Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

Experiment No. 11

1 Title
To study and draw characteristic curves of Francis Turbine

Figure 11-1: Fransis Turbine

11.1 Objective

To understand the concept of Francis Turbine

To learn the working of moveable guide vane
To learn the use of Laser tachometer
To draw the characteristic curves of Francis Turbine

11.2 Introduction/Theoretical Background

11.2.1Turbine :

A turbine is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it
into useful work.
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

11.2.2Francis Turbine :

The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that
combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine
in use today, and can achieve over 95% efficiency.
Francis turbines are primarily used for electrical power production. These turbines can be
used for heads as low as 2 meters and as high as 300 meters.

11.3 Components of Francis Turbine :

A Francis Turbine consists of the 5 main parts those are:

Figure 11-1: Components of Francis Turbine

1. Spiral Casing.
2. Stay Vanes.
3. Guide Vanes.
4. Runner Blades.
5. Draft Tube.
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

1. Spiral Casing

The spiral casing is the inlet medium of water to the turbine. The water flowing from the
reservoir or dam is made to pass through this pipe with high pressure. The blades of the
turbines are circularly placed, which means the water striking the turbine’s blades should
flow in the circular axis for efficient striking. So the spiral casing is used, but due to the
circular movement of the water, it loses its pressure.
2. Stay Vanes
Stay and guide vanes guide 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 the 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.
4. Runner Blades
Runner blades are the heart of any Francis turbine. These are the centers where the fluid
strikes and the tangential force of the impact causes the shaft of the turbine to rotate,
producing torque. Close attention to the design of blade angles at inlet and outlet is necessary,
as these are major parameters affecting power production.
5. Draft Tube
The pressure at the exit of the runner of the reaction turbine is generally less than atmospheric
pressure. The water at the exit, cannot be directly discharged to the tailrace. A tube or pipe of
the gradually increasing area is used for discharging water from the exit of the turbine to the
tailrace.
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

11.4 Operation

The Francis turbine is a type of reaction turbine, a category of turbine in which the working
fluid comes to the turbine under immense pressure and the energy is extracted by the turbine
blades from the working fluid. A part of the energy is given up by the fluid because of pressure
changes occurring on the blades of the turbine, quantified by the expression of degree of
reaction, while the remaining part of the energy is extracted by the volute casing of the turbine.
At the exit, water acts on the spinning cup-shaped runner features, leaving at low velocity and
low swirl with very little kinetic or potential energy left. The turbine's exit tube is shaped to
help decelerate the water flow and recover the pressure.
11.5 Apparatus

 Basic Hydraulic Bench

 Francis Turbine
 Tachometer (Non Contact)
 Stop watch

11.6 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.
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

11.7 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

11.8 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)

11.9 Graph

11.10 Applications
Muhammad Salman(22-ME-139)

11.11 Comments