Impulse Turbines

-if the turbine wheel is driven by the kinetic energy of the fluid that strikes the turbines blades through
the nozzle or otherwise

-these types of turbines are set of rotating machinery operates at atmospheric pressure

-usually suitable for high had and low flow rates

Three Types of Impulse Turbines:

1. Pelton
2. Turgo
3. Cross-flow

** The construction of Pelton and Turgo are similar. However, the cross-flow turbine is modified type of
impulse turbine which classified as an impulse turbine due to the rotation of the runner at atm pressure
and not as a submerged turbine.

Reaction Turbines

-if the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy of water w/c are due to the pressure and velocity,
respectively cause the turbine blades to rotate

- these types of turbines, the turbine is immersed in water and changes in water pressure along the
kinetic energy of the water cause power exchange.

- the application for these is usually at lower and higher flow rates than impulse

-very diverse (Francis, Kaplan, and Deriaz)

Types of Turbines Based on Fluid Direction Through the Machine

Radial Flow Turbine

- Francis
- Fixed Pitch Propeller
- Turgo
- Peltons
- Kaplan
- Crossflow

- if the flow in the runner moves radially, the turbine is radial flow
- these turbines are divided into two types: (Inward and outward radial flow)
- Francis Turbines can be in form of radial flow turbines

Inward Radial Flow Turbines

-these turbines, water enters the turbine casing through the Penstock, and travel through the fixed
guide vanes to the rotor and exits from there

- the inner and outer diameters are as the outlet and the inlet

- inner diameter is the inlet and the outer diameter is the outlet
Tangential or Peripheral Flow Turbines

-these turbines flow in a tangential direction. Pelton belongs to this category

Axial Flow Turbines

- This type of turbine the fluid flows parallel to the turbine shaft (turbine axis). Kaplan is one of
the turbines

Mixed Flow Turbines

- Turbine which the fluid flows enter the turbine radially and leaves it axially is mixed flow turbine
such as Francis Turbine

Types of turbines based on the hydraulic operating range

Low Head Turbines

-hydraulic turbines operating in the head range of fewer 45m

-Kaplan is one of the turbines

- if the head is less than 3m, it is considered an ultra-low head

Medium Head Turbines

-working range for heads of 45 to 250m

-Francis Turbines generally operate this such condition

High Head Turbines

- Turbines w/ heads higher than 250m such as Pelton Turbine

Types of Turbines Based on Specific Speed

- The specific speed of a turbine is defined as the speed of a turbine w/ geometric similarity that
can generate a unit of power under a head unit

Based on the parameters for Specific Speed, water turbines are classified into three classes:

 Low Specific Speed Turbine (values 1-10, impulse turbines operate in this range.
 Medium Specific Speed Turbine (turbines that operate in the specific range of 10-100 such as
Francis)
 High Specific Speed Turbine (specific speeds above 100 such as Kaplan turbine)

Pelton

- Is a type of impulse turbine in which the flows enter the wheel tangentially.
- The whole set is at atmospheric pressure, the flow with potential energy and high-pressure flow
to high-speed flow.
- The nozzle is responsible for converting high-pressure flow to high-speed flow. Therefore, the
current hits the blades of this turbine, w/c are in the shape of a bucket, at high speed and
causes the runner to rotate
- The high heads (up to 2000m) and low flow rates (4-15 m3/s) and classified as low specific speed
turbines.
- Produced in various sizes and have been used up even to a capacity of 200MW

Cross-Flow

-type of modified impulse turbine though similar with pelton or turgo it doesn’t have buckets and
the flow does not hit the buckets tangentially because the turbines don’t submerge in water, it falls
into this category of turbines.

-used commonly in small hydropower plants and can work wide range of the heads (b/w 2-200m)
and the flows (b/w 20-2000 l/s)

- Can be very well adapted in cases where the flow changes to main efficiency.

- the number of blades is b/w 10-34.

Francis Turbine

-reaction turbine used for medium heads (10-650m) and medium flows.
Types of Pump Storage