HYDRAULIC TURBINES AND

ITS CLASSIFICATION

SPONDAN S. BORA

Definition
Hydraulic Turbine is a prime mover that

uses the energy of flowing water and

converts it into the mechanical energy in
the form of rotation of runner wheel.
Also termed as water turbines.

Flow sheet of hydroelectric power

plant

Classification
Based on hydraulic action of water
Based on direction of flow
Based on head of water and quantity of flow
Based on specific speed
Based on disposition of turbine shaft
Based on name of originator (commonly used

turbines)

Based on hydraulic action of water

Impulse turbine : One in which all the energy

of water is converted to kinetic energy before the

water strikes the vanes of the runner wheel. This
is done by passing the flow through nozzle or
some guidelines. The runner is rotated by the
force of water and water passes over the wheel
at atmospheric pressure.
Ex- Pelton Wheel

Impulse Turbine

Reaction Turbine : Here, water entering the runner

wheel of the turbine has both kinetic energy and

pressure energy that is total head of water striking
the runner wheel ,consist partly of pressure head.
E.g- Francis turbine, Propeller turbine, Kaplan
turbine

Reaction Turbine (Kaplan Turbine)

Based on direction of
flow
Radial flow turbine : A radial flow turbine is a turbine in

which the water as it move along the vane flow towards

the axis of rotation or away from it.
Radial flow turbine is of two types:
I. Inward flow turbine : If the flow of water is towards the
axis of rotation, its called inward flow turbine.
II. Outward flow turbine : If the flow of water is away from
the axis of rotation , its called outward flow turbine.

Radial Flow Turbine

Axial flow turbine : Its the turbine in which water

enters the runner wheel parallel to the direction of

axis of rotation of runner.
Ex- Kaplan turbine, Propeller turbine
Tangential flow turbine : Its the turbine in which
water strikes the runner wheel tangentially to the
path of rotation.
Ex- Pelton turbine

Axial Flow Turbine

Mixed flow turbine : Its the turbine in which

the direction of flow is partly radial and partly

axial. Water enters the blade radially and
comes out axially parallel to the turbine shaft.

Based on head of water and

quantity of flow
High head turbine : when head is above 250 m

Ex- Pelton wheel

Medium head turbine : when head is between 60m 250m
Ex- Francis turbine
Low head turbine : When head is between 15-60 m
Ex- kaplan turbine
Very low head turbine: When is head is less than 15m
Ex- Propeller turbine

Based on specific speed

Specific speed

Types of turbine

10-35
Pelton wheel with one nozzle
35-60
Pelton wheel with two or more
nozzle, Multi jet pelton wheel
60-300
Francis turbine
300-1000
Kaplan turbine

Based on disposition of turbine

shaft
Turbine shaft may be either vertical or

horizontal. Pelton turbine usually have

horizontal shafts whereas the rest have
vertical shafts.

Based on name of
originator
Pelton wheel : Tangential flow impulse turbine

used for high head of water.

Francis turbine : Inward flow reaction turbine used
for medium head of water.
Kaplan turbine : Axial flow adjustable blades
reaction turbine used for low head of water.
Propeller turbine : Fixed blades axial flow reaction
turbine used for very low head of water.

Francis Turbine
Propeller Turbine
Kaplan Turbine

THANK YOU