Experiment No.

11

1 Title
To study and draw characteristic curves of Francis Turbine

Figure 11-1: Fransis Turbine

1.1 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

1.2 Introduction/Theoretical Background

1.2.1 Turbine :

A turbine is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it
into useful work.
1.2.2 Francis 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.

Figure 11-2: Parts of Francis Turbine

1.2.3 Components of Francis Turbine :

A Francis Turbine consists

of the 5 main parts those
are:

1. Spiral Casing.
2. Stay Vanes.
3. Guide Vanes.
4. Runner Blades.
5. Draft Tube.

Figure 11-3: Components of Francis Turbine

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.

1.2.4 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.

1.3 Apparatus
 Basic Hydraulic Bench
 Francis Turbine
 Tachometer (Non Contact)
 Stop watch

1.4 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.
1.5 Results and Discussion

Table 11-1: Observations and Calculations

Sr. Spee Net Force Head Torque Output Input Efficiency %=

d Pressure Power Power (Output/input)
No. = F1-F2 M=
x 100
RPM P “Bar” =Mx2 =VxPx105
“Newton” F x D/2
“N” N/60 “”
1000x60
“Nm”
“Watt”
“Watt”

1.5.1

1.5.2 Calculations

Dia of Pulley = 50 mm
d
M = F. N.m
2
P P .V . .10 5
input = Watt
1000. 60

P 2 πN
output =M . Watt
60

Volume V = 58 litres for 60 sec.

1.5.3 Graph

Mudssar Abbas 22-ME-27

4
3.5
3
output(watt)

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 100 550 820 1016 1260 1605 4027

speed(rpm)

Mudssar Abbas 22-ME-27

40
35
30
input(watt)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 100 550 820 1016 1260 1605 4027
Speed(rpm)

Mudssar Abbas 22-ME-27

16
14
12
Efficiency(%)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 100 550 820 1016 1260 1605 4027

Speed(rpm)
 Mudssar Abbas 22-ME-27
0.06

0.05

0.04
Torque(N-m)

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 100 550 820 1016 1260 1605 4027

Speed(rpm)

1.6 Applications

1.7 Comments