FRANCIS TURBINE

IMAGE OF FRANCIS TURBINE

INTRODUCTION OF TURBINE

 The device in which the kinetic ,potential or intermolecular energy held by the fluid is
converted in the form of mechanical energy of a rotating member is known as a turbine
 Also ,defined as all machines in which hydraulic energy is transferred into mechanical
energy (in the form of rotating shaft ) ,or in some other moving parts are known as
‘turbines’ or hydraulic motors.
Impulse turbine : Only kinetic energy of water is used to drive turbine.
Reaction turbine : Kinetic energy as well as Pressure energy of water is used to drive
turbine. Eg.Francis Turbine.
INVENTOR OF FRANCIS TURBINE

 This turbine was invented by Sir James B. France in Lowell,

Massachusetts, U.S.A.
 Studying the Boyden turbine ,Francis was able to redesign it
to increase efficiency
 BoydenTurbine could achieve a 65 percent efficiency.
 So, James France redesigned this turbine and new turbine
with 88% efficiency was invented.
 This was known as ‘Francis turbine’.
INTRODUCTION OF FRANCIS TURBINE

 Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use

today. .
 They operate in a water head from 10 to 650 meters (33 to
2,133 feet).
 They are primarily used for electrical power production.
 The turbine powered generator power output generally
ranges from 10 to 750 megawatts
SECTION VIEW OF FRANCIS TURBINE
WORKING PRICIPLE OF FRANCIS TURBINE


The water is admitted to the runner through guide vanes or wicket gates.  The opening
between the vanes can be adjusted to vary the quantity of water admitted to the turbine.
This is done to suit the load conditions.

The water enters the runner with a low velocity but with a considerable pressure. As the
water flows over the vanes the pressure head is gradually converted into velocity head.

This kinetic energy is utilized in rotating the wheel Thus the hydraulic energy is
converted into mechanical energy.

The outgoing water enters the tailrace after passing through the draft tube. The draft
tube enlarges gradually and the enlarged end is submerged deeply in the tailrace water.

Due to this arrangement a suction head is created at the exit of the runner.
MAIN PARTS OF FRANCIS TURBINE

 PENSTOCK - It is a large size conduit which conveys water from upstream to the dam/reservoir to the
turbine runner
 SPIRAL CASING - It constitutes a closed passage whose cross section area gradually decrease along
flow direction area is maximum at inlet and nearly zero at exit
 GUIDE VANES - These vanes direct the water on the runner at an angle appropriate to the design,
controlled by hand wheel or governor
 GOVERNING MECHANISM - It changes the position of guide vanes to affect a variation in water flow
rate, when the load condition on the turbine changes
 RUNNER - The driving force on the runner is both due to impulse and reaction effect.
 DRAFT TUBE - It is generally an expending tube which discharges the water, passing through the
runner to the tail race.
ADVANTAGES OF FRANCIS TURBINE

 It is most widely used turbine in world (70- 80%).

 Effective use of water pressure as well as velocity.
 It is American standard turbine.
 Very good efficiency (80-94%)
LIMITATIONS OF FANCIS TURBINE

 Cost is high.
 Due to it’s complex design and large no of
moving parts, maintenance and repair is difficult
and costly.
 It is applicable to flow of medium head only.
 Cavitation is also a big problem.
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