ME40701 Applied Thermo-Fluids II Autumn 2020

Assignment 3: Reaction turbines

1. An inward flow reaction turbine has inlet and outlet diameters of 1.2 m and 0.6 m respectively. The
width of the runner is 0.25 m at the inlet and 0.35 m at the outlet. When the rotational speed is 250 rpm,
the relative velocity at the entrance is 3.5 m/s and is radial. Determine
(a) the guide vane angle at the inlet to the runner
(b) the absolute velocity at the inlet to the runner
(c) the discharge and
(d) the flow velocity at the outlet of the runner

2. A Francis turbine has an inlet diameter of 2 m and an outlet diameter of 1.2 m. The width of the blades
is constant at 0.2 m. The runner rotates at 250 rpm with a discharge of 8 m3/s. The vanes are radial at the
inlet and the discharge is radially outward at the outlet. Determine
(a) the angle of the guide vane at the inlet to the runner
(b) the blade angle at the outlet of the runner

3. At what angle should the wicket gates of a Francis turbine be set to extract 8000 kW of power from a
flow of 30 m3/s when running at 200 rpm ? The diameter of the runner at the inlet is 3 m. The width of the
opening at the inlet is 0.9 m. The blade angle at the inlet is obtuse. The flow can be assumed to leave
radially.

4. An inward flow reaction turbine runs at 450 rpm under a head of 115 m. The diameter of the runner at
the inlet is 1.2 m and the flow area at the inlet is 0.4 m2. The guide vane angle is 200. The blade angle of
the runner at the inlet is 1200. Assume that the whirl component of velocity at the outlet of the runner is
zero. Determine
(a) the power developed
(b) the hydraulic efficiency

5. A Francis turbine is set 3 m above tailwater. The critical value of the Thoma cavitation parameter is
0.32. The barometric pressure is 85 kPa. The vapour pressure of the water at the operating condition is 1.8
kPa. Find the maximum permissible head under which the turbine can operate.