Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

Experiment No. 12

1 Title
To study and draw characteristic curves of Pelton Wheel / Impulse Turbine

Figure 12-1: Pelton Wheel

12.1 Objective

To understand the working of pelton wheel

To learn the design parameter of pelton wheel
To learn the use of tachometer (Non-Contact)
To draw the characteristic curves of pelton Wheel
12.2 Introduction/Theoretical Background

12.2.1 Pelton Turbine :

Pelton Turbine is a Tangential flow impulse turbine in which the pressure energy of water is
converted into kinetic energy to form high speed water jet and this jet strikes the wheel
tangentially to make it rotate. It is also called as Pelton Wheel.
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.3 Parts of Pelton Turbine :

1. Nozzle and Flow Regulating Arrangement

2. Runner and Buckets
3. Casing
4. Braking Jet

Figure12.2 Parts of Pelton Turbine

12.3.1 Nozzle and Flow Regulating Arrangement

The water from source is transferred through penstock to which end a nozzle is provided.
Using this nozzle the high speed water jet can be formed. To control the water jet from
nozzle, a movable needle spear is arranged inside the nozzle.

12.3.2 Runner and Buckets

A Pelton turbine consists of a runner, which is a circular disc on the periphery of which a
number of buckets are mounted with equal spacing between them. The buckets mounted are
either double hemispherical or double ellipsoidal shaped.
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.3.3 Casing

The whole arrangement of runner and buckets, inlet and braking jets are covered by the
Casing. Casing of Pelton turbine does not perform any hydraulic actions but prevents the
splashing of water while working and also helps the water to discharge to the tail race.

12.3.4 Braking Jet

Braking jet is used to stop the running wheel when it is not working. This situation arises
when the nozzle inlet is closed with the help of spear then the water jet is stopped on the
buckets. But Due to inertia, the runner will not stop revolving even after complete closure of
inlet nozzle.
12.4 Design rules
The specific speed parameter is independent of a particular turbine's size.Compared to other
turbine designs, the relatively low specific speed of the Pelton wheel, implies that the geometry
is inherently a "low gear" design. Thus it is most suitable to being fed by a hydro source with
a low ratio of flow to pressure, (meaning relatively low flow and/or relatively high
pressure).The specific speed is the main criterion for matching a specific hydro-electric site
with the optimal turbine type. It also allows a new turbine design to be scaled from an existing
design of known performance.

Figure 12-3: Sectional view of pelton wheel

Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

𝐧√𝐏
𝜂= 𝟓
(𝐠𝐇)𝟒√𝛒

n = Frequency of rotation (rpm)

P = Power (W)

H = Water head (m)

ρ = Density (kg/m3)

The formula implies that the Pelton turbine is geared most suitably for applications with
relatively high hydraulic head H, due to the 5/4 exponent being greater than unity, and given
the characteristically low specific speed of the Pelton.

A pelton wheel is generally designed for a given head of water ,power to be delivered and
speed of the runner. A pelton wheel is designed to find out the following data :

1. Diameter of Wheel
2. Diameter of jet
3. Size (depth and width ) of bucket
4. Number of buckets

12.4.1 Size of Bucket :

In general, the buckets of pelton wheel have following dimensions :

Width of bucket = 5 * d

Depth of bucket = 1.2 * d

Where d is diameter of jet.

12.4.2 Number of Buckets :

Number of buckets should be minimum as possible to reduce frictional head and is found by

No. Of Buckets = 𝑫
+ 15
𝟐𝒅

Where D is mean diameter of Bucket

And d is diameter of jet

Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.4.3 Number Of Jets Of Pelton Wheel :

A pelton turbine generally has a single jet only. But whenever a single jet cannot develop
required power, we may have to employ more than one jet.The maximum number of jets
provided to a pelton wheel is 6. While designing the jets, care should be taken to provide the
jets at equidistant on the outer periphery of wheel.
12.5 Working of Pelton Turbine:

The working of Pelton turbine is as follows:

 The water is transferred from the high head source through a long conduit called
Penstock.
 Nozzle arrangement at the end of penstock helps the water to accelerate and it flows out
as a high speed jet with high velocity and discharge at atmospheric pressure.
 The jet will hit the splitter of the buckets which will distribute the jet into two halves of
bucket and the wheel starts revolving.
 The kinetic energy of the jet is reduced when it hits the bucket and also due to spherical
shape of buckets the directed jet will change its direction and takes U-turn and falls into
tail race.
 In general, the inlet angle of jet is in between 10 to 30, after hitting the buckets the
deflected jet angle is in between 1650 to 1700.
 The water collected in tail race should not submerge the Pelton wheel in any case.
 To generate more power, two Pelton wheels can be arranged to a single shaft or two
water jets can be directed at a time to a single Pelton wheel.

12.6 Apparatus

 Basic Hydraulic Bench

 Francis Turbine
 Tachometer (Non Contact)
 Stop watch
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.7 Procedure

1. First of all, take the Francis Turbine Model(HM-150.20) and place it on basic
Hydraulic Bench.
2. The water supply and flow rate measurements are produced via HM-150.
3. Turbine torque is measured using band brake and is read on spring balance.
4. A non-contact speed sensor(tachometer) is used to measure the rotational speed of
turbine.
5. A manometer shows the water pressure at the turbine inlet.
6. Measure the breaking force with help of the scale on the band.
7. Take coordinate reading and plot the graph.

12.8 Results and Discussion

Table 1-1: Observations and Calculations

Sr. Net Force Head Torque Output Input Efficiency %=

No. Speed = F1-F2 Pressure M= Power Power (Output/input)
RPM “Newton” P “Bar” F x D/2 = M x 2  =VxPx105 x 100
“N” “Nm” N/60 1000x60 “”
“Watt” “Watt”
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.9 Calculations

Dia of Pulley = 50 mm
d
M = F. N.m
2
P P .V. .105
input = 1000.60 Watt
P 2πN
output=M. 60 Watt
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.10 Graph

12.11 Applications
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

12.12 Comments