ME14 SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS ON HYDRAULIC TURBINES

1. The tailwater elevation and the headwater elevation of a hydroelectric plant are 80m
and 120m respectively. The water flow rate is 12m3/s. The head loss is 3.8% of the
gross head. The generator efficiency is 90% and turbine efficiency is 85%.
Determine: (a) the brake power in kW, (b) the generator output power in kW.
Answers: 3,849.2 kW; 3464.287 kW
2. At a proposed hydroelectric power plant site, the tailwater elevation is 500m. The
annual energy to be produced is 52,660,000 kW-hr with operation of 360days per
year. Expected flow of water is 1665 m3/min. The turbine manufacturer set the ff.
performance data: turbine efficiency is 87%, Generator efficiency is 90%, and the
loss of head will not exceed 4.0% of the available head. Determine: (a) the effective
head, (b) headwater elevation. Answers: 28.602m; 529.794m
3. It is proposed to build a dam in a river where the flow rate is 10 m 3/s and a 32m drop
in elevation (head) can be achieved for flow through a turbine. If the turbine efficiency
is 82%, what is the maximum turbine power that can be achieved. Answer: 2,570 kW
4. A hydroelectric power plant has a volume flow of 35 m 3/s and has an available head
of 100m and a headloss of 3m. Find: (a) the power of the turbine if the turbine
efficiency is 85%, (b) the annual income of the plant if the cost of the generated
electrical energy (the generator efficiency is 95%) is P0.60 per kW-hr.
Answer: 28,300.55 kW; P141,310,307.5
5. A hydro-electric plant has on output power of 5000 kW. The turbine efficiency is 85%
and a generator efficiency is 90%. If the net head is 100, find the volume needed in
m3/s. Answer: 6.6645 m3/s
6. During a test run of a Pelton wheel turbine, the pressure at the nozzle was 2.5 MPa
when water flowing in the penstock at 1.7 m 3/s. The penstock diameter is 70 cm.
Determine the brakepower of the turbine if the turbine efficiency is 80%.
Answer: 3,413 kW
7. The specific speed of turbine is 85 rpm and running at 450 rpm. Compute the
maximum power delivered by the generator considering that the head is 20m and
generator efficiency is 90%. Answer: 834.937 kW
8. What is the specific speed of a hydraulic turbine having a brake power of 1800 kW
running at 450 rpm and the net head is 3000 cm. Answer: 71.32 rpm
9. Calculate the diameter of an impulse turbine which delivers 25,000 hp at 500 rpm
under a net head of 5340 ft. The peripheral coefficient (Φ) of the turbine is 0.47.
Answer: 10.5 ft
Note: Use the Formula below for the Peripheral Coefficient (Φ)

Φ = π (Dt) N / 60 2g (He)
Where:
Quantity Metric Units English Units
Dt = diameter of runner or meter ft
turbine wheel
N = runner speed rpm rpm
He = effective head meter ft
g = gravitational acceleration 9.807 m/s2 32.2 ft/s2