Experiment No.

7
Title:
Draw the performance/ characteristics curve H(F), N(F) and Efficiency(F) of an impulse
turbine (Pelton wheel) at different loads and also calculate its specific speed.

Apparatus:
 Pelton Wheel
 Hydraulic Bench
 electricity
 Tachometer
 Chronometer
 Supply of water
Apparatus Fig:

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Theory:
Water Turbines
Water turbines are machines that convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into
mechanical energy, which can be used to generate electricity. One type of water
turbine is the Pelton wheel, which is commonly used for high-head applications.
Power Output
The power output of a Pelton wheel turbine is determined by the flow rate and the
head (the height difference between the water source and the turbine). The power
output is given by the equation:

Pout = ( 2 πNT
60 )

Power Input
The power input to the turbine is determined by the pressure and flow rate of the water
entering the turbine.
The power input is given by the equation:
Pin = ρgHQ
Efficiency Relation.
The efficiency of the turbine is the ratio of the power output to the power input:
Power output Shaft Power
Efficiency= =
Power Input Water Power

η=
( 60 )
2 πNT

ρgHQ

Specific speed of the turbine.

The specific speed of a turbine is a dimensionless number that represents the speed at
which a geometrically similar turbine would operate if it were scaled to different sizes.
The specific speed is given by the equation:
N √P
Ns= 5
H4
where N is the rotational speed of the turbine (in revolutions per minute), P is the
Pressure output (in Pascal), and H is the head (in meters). The specific speed is useful
for comparing the performance of different turbines and for designing new turbines.

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Procedure:
 First, we have to place the Pelton wheel apparatus in the Hydraulic Bench
 Then we have to connect the Pelton wheel apparatus with hydraulic bench, and
chronometer
 Then we have to supply the water
 Then we get reading of Flow Rate from Chronometer after that we can calculate
speed with the help of Tachometer and after that we measure the pressure from
pressure Gauge
 Then we have to change the weight from Tension Adjustable device 5 time
 After that we can calculate Pin and Pout using formula and Efficiency
 At the end we can calculate the Specific Speed
 In the Same way we repeat this (5) Time
Results and Discussion:
Sr. N Force (N) Torque Q Pressure H Pin Pout Efficiency Ns
No (rpm) (Nm) m3/sec (bar) (m) (W) (W) % rpm
1 1750 1.6 0.078 0.00053 1 10.19 52.9 8.79 16.5 285
8
2 1700 2.4 0.072 0.00053 1 10.19 52.9 12.8 24.6 334
8
3 1570 3.2 0.090 0.00053 1 10.19 52.9 15.78 29.8 342
8
4 1360 4.4 0.132 0.00053 1 10.19 52.9 18.79 35.46 324
8
5 1080 6.4 0.192 0.00053 1 10.19 52.9 22.16 41.8 280
8

Specimen Calculation:
R=30mm Radius of pully

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Graph:

Graph Between Force & Head

7

4
Force (N)

0
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Head (m)

Graph Between Force & Speed

7

4
Force (N)

0
1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800
N (rpm)

Graph Between Force & Efficiency

7

4
Force (N)

0
15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Efficiency

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Comments:
 The experiment requires careful measurement and analysis to obtain accurate data and
draw meaningful conclusions.
 The obtained results can be used to improve the design and performance of Pelton
wheel turbines and advance renewable energy and power generation technologies.
Conclusion:
 The experiment highlights the importance of careful measurement and analysis in
obtaining accurate data and drawing meaningful conclusions about turbine
performance and efficiency.
 The obtained data and analysis can be used to improve turbine design and efficiency,
leading to advancements in renewable energy and power generation technologies.
Reference:
1. "Experimental study of performance characteristics of a Pelton wheel turbine using different
nozzles" by J. A. Rashed, A. R. Jasim, and A. H. Al-Ghaili, Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2012.
2. "Experimental analysis of Pelton turbine characteristics for small hydroelectric power plants" by T.
Žegarac Cvijanović and B. Blagojević, Thermal Science, Vol. 17, No. 3, 2013
3. "Experimental investigation of a Pelton turbine's performance for different numbers of buckets" by
M. A. Ben Abdallah, H. Kchaou, and M. B. Saïd, International Journal of Renewable Energy
Research, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2015.
4. "Experimental and numerical analysis of a Pelton turbine" by R. Guzmán, C. Trujillo, and R. Castro,
DYNA, Vol. 86, No. 209, 2019

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