ST.

JOSEPH’S COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 1

Expt No:
Date:
LOAD TEST ON FRANCIS TURBINE
AIM:

1) To find the operating characteristic curves of Francis turbine at constant speed and constant
gate opening and plot the following graphs:

(i)Input Vs Output
(ii)Efficiency Vs Output
(iii) Head Vs Output
(iv) Output Vs Discharge
(v)Efficiency Vs Discharge
2) To calculate the specific speed of the turbine

APPARATUS:
(a) Turbine fitted with loading arrangement
(b) A pumping unit to supply water at the required head
(c) Calibrated venturimeter to measure discharge
(d) Pressure Gauge in the inlet pipeline to measure the working head
(e) Tachometer to measure the r.p.m
(f) Vacuum gauge fitted at the entry point to the draft tube.

PRINCIPLE:
The turbine is run at constant gate opening and constant speed specified by the
manufacturer and the efficiency of the turbine is determined by measuring output torque of the
machine from zero to maximum. The speed is kept constant by adjusting the inlet valve. The
input power Pi is determined by
Pi = wQH watts
where w =specific weight of water=9810N/m3
Q =discharge through turbine measured using a calibrated venturimeter whose
equation is given as

Q= 0.0131 (∆H)0.5 m3/sec

where ∆H=Pressure difference =(P1-P2)x10 m of water
H = total head in m of water
= 10(P +V/760) m of water
where P (kg/cm2) is the pressure gauge reading
V is the vacuum gauge reading in mm of Hg

The power output PO can be determined by measuring the torque output of the turbine using
brake drum.
PO= (2πRNT)/60 watts
D+d
where R= equivalent brake drum radius =
2
and D = brake drum diameter =0.30m

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 2

d = rope diameter =0.015m

N=speed of the turbine in r.p.m =…………. r.p.m
T=resultant load in N =(T1-T2+T0+S)9.81
where T0= hanger weight =1kg
T1=Weight added in kg
T2=Spring load in kg
S=zero error (if any)

Then Efficiency is calculated as follows:

Pi
Efficiency of the turbine=
Po
The specific speed of the turbine is calculated as
NPo0.5
Ns = 5
H4
where N = speed of the turbine in r.p.m
Po = output power in watts at maximum efficiency
H = effective head in m

PROCEDURE:
1. The load test is conducted at constant speed (1500 r.p.m) with constant gate
opening (3/4 th of full opening) by varying the load applied on the brake
drum from zero to maximum
2. First calculate the maximum load that can be applied.
3. Adjust the gate opening to ¾ th of full opening.
4. Prime the centrifugal pump provided for supplying pressurised water to the
turbine and start the pump after closing the inlet valve to the turbine.
5. Remove the load on the brake drum and open the inlet valve in order to start
the turbine
6. Note all the gauge readings and zero error if any, for spring balance.
7. Apply the load on the brake drum and open the cooling water supply. Bring
the speed to the rated value by adjusting the inlet valve. Give sufficient time
(say 60s) to obtain steady state condition.
8. After bringing the system into the steady state, take readings. Care should be
taken during loading in order to keep the r.p.m within +10% or –10% of the
rated value.
9. Repeat the experiment for taking 5 more set of readings between zero and
full load and tabulate them.
10. Release the load gradually, simultaneously close the inlet valve and switch
off the pump motor to stop the machine.

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HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 3

TABULATION AND OBSERVATIONS

Brake Drum diameter D= 0.30..m

Rope diameter, d= 0.015 m
Effective Radius, R=……………
Rated output of turbine =……….kW=…………..hp
Spring balance reading
Dead weight applied

Venturimeter reading

Total
head
Speed of Turbine

Sl.
no:

Total head

Efficiency
Discharge
difference
Net load

Pressure

Pressure

Pressure

Pressure

Vacuum
reading

reading

reading

reading

Output
gauge

gauge

gauge

gauge

Input
PO= (2πRNT)/60
dH =(P1-P2)10
T=(T1-T2+T0+S)

Pi = wQH (W)
(P+V/760)10
V mm of Hg
P (kg/cm2)
m of water

m of water

%
N (r.p.m)

P1(kg/cm2)

P2(kg/cm2)
T1 (kg)

T2(kg)

9.81

(W)
(N)

Hanger weight, To= 1 kg

Zero error (if any) of spring balance=……….kg

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 4

SAMPLE CALCULATION (Set No.. )

RESULT

INFERENCE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 5

Expt No:
Date:
BEST GATE OPENING FOR FRANCIS TURBINE
AIM:

To find the best gate opening for Francis turbine.

EQUIPMENTS:

(a)Turbine fittedwith loading arrangement

(b) A pumping unit to supply water at the required head
(c) Calibrated venturimeter to measure discharge
(d) Pressure Gauge in the inlet pipeline to measure the working head
(e)Tachometer to measure the r.p.m
(f) Vacuum gauge fitted at the entry point to the draft tube.

PROCEDURE:

In this experiment the gate opening of Francis turbine, corresponding to

maximum efficiency for a given fixed output is found out. At first calculate the net
load to be applied on the brake drum for the given constant output using the equation.
60 x P
T=
2 N R
Where T is the resultant load to be applied, P is the Rated power in Watts, N is the
rated speed in r.p.m and R is the effective radius of the brakedrum. Keep the inlet
blades of the turbine to the required position. Prime the pump, start the motor after
closing the bypass and inlet valves. Open the inlet valve of the turbine. Load the brake
drum to the specified value while adjusting the inlet valve so as to bring sped to rated
value. Ensure the cooling water supply to the brakedrum. Note the readings. Repeat
the experiments for various blade positions. Plot the graph of Efficiency vs. gate
opening. Note the gate opening corresponding to maximum efficiency. For starting
and stopping all the load on the turbine should be removed.

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HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 6

TABULATION AND OBSERVATIONS

Brake Drum diameter D = 0.30 m
Rope diameter = 0.015 m
Effective Radius, R=……………
Output of turbine =……….kW=…………..hp
Hanger weight, To = 1 kg
Zero error (if any) of spring balance=……….kg

Venturimeter reading Total head

% Gate opening

Sl.n
Discharge Input Efficiency

Total head
o:
difference
Pressure

Pressure

Pressure

Pressure

Vacuum
reading

reading

reading

reading
gauge

gauge

gauge

gauge
dH =(P1-P2)10

X 100
Pi= wQH (W)
(P+V/760)10
V mm of Hg
m of water

m of water
Q=0.0131

2)

PI
η = Po
P(kg/cm
(m3/sec)
P1(kg/cm2)

P2(kg/cm2)

(dH)0.5

(%)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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HYDRAULICS MACHINES LABORATORY MANUAL Page 7

SAMPLE CALCULATION: (Set No:……….)

RESULT:

1. Max Efficiency =
2. Best Gate Opening Corresponding To Maximum Efficiency =

INFERENCE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING