Francis Turbine

A turbine is a device which converts the available energy in a flowing fluid

into mechanical energy (rotational energy of its moving shaft), thus acting
as a prime mover for different applications, such as electricity generation,
industrial operation, vehicle propulsion, etc.

Presently, a majority of turbines has an electric generator mounted on the

shaft of the turbine and the generated mechanical energy of the shaft is
eventually converted into electrical energy.

Depending on the type of fluid, main categories of turbines are:

• Hydraulic Turbine: Natural flowing water

• Air/Wind turbine: Natural flowing air

• Steam turbine: Hot water vapor

• Gas turbine: Hot air gas (product of combustion)

Francis Turbine

High Head – heads greater than about 400 m

Medium Head – heads greater than about 60 m and less than 400 m
Low Heads – heads in the range from about 3 m to 60 m

The reaction turbines are very versatile in their capability to handle a

wide range of discharges and heads and thus nearly 80% of water
turbines in the world are of reaction type.
Francis Turbine

v)
Type of turbine Specific speed, Ns Specific speed, Ns
(kW-rpm-m units) (hp-rpm-ft units)
Pelton (single jet) or 8 – 30 1 – 10
per jet in a multi jet
Francis 40 – 450 10 – 110
Kaplan 300 – 900 100 – 250

Francis turbine is a reaction type, medium head, medium discharge,

mixed flow, mostly vertical shaft, medium specific speed turbine.
Main Parts of Francis Turbine
The figure on the right shows the basic layout
and components of a Francis turbine. Water
from a penstock enters the scroll casing, gets
guided by the guide vanes and passes through
the passage between the blades of the runner
while doing so the pressure of the water in the
rotor changes.
In reaction to this change in pressure of the
water, the turbine rotor blades develops torque,
which is transmitted to the auxiliary devices via
its shaft.
1. Spiral (Volute) Casing
The spiral casing around the runner of the turbine
is known as the volute casing or scroll case.
Throughout its length, it has numerous openings at
regular intervals to allow the working fluid to
impinge on the blades of the runner. These
openings convert the pressure energy of the fluid
into kinetic energy just before the fluid impinges on
the blades. This maintains a constant velocity
despite the fact that numerous openings have been
provided for the fluid to enter the blades, as the
cross-sectional area of this casing decreases
uniformly along the circumference.
Main Parts of a Francis Turbine
2. Stay vanes and Guide vanes (Wicket gates)
The primary function of the stay vanes and guide vanes is to convert the pressure energy of the
fluid into kinetic energy. It also serves to direct the flow at design angles to the runner blades.
3. Runner blades
Runner blades are the heart of any turbine. These are the centers where the fluid strikes and
the tangential force of the impact causes the shaft of the turbine to rotate, producing torque.
Close attention to design of blade angles at inlet and outlet is necessary, as these are major
parameters affecting power production.
4. Draft Tube
The draft tube is a conduit that connects the runner exit to the tail race where the water is
discharged from the turbine. Its primary function is to reduce the velocity of discharged water to
minimize the loss of kinetic energy at the outlet. This permits the turbine to be set above the tail
water without appreciable drop of available head.

Application of Francis Turbine

Since Francis turbines may be designed for a wide range of heads and flows along with high
efficiency, this is the most widely used turbine in the world. Francis type units cover a head
range from 40 to 600 m, and their output power varies from a few kilowatts up to hundreds of
MW. Large Francis turbines might have an efficiency of more than 90%.
In addition to electrical production, they may also be used for pumped storage, where a
reservoir is filled by the turbine (acting as a pump) driven by the generator (acting as a large
electrical motor) during periods of low power demand, and then reversed and used to generate
power during peak demand.
Velocity Triangles for Francis Turbine
Using subscripts 1 for inlet and 2 for outlet quantities:

Inlet Velocity Triangle

Outlet Velocity Triangle

Velocity Triangles for Francis Turbine

Inlet Velocity Triangle

Outlet Velocity Triangle

Euler Equation for Francis Turbine
Euler Head, 𝑯𝒆 : Inlet Velocity Triangle
[Theoretical (Ideal) head utilized (extracted) by
the turbine rotor per unit weight (kg) of liquid]

From Euler’s Turbine Equation, Euler Head, 𝑯𝒆 :

𝑽𝟐𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝒓𝟐 − 𝒗𝟐𝒓𝟏 𝒖𝟐𝟏 − 𝒖𝟐𝟐
𝑯𝒆 = + +
𝟐𝒈 𝟐𝒈 𝟐𝒈
Where:
𝑉12 −𝑉22
represents the change in absolute kinetic energy
2𝑔
between inlet and outlet of the wheel (also called
‘impulse effect’);
𝑢12 −𝑢22
represents the decrease in static pressure due to
2𝑔
centrifugal action (𝑢1 > 𝑢2 );
2 −𝑣 2
𝑣𝑟2 𝑟1
represents a decrease in static pressure due to
2𝑔
acceleration of flow (𝑣𝑟2 > 𝑣𝑟1 )from inlet to outlet
Outlet Velocity Triangle
(convergence effect)
Euler Equation for Francis Turbine
2 −𝑣 2
𝑣𝑟2 𝑢12 −𝑢22
𝑟1
Thus the sum of + represents the change in the static pressure
2𝑔 2𝑔
head in the system and is called the reaction effect.

𝒗𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝒓𝟐 −𝒗𝒓𝟏 +𝒖𝟏 −𝒖𝟐 𝑽𝟐 −𝑽𝟐
𝟐𝒈 𝟐𝒈
𝑯𝒆 − 𝟐𝒈 𝟐
𝟏

Degree of reaction, 𝑅 = =
𝑯𝒆 𝑯𝒆

Degree of reaction indicates the relative values of impulse effect and reaction
effect in the total energy head 𝐻𝑒 and forms an important aspect in the design of
the rotors.

A turbine with a positive (non-zero) Degree of reaction must necessarily be

completely enclosed for development of pressure head. Such turbines are called
reaction turbines. Examples are Francis turbine, Kaplan turbine, etc. If the degree
of reaction is zero, the rotor can be open to atmosphere. Such turbines are called
impulse turbines. An example is Pelton wheel 𝑅 = 0 , where the rotor is not
encased to contain water under pressure and the pressure is atmospheric
everywhere.
 Euler Equation for Francis Turbine
2 −𝑣 2
𝑣𝑟2 𝑢12 −𝑢22
𝑟1 Inlet Velocity Triangle
Thus the sum of + represents
2𝑔 2𝑔
the change in the static pressure head in the
system and is called the reaction effect.

𝑽𝟐𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐𝟐 𝒗𝟐𝒓𝟐 − 𝒗𝟐𝒓𝟏 𝒖𝟐𝟏 − 𝒖𝟐𝟐

𝑯𝒆 = + +
𝟐𝒈 𝟐𝒈 𝟐𝒈

From the inlet and outlet velocity triangles,

we have:
2
𝑣𝑟1 = 𝑢12 + 𝑉12 − 2𝑢1 𝑉1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼1
2
𝑣𝑟2 = 𝑢22 + 𝑉22 − 2𝑢2 𝑉2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼2
Using these relations in 𝐻𝑒 equation and rearranging, we get:
1
𝐻𝑒 = 𝑢 𝑉 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼1 − 𝑢2 𝑉2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼2
𝑔 1 1
𝟏
⇒ 𝑯𝒆 = 𝒖𝟏 𝒗𝒘𝟏 − 𝒖𝟐 𝒗𝒘𝟐 Outlet Velocity Triangle
𝒈
Euler Equation for Francis Turbine
Assuming Radial Exit at outlet for a Francis Turbine,

Euler Head (Theoretical),

𝟏
𝑯𝒆 = 𝒖𝟏 𝒗𝒘𝟏
𝒈

If, Net Head Available at the turbine rotor, Outlet Velocity Triangle
(radial exit, 𝜶𝟐 = 𝟗𝟎°,
(Measured) is 𝐻, then 𝑖. 𝑒., 𝒗𝒘𝟐 = 𝟎)

Hydraulic Efficiency,
𝑯𝒆
𝜼𝒉 =
𝑯
Efficiencies of a Turbine
If a discharge 𝑸 is admitted to a turbine under a net head 𝑯, the action of this water on the
turbine causes the rotor to rotate at an angular velocity 𝝎 with a brake torque 𝑻 being
delivered to the shaft. In such case, power supplied (input) by the water is 𝜸𝑸𝑯 (hydraulic)
and the power delivered (output) to the shaft, known as brake power, is 𝑻𝝎 (mechanical).
Thus the overall efficiency of such a hydraulic turbine is given by,

𝑴𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 (𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒇𝒕) 𝑻𝝎

Overall efficiency, 𝜼𝒐 = = 𝜸𝑸𝑯
𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 (𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓)
However, this overall efficiency can be considered in three components as below:
𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓
Volumetric efficiency, 𝜼𝒗 = =
𝑸 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓
where 𝑄 is Total discharge volume reaching the turbine inlet, 𝑄𝐿 is the leakage flow which
exits the turbine without doing any work. Generally, 𝑄𝐿 is of the order of 0.5% of 𝑄.
𝑯−𝒉𝒇𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒆 𝒖𝟏 𝒗𝒘𝟏
Hydraulic efficiency, 𝜼𝒉 = = 𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 = =
𝑯 𝑯 𝒈𝑯
where ℎ𝑓𝑟 is hydraulic losses (fluid friction, entrance and exit losses) in the rotor.
Thus, the power produced by the runner is 𝛾 𝑄 − 𝑄𝐿 𝐻𝑒 .
𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒇𝒕 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 (𝑯𝒆 −𝒉𝒎 ) 𝑻𝝎
Mechanical efficiency, 𝜼𝒎 = = =
𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝑯𝒆 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝑯𝒆
where ℎ𝑚 is the mechanical frictional losses between the rotor and other parts of the turbine
unit such as bearings, glands, couplings, etc.
Efficiencies of a Turbine
𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒇𝒕 (𝒎𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍) 𝑻𝝎
Overall (Total) efficiency, 𝜼𝒐 = 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 (𝒉𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒄) = 𝜸𝑸𝑯

𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝑯𝒆 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 (𝑯𝒆 −𝒉𝒎 )

Or, 𝜼𝒐 = 𝜼𝒗 𝜼𝒉 𝜼𝒎 = × ×
𝑸 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝑯 𝜸 𝑸−𝑸𝑳 𝑯𝒆

Schematic representation of turbine losses and efficiencies

Similarity Ratios of Turbines by Dimensional Analysis
For a hydroturbine by considering the power developed by the rotor, 𝑃, as the dependent
variable, we can write, 𝑷 = 𝒇(𝑫, 𝑵, 𝒈𝑯, 𝑸, 𝝆, 𝝁) (𝑔𝐻 is specific energy)
by using Buckingham Pi theorem method of dimensional analysis, the following four Π’s can
𝑷 𝒈𝑯 𝑸 𝝆𝑵𝑫𝟐
be obtained: =𝒇 , , 𝝁 ⇒ ς1 = 𝑓( ς2, ς3, ς4)
𝝆𝑵𝟑 𝑫𝟓 𝑵𝟐 𝑫𝟐 𝑵𝑫𝟑

𝑃 𝑃
ς𝟏 = = = 𝐶𝑝 = 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝜌𝑁3 𝐷5 𝐴 𝜌𝑁3 𝐷5 𝐵

𝐻 𝐻
ς𝟐 = = = 𝐶𝐻 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 (dropping ‘𝑔’ term)
𝑁 2 𝐷2 𝐴 𝑁 2 𝐷2 𝐵

𝑄 𝑄
ς𝟑 = = = 𝐶𝑄 = 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑁𝐷 3 𝐴 𝑁𝐷3 𝐵

𝜌𝑁𝐷2
ς𝟒 = = 𝑅𝑒 = 𝑅𝑒𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑠 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 (𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑)
𝜇

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏

𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝑨 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 ς′𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍

ς1 1/2 𝑁 𝑃
Again, ς2 5/4
= 𝐻 5/4 = 𝑁𝑠 is called specific speed . For dynamic similarity
between two turbines or model and its prototype, the value of Ns should be same.
Modeling Efficiency

Here, 𝜼 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔.

Specific Speed
𝑵 𝑷 ▪ Specific Speed of a turbine is defined as the speed of an imaginary turbine
Specific Speed, 𝑵𝒔 = which will produce the same amount of power under unit head.
𝑯𝟓/𝟒 ▪ This is a numerical engineering tool for the selection of the type of the
turbine for installation.
Note that The values of 𝑵, 𝑷 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯 are taken at Best Efficiency Point (BEP)

There is another expression for non-dimensional specific speed (also called shape factor or shape number)
𝑵 𝑷
𝑺𝒒 = This does not indicate the size, rather indicated the shape or type of the fluid machinery.
𝝆(𝒈𝑯)𝟓/𝟒

Type of turbine Specific speed, Ns Specific speed, Ns

(kW-rpm-m units) (hp-rpm-ft units)
Pelton (single jet) or 8 – 30 1 – 10
per jet in a multi jet
Francis 40 – 450 10 – 110
Kaplan 300 – 900 100 – 250
 Example Problems
Example–1: A Francis turbine has a guide-vane angle of 15o and its inlet flow is radial. The
ratio of inlet diameter to outlet diameter is 2.0. The flow velocity is 5.0 m/s and is constant.
Considering the exit discharge as radial, determine the (i) peripheral velocity at inlet, and (ii)
blade angle at outlet.

Solution:
 Example Problems
Example–2: The following data are available for a Francis turbine:
Flow velocity = 4.0 m/s and is constant
Peripheral velocity at inlet = 30 m/s
Whirl velocity at inlet = 25 m/s
Assuming a hydraulic efficiency of 90% and zero whirl at the exit, determine, (i) the net head
available to the turbine, (ii) the inlet blade angle, and (iii) inlet guide vane angle.

Solution:

Solution: