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Performance of Turbines, Similarity Laws
Performance of Turbines, Similarity Laws
u
= K
3
1 = K
3
Or, =
u
E
Thus,
u
=
H
If a turbine is working under different heads, the behaviour of the turbine can be easily
known from the unit quantities.
N
u
=
N
1
E
1
=
N
2
E
2
P
u
=
P
1
E
1
3
2
=
P
2
E
2
3
2
u
=
1
E
1
=
2
E
2
Where H
1
, H
2
are the heads under which a turbine works; N
1
,N
2
are the corresponding
speeds; Q
1
,Q
2
are the discharges, and P
1
,P
2
are the power developed by the turbine,
Example 6.7: A turbine is to operate under a head of 25 m at 180 rpm. The discharge is
10 cumec. If the efficiency is 90%, determine the performance of the turbine under a
head of 20 m.
Solution: Data given: Head on turbine, H
1
=25 m; speed, N
1
=180 rpm; discharge, Q
1
=10
cumec; overall efficiency, p
o
= 9u% or u.9;
Let, for the head of H
2
=20 m, speed is N
2
, discharge is Q
2
, and power is P
2
.
Using the relation,
p
o
=
P
w. P
=
P
1
y
1
E
1
u.9 =
P
1
9.81 X1u X2S
Therefore, P
1
= u.9 X 9.81 X 1u X 2S = 22u7.S kw
Using the relation,
N
1
E
1
=
N
2
E
2
N
2
=
N
1
E
2
E
1
N
2
=
18u X 2u
2S
N
2
= 161.u rpm Ans
1
E
1
=
2
E
2
2
=
1
E
2
E
1
2
=
1u.u X2u
2S
2
= 8.94 cumcc Ans
P
1
E
1
3
2
=
P
2
E
2
3
2
P
2
=
P
1
E
2
3
2
E
1
3
2
P
2
=
22u7 X 2u
3
2
2S
3
2
P
2
= 1S79.2u kw Ans
The concept of the specific turbine is useful for comparing the turbines of different types.
The performance of turbines under unit head gives us the comparison of turbines of the
same type.
A specific turbine is an imaginary turbine identical (identical in shape, geometrical
proportions, blade angles, gate openings, etc.,) with actual turbine, but reduced to such a
size that it develops one kW power under unit head.
The actual turbine under unit condition and specific turbine both work under unit head
(1m head), whatever the velocity triangle holds good for the actual turbine, will hold
good for specific turbine also. In other words,
u
s
= u
u
; I
]s
= I
]u
; ctc
Similarly,
u
= nBI
]u
onJ
s
= n
s
B
s
I
]s
Therefore,
s
= [
2
Because, B = n; B
s
= n
s
P
u
= y
u
X1Xp
o
; onJ P
s
= y
s
X1Xp
o
Assuming overall efficiency to be same, then,
P
u
P
s
=
u
s
= _
s
]
2
The power of geometrically similar turbines working under the same head vary as the
square of the runner diameters.
Since, the specific turbine develops 1kW under a unit head, P
s
=1, therefore,
P
u
= _
s
]
2
s
=
P
u
But, P
u
=
P
H
32
Therefore,
s
=
_
P
H
32
=
H
34
P
Further, u
u
=
nN
u
60
, onJ u
s
=
n
s
N
s
60
But ,u
u
= u
s
Therefore,
nN
u
60
=
n
s
N
s
60
Or, N
s
= N
u
s
= N
u
P
But, N
u
=
N
H
Thus, N
s
=
NP
H
S4
This value of N
s
, the speed of the specific turbine is known as specific speed of the
turbine.
Example 6.8:- A turbine develops 10,000 kW under a head of 20 m at 150 rpm. What is
the specific speed? What would be its normal speed and output under a head of 25 m?
Solution: Power, P=12000 kW; head, H=20 m; speed, N=150 rpm;
Using the relation for specific speed, we have,
N
s
=
NP
E
5
4
N
s
=
1Su1uuuu
2u
54
= SS4.6S rpm
To find normal speed under a head of 25m:
Using the relation,
N
1
= N_
E
1
E
]
1
2
N
1
= 1Su X
_
_
2S
2u
]
N
1
= 167.7 rpm
To find normal output power:
Using the relation,
P
1
= P _
E
1
E
]
3
2
P
1
= 1uuuu_
2S
2u
]
3
2
P
1
= 1S97S.42.7 kw
SIMILARITY LAWS
Similarity laws have been developed for characterizing turbine performance of units
of different size and type.
They provide a means of predicting performance based on the performance of models or
the performance of units of design similar to those that have already been built.
The fact that the similarity laws can be used is often referred to as the homologous nature
of turbines.
When turbines of different sizes are designed to have corresponding linear dimensions
with a common geometric ratio, the turbines are said to be homologous.
The power outputs, speeds and flow characteristics are proportional and they tend to have
equal efficiencies.
These similarity laws are developed and presented in a series of formulas that define the
turbine constants