for head less than 15 m.

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 22

➢If at the inlet of turbine the energy available is only kinetic energy, the
turbine is known as Impulse Turbine.

➢ If at the inlet of turbine water possesses kinetic energy as well as

pressure energy,the turbine is known as Reaction Turbine.
➢ If the water flows in radial direction through the runner,the turbine is
known as Radial flow turbine.
➢ If water flows along the tangent of runner,the turbine is known as
Tangential flow turbine.

▪ If the water flows from outward to inward radially,the turbine is known as

Inward radial flow turbine.

▪ If the water flows from inward to outward radially,the turbine is known as

Outward radial flow turbine.

➢ If water flows along the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of

runner, the turbine is known as Axial flow turbine.

➢ If water flows in radial direction but leaves in the direction parallel to the
axis of rotation,the turbine is known as Mixed flow turbine.
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 25
➢Pelton turbine is a
tangential flow impulse
turbine.

➢Pelton turbine is
suitable for high head
and low flow rate.

➢Energy available at the

inlet of the turbine is only
kinetic energy.

➢ Pressure at the inlet &

outlet is atmospheric.

PELTON TURBINE
MAIN PARTS OF PELTON
TURBINE:

1. Nozzle and flow

regulating arrangment.

2. Runner and buckets

3. Casing

4. Breaking jet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf9meqw2SQA
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 29
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 30
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 31
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 32
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 33
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 34
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 35
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 36
 Pelton turbine installations in world
• San Giacomo sul Vomano, Italy
• One of the most powerful
Pelton turbine
• Output of 282 MW,
• Runner diameter of 4.4 m
• Jet diameter of 315 mm and
• Bucket width of 1.1 m.

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 37

Pelton turbine installations in world
• Bieudron Hydroelectric Power Station located in the Swiss Alps in the Canton of
Valais in Switzerland - world's most powerful Pelton turbine as well as the
highest head used to produce hydro-electric energy
• 3 Pelton turbines, with each turbine rated at 423 MW each turbine operates at a
head of ~1869 meters and a flow rate of 25 cubic meters per second, with an
efficiency in excess of 92%
• Five-jet configuration; the stream of each jet is 193 mm in diameter with an exit
velocity of 192 meters/second
• The kinetic energy of each of the 5 streams is approximately 92.16 MW
(Q = 5 cubic meters per second, v = 192 m/s, H = 1869 m).
• Rotational speed 428.6 rpm
• No. of buckets (per runner) 26
• Outer diameter of runner 4630 mm

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 38

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 39
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 40
 RADIAL FLOW REACTION TURBINES

➢ In radial flow reaction turbines water flows in the radial direction.

➢ The water may flow radially from outward to inward or from inward to
outward.

RADIAL FLOW
REACTION TURBINES.

OUTWARD
INWARD RADIAL
RADIAL FLOW
FLOW TURBINE
TURBINE
➢Ifthe water flows from
outward to inward the
turbine is known as
Inward radial flow
turbine.

➢Ifthe water flows from

inward to outward the
turbine is known as
Outward radial flow
turbine.

➢Main parts of Radial

flow Reaction Turbine:

1. Casing
2. Guide mechanism
3. Runner
4. Draft tube
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BCiFeykRzo
Francis turbine
1. Spiral Casing :The blades of the turbines are circularly placed, which mean the
water striking the turbines blades should flow in the circular axis for efficient striking.
So the spiral casing is used, but due to circular movement of the water, it looses its
pressure. To maintain the same pressure the diameter of the casing is gradually
reduced, so as to maintain the pressure uniform, thus uniform momentum or velocity
striking the runner blades.

2. Stay Vanes
Stay vanes and guide vanes guides the water to the runner blades. Stay vanes remain
stationary at their position and reduces the swirling of water due to radial flow, as it
enters the runner blades. Thus making turbine more efficient.

3. Guide Vanes
Guide vanes are not stationary, they change their angle as per the requirement to control
the angle of striking of water to turbine blades to increase the efficiency. They also
regulate the flow rate of water into the runner blades thus controlling the power output
of a turbine according to the load on the turbine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BCiFeykRzo
4. Runner Blades
The performance and efficiency of the turbine is dependent on the design of the
runner blades. In a Francis turbine, runner blades are divided into 2 parts. The
lower half is made in the shape of small bucket so that it uses the impulse action
of water to rotate the turbine. The upper part of the blades use the reaction
force of water flowing through it. These two forces together makes the runner to
rotate.
The upper part of the blades use the reaction force of water flowing through
it. Thus runner blades make use of both pressure energy and kinetic energy of
water and rotates the runner in most efficient way.

5. Draft Tube
The water coming out of runner blades would lack both the kinetic energy and
pressure energy, so we use the draft tube to recover the pressure as it advances
towards tail race.
The pressure at the exit of the runner of Reaction Turbine is generally less than
atmospheric pressure. The water at exit cannot be directly discharged to the tail race.
A tube or pipe of gradually increasing area is used for discharging water from the exit
of turbine to the tail race. This tube of increasing area is called Draft Tube.
➢The inward flow FRANCIS TURBINE
reaction turbine having
radial discharge at outlet
is known as Francis
Turbine.

➢In modern Francis

turbine water enters the
runner in radial direction
at outlet & leaves in axial
direction at inlet of
runner.
➢Francis turbine is
suitable for medium
head and medium flow

Francis turbines are the most preferred hydraulic turbines. It contributes about 60% of
the global hydro power capacity mainly because it can work efficiently under wide
range of operation conditions. The most important part of a Francis turbine is its runner.
It is fitted with complex shade blades. In the runner, water enters radially and exits
axially. During the course of flow, water goes through the runner blades.
 AXIAL FLOW REACTION TURBINE

➢ If the water flows parallel to the axis of the rotation of the shaft the
turbine is known as Axial flow turbine.

➢ The axial flow reaction turbine the shaft is vertical.

➢ Lower end of shaft is made larger and known as hub/boss.

AXIAL FLOW
REACTION TURBINE

PROPELLER
KAPLAN TURBINE
TURBINE
 ➢When the vanes are
fixed to the hub & are
not adjustable the
turbine is known as
Propeller Turbine.

➢Ifthe vanes are

adjustable the turbine is
known as Kaplan
Turbine

https://mechanicalenotes.com/kaplan-
turbine/

KAPLAN TURBINE RUNNER.

➢Kaplan Turbine is
suitable for low head and
high flow rate.

➢Main parts of Kaplan

Turbine are:
1. Scroll casing
2. Guide vanes
mechanism
3. Hub with vanes
4. Draft tube.
 Francis Turbine

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 50

 Francis and Kaplan turbines

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 51

 Francis Turbine

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 52

 Alternator

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 53

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 54
Runner

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 55

Francis Turbine

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 56

 Draft Tube
•Pipe or a passage of increasing cross-section
which connects runner exit to tail race.
•Material – Cast steel, plate steel, concrete
•Air tight and lower end must be submerged
below the level of water in the tail race.
•Functions
1. It permits negative or suction head to be
established at runner exit, thus making it
possible to install the turbine above the tail
race level without loss of head.
2. It converts part of kinetic energy rejected from
runner into useful pressure energy.
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 57
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 58
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 59
The largest Francis turbines ever made - each runner has a diameter of 10
meters and weighs 450 tons - Three Gorges Project in China. - 14 x 700-767
MW - Head: 80.6-85m

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 60

 Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine
• All the available energy is
converted into kinetic energy
by passing it through a
nozzle that forms a free jet.
• The water is at atmospheric
pressure throughout its
action on the runner and in
its subsequent flow to the
tail race.
• As the water flows through
the runner, its relative
velocity reduces due to
friction of blades.
• Only a part of available
energy of water is converted
into kinetic energy in the
guide vanes.
• The pressure at inlet of the
runner is higher than
pressure at outlet of runner.
• As the water flows through
the runner pressure is
converted into velocity, so
that relative velocity
increases towards the outlet.
 Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine
• The runner revolves freely in
air. The water is in contact
with part of runner at a time.
• Casing has no hydraulic
function to perform; it only
serves to prevent splashing
and to guide the water to
the tail.
• Unit should be installed above
the tailrace level.
• Water is admitted over the
circumference of the wheel
and it completely fills the
vane passages throughout
the operation of the turbine.
• As the pressure at inlet of
turbine is higher than
pressure at outlet of turbine,
an airtight casing is absolutely
essential.
• Unit can be installed below
tailrace level.
 Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine
• The water is directly discharged
to tail race at atmospheric
pressure.
• Suitable for high heads and
lower discharge.
• Tangential flow.
• e.g. Pelton turbine
• There is a draft tube, which
connects outlet of runner to tail
race, which maintains negative
pressure at outlet of runner and
converts part of kinetic energy
at outlet of runner into useful
pressure.
• Suitable for medium and low
heads and higher discharge.
• Radial, mixed, or axial flow.
• e.g. Francis turbine, Propeller
turbine, Kaplan turbine
Bulb turbine

• The bulb turbine is a reaction turbine of Kaplan type which is used for
extremely low heads.
• The turbine components as well as the generator are housed inside a bulb,
from which the name is developed.
• The water flows in a mixed axial-radial direction into the guide vane cascade
and not through a scroll casing.

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande (VJTI) 64

Model of bulb turbine

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande (VJTI) 65

 Pumped storage power plants
•In pumped storage plants, Pump turbines transfer
water to a high storage reservoir during off-peak
hours, thereby leveling out the daily generated
load.
•The energy used for pumping the water is derived
from other energy sources, such as nuclear, fossil
and renewable power plants, whose power
output cannot be adjusted to follow load
fluctuations.
•The stored water can then be used for
hydroelectric power generation to cover
temporary peaks in demand.
•Useful tool to balance the varying electricity
demand from consumers or unplanned outages
of other power plants.
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande (VJTI) 66
Pump hydro turbines installations

• Nant de Drance (Switzarland) 2015 -hydropower station is expected

to generate 942 MW (6 x 157 MW units) of electricity upon
completion, corresponding to the total peak power demand of the
Swiss Federal Railways.

• Linthal (Switzarland) 2015 for 4 x 250 MW units - variable speed

pump turbine and motor generator units. This will help meeting the
peak power demand and helping to further develop the low carbon
power generation of Switzerland.

2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande (VJTI) 67

 Nant de Drance hydro plant
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande (VJTI) 68
 Linthal 2015 hydro pumped storage power plant
2/27/2023 Arvind Deshpande (VJTI) 69