5.

Hydraulic Turbines

5.1] layout of hydroelectric power plant

i) Dam (Reservoir):- It is a water reservoir generally constructed over the river that contains a lot of
potential energy.
ii) Penstock: - Pipes of large diameters called penstock, which carries water under high pressure
from storage reservoir to the turbines. These pipes are made of steel or reinforced concrete.
iii) Turbines: - These are the wheels on which numbers of vanes are fitted and convert hydraulic
energy to mechanical energy.
iv) Tail race: - It is the channel which carries water away from turbines after the water has worked
on turbines. The surface of water is also known as tail race.
v) Surge tank: - It is the tank provided in the path of penstock to avoid pulsating discharge at inlet of
turbines. During flow of water from reservoir to turbine through penstock pressure surges are
created to compensate these surges surge tank is provided.
5.1.2] Advantages of the hydroelectric power plant
1) Hydroelectric power plants are environment friendly. They do not cause pollution. Therefore,
hydropower is called green energy.
2) There is no combustion and no problem of waste disposal like ash.
3) The basic material i.e., water is freely available as compared to coal or other sources. So, its
operational cost is less.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

4) Water is not consumed during the power generation, it can be used for its primary applications
like irrigation, etc.
5) Hydroelectric power plants operate at relatively low temperatures, so the life of the plant is
longer. Life expectancy of hydropower plants is above 50 years.
6) The hydraulic turbine can be switched on or off in very short time unlike thermal or nuclear
power plants where the steam turbine is to be put on the turning gear for two days during start-ups
and shut down.
7) Being simple in design and operation it does not require the skill operator; manpower
requirement is also low.
5.1.3] Limitations of the hydroelectric power plant
1) Power generation is dependent on the supply of water available which may vary from season to
season and region to region. So, the satisfactory operation of the plant throughout the year is not
assured.
2) Water sources with suitable head and discharge are often far from the load centres that need
long transmission lines. It increases losses and costs both.
3) Hydro power projects are capital intensive with a low rate of return.
4) The gestation period of the hydro projects is quite large, the gap between foundation and
completion of the projects may extend from 10 to 15 years.
5) The transport of basic material i.e., water is very costly, if at all planned.
6) Idle time during low rainfall or draughts is unwarranted and difficult to tackle.
5.2] Classify the hydraulic turbines
5.2.1] According to the type of energy available at inlet to the turbine
1) impulse turbine 2) Reaction turbine
5.2.2] According to the direction of flow through runners.
1) Tangential flow turbine 2) Radial flow turbine
3) Axial flow turbine 4) Mixed flow turbine
5.2.3] According to the head available at the inlet to the turbine.
1) Low head turbine (2 m to 15 m) 2) Medium head turbine (16 m to 70 m)
3) High head turbine (71 m and above)
5.2.4] According to the specific speed of the turbine.
1) low specific speed 2) Medium specific speed
3) High specific speed
5. Hydraulic Turbines

5.2.5] State the name of turbine for following conditions:

(i) High head, minimum discharge: Impulse Turbine (Pelton Wheel Turbine)
(ii) Low head, maximum discharge: Reaction Turbine (Kaplan Turbine)
(iii) Specific speed varying for 60 to 400 metric units: Francis Turbine
(iv) Medium head and discharge: Modern Francis Turbine
5.2.6]Suggest the type of turbine to be used for following specific speed:
i) 8.5 to 30 (10 to 35) : Pelton Turbine
ii) 50 to 340 (60 to 400) : Francis Turbine
iii) 300 to 1000 : Kaplan Turbine

5.3] Impulse Turbine

5.3.1] Principle of working of an impulse turbine.

➢ At the inlet of turbine energy available is only kinetic energy.
➢ Water strikes the bucket along the tangent of the runner.
➢ The pressure at the inlet and outlet of the turbine is the atmosphere.
➢ eg. Pelton Wheel
5.3.2] Pelton Wheel Turbine: The Pelton wheel is a tangential flow impulse turbine.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

5.3.4] The Pelton wheel has the following components.

1) Nozzle & flow regulating arrangement – spear.
2) Runner and buckets.
3) Casing.
Working: -
1] Nozzle and flow regulating arrangement: -The amount of water striking the buckets of the
runner is controlled by providing a spear in the nozzle. The spear is a conical needle which is
operated either by hand wheel or automatically in an axial direction depending upon the size of the
unit. When the spear is pushed forward into the nozzle the amount of water striking the runner is
reduced. On the other hand, if the spear is pushed back, the amount of water striking the runner
increases.
2] Runner and Buckets: - It consists of a circular disc on the periphery of which a number of buckets
evenly spaced are fixed. The shape of the bucket is a double hemispherical cup or bowl. Each bucket
is divided into two symmetrical parts by a dividing wall which is known as a splitter.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

3] Casing: - The function of the casing is to prevent the splashing of the water and to discharge
water to tail race. It also acts as a safeguard against accidents. It is made of cast iron or fabricated
steel plates. The casing of the Pelton wheel does not perform any hydraulic function.
4] Breaking Jet: - When the nozzle is completely closed by moving the spear in the forward
direction, the amount of water striking the runner reduces to zero. But the runner due to inertia
goes on revolving for a long time. To stop the runner in a short time, a small nozzle is provided
which directs the jet of water on the back of the vanes. The jet of water is called a breaking jet.
5.3.5] Velocity Triangle for Pelton wheel turbine.

Different terms used in the velocity triangle are as follows

V1=Absolute Velocity of entering water U1= Relative Velocity of bucket and water at inlet
Vr1= Relative Velocity at inlet Vf1=Velocity of flow at inlet
Vw1=Whirl Velocity at inlet
V2= Absolute Velocity of the leaving water U2=Velocity of the bucket at outlet
Vr2= Relative Velocity of bucket and water at outlet Vf2=Velocity of flow at outlet
Vw2=Whirl Velocity at outlet
Φ=Tip angle at outlet β=Angle of jet at outlet with flow velocity
5. Hydraulic Turbines

1. Hydraulic Efficiency: - It is defined as the ratio of the power produced by the turbine runner and
the power supplied by the water at the turbine inlet.
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟
ƞℎ𝑦𝑑 = 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑗𝑒𝑡

ρ𝐴𝑣.(𝑣−𝑢)(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠Ф).𝑢
ƞℎ𝑦𝑑 = 1 3
2
ρ𝐴.𝑣

2(𝑣−𝑢)(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠Ф).𝑢
ƞℎ𝑦𝑑 = 2
𝑣

(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠Ф)
Maximum Hydraulic efficiency. ƞ𝐻(𝑀𝑎𝑥) = 2

2. Mechanical Efficiency: The mechanical efficiency of the turbine is the ratio of the power obtained
from the turbine shaft (Shaft Power) to the power developed by runner.
𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
ƞ𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟

𝑃
ƞ𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = ρ𝐴𝑣.(𝑣−𝑢)(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠Ф).𝑢

3. Overall Efficiency: - The overall efficiency of the turbine is the ratio of the power available at the
turbine shaft to the power supply by water at entrance to the turbine.
𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑃
ƞ𝑂 = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
= ρ𝑔𝑄𝐻

ƞ𝑂 = ƞℎ𝑦𝑑 * ƞ𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ

5.3.6] Performance and operating characteristics curves of a Pelton turbine

The following are the important characteristic curves of a turbine: Main Characteristic Curves of
Constant Head Curve. The speed of the turbine is varied by changing load on the turbine. For each
value of the speed, the corresponding values of the power (P) and discharge (Q) are obtained.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

5.3.7] OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC CURVES / Const. Speed curves • Tests are performed at
constant speed. • Const. speed is attained by regulating the gate opening thereby varying the
discharge flowing through the turbine as the load varies. • Head may or may not kept constant
5. Hydraulic Turbines

5.4] Reaction Turbine

5.4.1] Principle of reaction turbine
In a Reaction turbine the water at the inlet of the turbine possesses kinetic energy as well as
pressure energy. As the water flows through the runner, a part of pressure energy is converted into
kinetic energy. This causes a reaction to rotate the turbine runner. Thus, water through the runner is
under pressure. The runner is completely enclosed in an airtight casing and the runner is always full
of water.
Example - Francis turbine, Kaplan turbine

Francis Turbine

The main parts of the Francis turbine are:

1) It consists of a casing guide vane, runner, draft tube and shaft.
A) Penstock: It is the large pipe which conveys water from the upstream of the reservoir to the
turbine runner.
B) Spiral casing: It is a closed passage whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases along the flow
direction. Area is maximum at the inlet and nearly zero at the outlet.
C) Guide vanes: These vanes direct the water onto the runner at an angle appropriate to the design.
D) Runner and runner blades: The driving force on the runner is both due to impulse and reaction
effect. The number of a runner blade usually varies between 16 to 24.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

E) Draft tube: It is a gradually expanding tube which discharges the water passing through the
runner to the tail race.
2) It is a type of Reaction turbine.
3) It operates under the medium head and medium discharge.
4) Water moves radially and flows outward to inward. i.eWater under the pressure enters the
runner from the guide vanes towards the centre in the radial direction and discharges out axially.
5) Guide vane having circular wheels in which the outer wheel is fixed and inner wheels are
movable.
6) Water wheels strike the runner of the turbine with a pressure head & velocity head.
7) Due to this, runner start to rotate & get mechanical energy to shaft.
8) After doing the work the water is discharge to the trail race through the draft tubes.

Kaplan Turbine
5. Hydraulic Turbines
5. Hydraulic Turbines

1) It is an axial flow turbine.

2) It consists of a main part scroll casing guide vanes, hub with vanes and draft tubes.
3) The shaft of the turbine is vertical, the lower end of which is made larger, known as hub.
4) Vanes are fixed on hubs
5) In Kaplan Turbine runner blades are adjustable and can be rotated about pivot fixed to the boss
of the runner
6) Vanes are generally 3 to 8 in number..
7) Draft tube is used at the end.
8) Kaplan turbine is used for low Head.

Working
1) Water from the penstock enters the scroll casing & then it moves to the guide vanes.
2) From the guide vanes the water turns through the 900 and flows axially through the runner.
3) Some Part of pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy.
4) Discharge is greater than another turbine.
5) Draft tube discharges the water into tail race from runner
5. Hydraulic Turbines

Characteristics curve of Kaplan turbine

(a) Unit quantity v/s unit speed
(b) Unit power v/s unit speed
(c) Overall efficiency v/s unit speed

Impulse turbine Reaction turbine

1) Pressure energy is totally converted into 1) Some parts are converted into kinetic
kinetic energy. energy.

2) Water comes from the nozzle & strikes on 2) Water is guided by guide vanes
the buckets.

3) Flow of water over the runner is at 3) Pressure decreases from inlet to outlet.
constant pressure equal to atmospheric
pressure

4)Water strike on the bucket with a kinetic 4) Water moves the runner with maximum
energy pressure energy.

5) Water is admitted over the periphery of the 5) Water is admitted all over the
runner. circumference of the runner.

6) It is suitable for high head. 6) It is f suitable for low & medium head.

7) e.g.-: Pelt on wheel turbine. 7) e.g., Francis, Kaplan Turbine.

8) Work done due to change in kinetic energy 8) Work done due to change in pressure
energy & change in kinetic energy.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

Draft tube: - It is an integral part of a reaction turbine that is connected to exist from runner to tail
race. To improve the efficiency of plants.
Necessity of the draft tube in reaction turbine: -
1. By providing draft tube, it is possible to install the turbine above the tail race without loss
of the head. This makes the inspection and maintenance of the turbine easy.
2. By providing a draft tube, the velocity is largely reduced at the exit of the draft tube. Thus the
kinetic head is gained.
Functions of draft tubes: -
a) To decrease the pressure at the runner, exit to a value less than the atmospheric pressure
& thereby increases the effective working head
b) To recover a part of kinetic energy, into a pressure head at the exit of draft tube
c) To prevent the cavitation at the exit of the runner
d) It serves to fix the turbine above the tail race facilitating proper inspection of the turbine.
Type of draft tube: -
1) Conical draft tube 2) Simple elbow draft tube
3) Elbow tube with rectangular outlet 4) Moody spreading draft tube.

1) Conical draft tube: -

1) It is a simple divergent tube of increased area like frustum of a cone.
2) It should be immersed in water.
3) The angle of divergence is restricted to 9o to 10o to avoid the losses due to separation.
4) Maximum Efficiency of conical draft tube is 90%.
5. Hydraulic Turbines

5) It is usually employed for low specific speed, vertical shaft Francis turbine
2) Elbow tube with rectangular outlet
1) A simple elbow tube with a circular cross section at inlet and rectangular outlet.
2) Efficiency is70%.
3) It is used in the Kaplan turbine.

3) Simple elbow draft tube

1) Its bend is given to the tube.
2) It is used where the draft tube is not possible to immerse in water.
3) Efficiency is 60%.
4) It is rarely used.
5) It reduces cavitations.
4) Moody spreading tube
1) Efficiency is 85%
2) It is used for short vertical distances.
Cavitations: -
1) Cavitations occur when the pressure falls below vapour pressure.
2) This can happen at the outlet of the turbine, inlet of pump, bend of pipe.
Effect of Cavitations: -
1) The noise produced by the collapsing of vapor bubbles & striking of liquid at the solid surface.
2) Change in flow pattern due to damaging the surface.
3) Energy losses due to Cavitation.