Fluid Machinery 1

HYDRAULIC TURBINES
A hydraulic turbine is a prime mover (a machine which uses the raw energy of a substance and converts
into mechanical energy) that uses the energy of flowing water and converts it into the mechanical energy
(in the form of rotation of the runner). This mechanical energy is used in running an electric generator
which is directly coupled to the shaft of the hydraulic turbine; from this electric generator, we get electric
power which can be transmitted over long distances by means of transmission lines and transmission
towers. The hydraulic turbines are also known as ‘water turbines’ since the fluid medium used in them is
water.
CLASSIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC TURBINES
The hydraulic turbines are classified as follows:
1. According type of energy at inlet of the turbine
a. Impulse turbine
b. Reaction turbine

2. According to the direction of the flow of water

a. Tangential flow turbine
b. Radial flow turbine
c. Axial flow turbine
d. Mixed flow turbine

3. According to the head at the inlet of the turbine

a. High head turbine
b. Medium head turbine
c. Low head turbine

4. According to the specific sped of the turbine

a. Low specific speed turbine
b. Medium specific speed turbine
c. High specific turbine

If at the inlet of the turbine, the energy available is only kinetic energy, the turbine is known as impulse
turbine. As the water flows over the vanes, the pressure is atmospheric from inlet to outlet of the turbine.
In the impulse turbine, all the potential (pressure) energy of water is converted into kinetic (velocity)

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 Fluid Machinery 2
energy in the nozzle before striking the turbine wheel buckets. Hence an impulse turbine requires high
head and low discharge at the inlet. The water as it flows over the turbine blades will be at the
atmospheric pressure. The impulse turbine may be radial flow or tangential flow type. If at the inlet of the
turbine, the water possesses kinetic energy as well as pressure energy, the turbine is known as reaction
turbine. As the waters flows through the runner, the water is under pressure and the pressure energy goes
on changing into kinetic energy. The runner is completely enclosed in an air tight casing and the runner
and casing is completely full of water.

If the water flows along the tangent of the runner, the turbine is known as tangential flow turbine. If the
water flows in the radial direction through the runner, the turbine is called radial flow turbine. If the water
flows from outwards to inwards, radially the turbine is called inward radial flow turbine, on the other
hand, if the water flows radially from inwards to outwards, the turbine is known as outward radial flow
turbine.
If the water flows through the runner along the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the runner, the
turbine is called axial flow turbine. If the water flows through the runner in radial direction but leaves in
the direction parallel to axis of rotation of the runner, the turbine is called mixed flow turbine.

PELTON WHEEL OR IMPULSE TURBINES

The pelton wheel or pelton turbine is a tangential flow impulse turbine. The water strikes the bucket along
the tangent of the runner. The energy available at the inlet of the turbine is only kinetic energy. The
pressure at the inlet and outlet of the turbine is atmosphere. This turbine is used for high heads and is
named after L.A. Pelton, an American Engineer.

CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF PELTON WHEEL TURBINE

A pelton wheel consists of a rotor, at the periphery of which is mounted equally spaced double
hemispherical or double ellipsoidal buckets. Water is transferred from a high head source through
penstock which is fitted with a nozzle, through which the water flows out as a high speed jet. A needle
spear moving inside the nozzle controls the water flow through the nozzle and at the same time provides a
smooth flow with negligible energy loss. All the available potential energy is thus converted into kinetic
energy before the jet strikes the buckets of the runner. The pressure all over the wheel is constant and
equal to atmosphere, so that energy transfer occurs due to purely impulse action.
The pelton turbine is provided with a casing the function of which is to prevent the splashing of water and
to discharge water to the tail race.
When the nozzle is completely closed by moving the spear in the forward direction the amount of water
striking the runner is reduced to zero but the runner due to inertia continues revolving for a long time. In
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 Fluid Machinery 3
order to bring the runner to rest in a short time, a nozzle (brake) is provided which directs the jet of water
on the back of buckets; this jet of water is called braking jet.
Speed of the turbine runner is kept constant by a governing mechanism that automatically regulates the
quantity of water flowing through the runner in accordance with any variation of load.

Peloton wheel turbine

Fig. shows a schematic diagram of a pelton wheel. The jet emerging from the nozzle hits the splitter
symmetrically and is equally distributed into the two halves of hemispherical bucket as shown. The
bucket centre line cannot be made exactly like a mathematical cusp, partly because of manufacturing
difficulties and partly because the jet striking the cusp invariably carries particles of sand and other
abrasive material which tend to wear it down.

Working
Water at high pressure from the penstock pipe enters the nozzle provided with a spear. The pressure
energy of water is converted into velocity energy, as it flows through the nozzle. By rotating the hand
wheel, the spear is moved to control the quantity of water flowing out of the nozzle. When the spear is
pushed forward into the nozzle, the amount of water striking the buckets is reduced.
The jet of water at high velocity from the nozzle strikes the buckets at the center of the cup. The
impulsive force of the jet striking on the buckets causes the rotation of the wheel in the direction of the
striking jet. Thus, pressure energy of the water is converted into mechanical energy. The pressure inside
the casing is atmospheric.
The pelton wheel operates under a high head of water. Therefore it requires less quantity of water. Draft
tubes are not usually used with it.

REACTION TURBINES

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 Fluid Machinery 4
If at the inlet of the turbine, the water possesses kinetic energy as well as pressure energy, the turbine is
known as reaction turbine. As the waters flows through the runner, the water is under pressure and the
pressure energy goes on changing into kinetic energy. The runner is completely enclosed in an air tight
casing and the runner and casing is completely full of water.
If the water flows along the tangent of the runner, the turbine is known as tangential flow turbine. If the
water flows in the radial direction through the runner, the turbine is called radial flow turbine. If the water
flows from outwards to inwards, radially the turbine is called inward radial flow turbine, on the other
hand, if the water flows radially from inwards to outwards, the turbine is known as outward radial flow
turbine.

CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF REACTION TURBINES

The main parts of a radial flow reaction turbine are: Casing, guide mechanism, runner and draft tube.

Francis Turbine
Casing: As mentioned above that in case of reaction turbine, casing and runner are always full of water.
The water from the penstocks enters the casing which is of spiral shape in which area of cross section of
the casing goes on decreasing gradually. The casing completely surrounds the runner of the turbine. The
casing as shown in fig.1.20 is made of spiral shape, so that the water may enter the runner at constant
velocity through out the circumference of the runner. The casing is made of concrete, cast steel or plate
steel.
Guide mechanism: It consists of a stationary circular wheel all round the runner of the turbine. The
stationary guide vanes are fixed on the guide mechanism. The guide vanes allow the water to strike the
vanes fixed on the runner without shock at inlet. Also by a suitable arrangement, the width between two
adjacent vanes of guide mechanism can be altered so that the amount of water striking the runner can be
varied.

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 Fluid Machinery 5
Runner: It is a circular wheel on which a series of radial curved vanes are fixed. The surfaces of the
vanes are made very smooth. The radial curved vanes are so shaped that the water enters and leaves the
runner without shock. The runner is made of cast steel, cast iron or stainless steel. They are keyed to the
shaft.
Draft tube: The pressure at the exit of the runner of a reaction turbine is generally less than atmospheric
pressure. The water at exit cannot be directly discharged to the tail race. A tube or pipe of gradually
increasing area is used for discharging water from the exit of the turbine to the tail race. This tube of
increasing area is called draft tube.
Working
First, water enters the guide blades, which guide the water to enter the moving blades. In the moving
blades, part of the pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy, which causes rotation of the runner.
Water leaving the moving blades is at a low pressure. Thus, there is a pressure difference between the
entrance and the exit of the moving blades. This difference in pressure is called reaction. Pressure acts on
moving blades and causes the rotation of the wheel in the opposite direction.

INWARD RADIAL FLOW REACTION TURBINE

Inward flow reaction turbine

Fig. Inward flow reaction turbine Fig. shows inward flow reaction turbine, in which case the water from
casing enters the stationary guiding wheel. The guiding wheel consists of guide vanes which direct the
water to enter the runner which consists of moving vanes. The water flows over the moving vanes in the

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 Fluid Machinery 6
inward radial direction and is discharged at the inner diameter of the runner. The outer diameter of the
runner is the inlet and the inner diameter is the outlet.

OUTWARD RADIAL FLOW REACTION TURBINE

Outward flow reaction turbine

Fig shows outward radial flow reaction turbine in which the water from the casing enters the stationary
guide wheel. The guide wheel consists of guide vanes which direct water to enter the runner which is
around the stationary guide wheel. The water flows through the vanes of the runner in the outward radial
direction and is discharged at the outer diameter of the runner. The inner diameter of the runner is inlet
and the outer diameter is the outlet.

FRANCIS TURBINE
Francis turbine was developed by the American engineer Francis in 1850. It is an inward flow radial type
reaction turbine. It operates under medium head.
Working principle
Francis turbine consists of a spiral casing, fixed guide blades, runner, moving blades and draft tube.
The spiral casing encloses a number of stationary guide blades. The guide blades are fixed around the
circumference of an inner ring of moving blades. Moving blades are fixed to the runner.
Water at high pressure from the penstock pipe enters the inlet in the spiral casing. It flows radially
inwards to the outer periphery of the runner through the guide blades. From the outer periphery of the
runner, water flows inwards through the moving blades and discharges at the center of the runner at a low
pressure. During its flow over the moving blades, water imparts kinetic energy to the runner, causing the
rotation of the runner.

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 Fluid Machinery 7
Draft tube is a diverging conical tube fitted at the center of the runner. It enables the discharge of water at
low pressure. The other end of the draft tube is immersed in the discharging side of the water called tail
race.
KAPLAN TURBINE
Kaplan turbine is a low head reaction turbine, in which water flows axially. It was developed by German
Engineer Kaplan in 1916.
All the parts of the Kaplan turbine (viz, spiral casing, guide wheel and guide blades) are similar to that of
the Francis turbine, except the runner blades, runner and draft tube. The runner and runner blades of the
Kaplan turbine resemble with the propeller of the ship. Hence, Kaplan turbine is also called as Propeller
Turbine.

Working Principle
Water at high pressure enters the spiral casing through the inlet and flows over the guide blades. The
water from the guide blades strokes the runner blades axially. Thus, the kinetic energy is imparted by
water to the runner blades, causing the rotation of the runner. The runner has only 4 or 6 blades.
The water discharges at the center of the runner in the axial direction into the draft tube. The draft tube is
of L shape with its discharging end immersed into the tail race.

Kaplan Turbine

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