Difference between

Impulse Turbine
and
Reaction Turbine
INTRODUCTION

A turbine is a device which converts the

energy of some fluid into rotational
mechanical energy. There are a number of
turbines available based on the type of
input fluid used such as steam turbine,
water turbine, gas turbines, etc.
Also, based on the action of fluid (water)
the hydro-turbines are classified into two
types:

Reaction Trubine
Impulse Turbine

HISTORY

The steam turbine was invented in Great

Britain by Charles Parsons in 1884. The
first marine installation was aboard the
SS Turbinia, which was launched in 1894.
The development and use of turbine
engines marked a significant milestone in
the history of aviation and propulsion
technology.

BASIC COMPONENTS OF A TURBINE

ENGINE

The basic components of a turbine engine

include:
Inlet:
Air is drawn into the engine
through an inlet, where it
undergoes compression.
Compressor:
The compressor is a series of
rotating blades that compress the
incoming air. Compression
increases the air pressure and
temperature.
Combustor:
The compressed air is mixed with
fuel in the combustor, and the
mixture is ignited. This combustion
process produces high-pressure,
high-velocity gases.
Turbine:
The high-velocity gases flow over a
series of turbine blades, causing
them to rotate. This rotation drives
the compressor and any other
connected components.
Exhaust:
The exhaust gases exit the engine
at high speed, generating thrust in
the case of an aircraft engine or
powering a generator for
electricity generation.
WHAT IS AN IMPULSE TURBINE?

The type of hydro-turbine, where the turbine is rotated

by the impulse force of the water jet is known as
impulse turbine. In the impulse turbine, the pressure of
water is converted into kinetic energy in a nozzle and
then the velocity of the water jet drives the turbine.
The main components of an impulse are: set of runner
blades and nozzle. The nozzle converts the pressure of
water jet into kinetic energy, after discharging from the
nozzle, the water jet strikes the runner blades and turns
the runner through its axis. In this way, the impulse
force of water jet drives the turbine.

The most common examples of impulse turbines are −

Pelton wheel turbine, Turgo turbine, and Cross flow
turbine.
 Pelton wheel turbine
A Pelton turbine or Pelton wheel is a type of hydro
turbine (specifically an impulse turbine) used
frequently in hydroelectric plants. These turbines are
generally used for sites with heads greater than 300
meters. This type of turbine was created during the
gold rush in 1880 by Lester Pelton.

Turgo turbine
The Turgo turbine is an impulse water turbine designed
for medium head applications. Operational Turgo
turbines achieve efficiencies of about 87%. In factory
and lab tests Turgo turbines perform with efficiencies
of up to 90%.

Cross flow turbine.

Water is directed onto the turbine through a nozzle that
creates a flat sheet of water, and then is directed onto
the blades using a guide vane. Water first hits the
blades and moves to the inside of the turbine, with the
water hitting the blades one more time as the water
exits the center of the turbine.
WHAT IS A REACTION TURBINE?

The type of hydro turbine, which uses the pressure as

well as velocity of the moving water to spin the runner
is called a reaction turbine. The reaction turbines are
placed in the water stream where the water enters the
turbine casing and after rotating the blades, the water
leaves the turbine casing.

The Francis turbine and the Kaplan turbine are the two
most popular reaction type water turbines. A typical
reaction turbine consists of rows of fixed blades and
rows of moving blades. In the reaction turbine, the
moving water can produce a reaction force on the
runner blades, which can rotate the runner on its axis.
After moving the runner blades, the water leaves the
turbine cashing.
 Francis Turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine. It is an
inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and
axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most
common water turbine in use today, and can achieve
over 95% efficiency.

Kaplan Turbine
The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type water turbine
which has adjustable blades. It was developed in 1913
by Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan, who combined
automatically adjusted propeller blades with
automatically adjusted wicket gates to achieve
efficiency over a wide range of flow and water level.
Difference between Impulse Turbine and
Reaction Turbine
 Difference between Impulse Turbine and
Reaction Turbine
Basis of Difference Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine

The type of turbine in which only
kinetic energy of water (impulse force)
Definition
is used to rotate the turbine is known
as impulse turbine.
The type of water turbine in which both
kinetic energy as well as pressure energy
of water is used turn the turbine is called
the reaction turbine.

In an impulse turbine, the water flows In reaction turbine, the water is guided by
Water flow through a nozzle and strikes to the the guide blades (fixed blades) to flow
blades of the turbine. over the turbine.

In impulse turbine, an impulsive force In reaction turbine, a reaction force on the

Force on blades
rotates the turbine. blades is rotation the turbine.

In impulse turbine, the pressure of

Pressure of water while flowing
over moving blades
In the reaction turbine, the pressure of
water remains unchanged and is equal
water continuously decreases when it
to atmospheric pressure when it flows
flows over the blades.
over the moving blades.

In impulse turbine, the pressure of In reaction turbine, the pressure of water

Decrease in pressure of water water is reduced in the nozzle before is decreasing while flowing over the
entering the turbine. blades.

In impulse turbine, all the pressure of In reaction turbine, there is no change in

Change in pressure of water water is converted into kinetic energy the pressure of water before striking the
before striking the turbine blades. turbine blades.

The impulse turbines are most The reaction turbines are suitable for
Water head
suitable for large water heads. relatively low water heads.

The impulse turbines are suitable for Reaction turbines are suitable in cases
Water flow rate
comparatively low water flow rates. where water flow rates are higher.

In reaction turbine, the turbine casing is

In impulse turbine, there is no
required because the pressure at inlet is
necessity of turbine casing as it has no
Necessity of turbine casing very high as compared to pressure at
hydraulic function. It is just provided
outlet. Therefore, the casing seals it from
to prevent splashing of water.
the atmospheric pressure.

The blades of an impulse turbine are The blades of a reaction turbine are
Blades profile
of symmetrical profile. asymmetrical, having aerofoil profile.

In impulse turbine, the water In a reaction turbine, the water discharges

Water discharge discharges directly from the turbine into a draft tube first and then into the tail
wheel to tail race. race.

For the same power output, the size of The reaction turbine have relatively large
Turbine size
impulse turbine is smaller. size for the same power output.

Popular examples of impulse turbine

Popular examples of reaction turbines are:
Examples are: Pelton wheel turbine, Turgo
Francis turbine and Kaplan turbine.
turbine and cross-flow turbine.
Conclusion

The most significant difference between

an impulse turbine and a reaction turbine
is that the impulse turbine uses only
kinetic energy of water to rotate its
runner, while the reaction turbine uses
both pressure and kinetic energy of water
to spin the turbine.