ME 401 A

Energy Systems II
Turbomachinery
Part IV

Module 5

Hydraulic Turbines

History of Hydraulic Power

more than 2200 years ago: Use hydraulic energy to develop
mechanical energy
Water wheels:
Use of PE overshot wheels
Use of KE undershot wheels
Working fluid: water
run slowly, low efficiency

Hence, Hydraulic turbines

converts water power into mechanical (shaft) work
Cheaper and clean source of power generation!

Hydroelectric Power Plant:

working, Advantages & Statistics

Turbine Classification
Action of water through turbine runners:
1. Impulse: PE to KE in nozzle, open to atmosphere
e.g. Pelton wheel
2. Reaction: some PE to KE at entrance,
otherwise pressure energy
Closed air tight; e.g. Franscis, Kaplan
Flow direction:
1. Tangential: Pelton wheel
2. Radial: Inward / Outward flow; Franscis
3. Axial: Kaplan
4. Mixed flow: Radial entry, Axial exit; Modern Franscis
Head available:
Shaft orientation:
Specific speed:

High (1770 m), Medium (60-250m), Low (<60m)

Horizontal
Vertical

8.5 to 30 (Pelton, 1 jet); 43 (2 jets)

50 340: Franscis
355 860: Kaplan & Propeller turbines

I.
Pelton Wheel Turbine
American Engineer: Lester A. Pelton (1829 - 1908); ~1880

Historical Perspective

Construction & Working

Nozzle
Wheel
Buckets: double semi-ellipsoidal cups; ridge splitter; number > 15
Jet deflection angle: 180 for max. Mom. Change; Reality ~ 165. why?
Double cups -> axial thrust is balanced
Bucket dimensions:
L, B, D: 2.5, 4, 0.8 of d

Courtesy: Fluid Mech. & Fluid Machines SKS, GB, SC

Pelton Wheel: Real

Courtesy: Web nptel lectures

Working

Flow & Velocity Triangles

Inlet

Outlet

Courtesy: Web nptel lectures

Governing
Flow control according to load / power need
u/v1 = 0.46, fixed
for fixed u, v1 is fixed
vary jet area

Deflector
to prevent Water Hammer effect

Courtesy: Web nptel lectures

II.
Francis Turbine
American Engineer: James B. Francis (1815 1892)
developed first in 1849; radially inward flow

Salient Features
well suited for medium heads
mixed flow
Little conversion of PE to KE at inlet
engages all runner blades simultaneously, unlike Pelton
conversion of pressure to KE, mechanical energy in runner
impulse action at runner exit
vertical shaft; exception some smaller machines

Components

Main components = 5:
1. Spiral casing
2. Stay ring
3. Guide vanes
(Wicket Gates)
4. Runner Blades
5. Draft Tube

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

1. Spiral Casing
also, scroll / volute casing
Continuous decrease in c/s area ..... why ?!

Courtesy: Web nptel lectures

2. Speed ring / Stay Ring

two rings: up & down
connected with stay vanes
number: of guide vanes
Functions:
direct water from scroll casing to guide vanes
load (water pr., generator, turbine) transfer to foundation

3. Guide Vanes
also, Stay Vanes / Wicket Gates
impart tangential velocity, hence angular mom.
Functions:
converts part of PE to KE
ensure smooth entry to runner blades
pivot -> Governing ?

4. Runner
radial inward flow
radial + tangential through runner
axial exit
some impulse action at exit
16 24 vanes
airfoil section
Blade height = f(NST); increases with NST

5. Draft Tube
conduit connecting runner exit to tail race
pipe of increasing c/s area
exit should be submerged
Main Functions:
1. Permits negative/ suction head at runner exit
-> allows turbine to install above tail race level without loss of head.
2. Recuperator of pressure energy: rejected KE to Pressure
angle < 8 deg. Why?
Crucial in design
of reaction turbines

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

In Reality.....!!

Courtesy: Web nptel lectures

Working

Franscis Turbine from top

Velocity Triangle

Courtesy: Fluid Mech. & Fluid Machines SKS, GB, SC

Draft Tube Theory

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Evolution of Francis Runner

Francis Turbine: Relative sizes to produce 73550 W power
Design for given power P,
for reducing head conditions:
need to increase Q
Two ways: increase Vf or B/D
higher Vf -> excessive loss at exit
increase B/D
but, needs large outlet area
obtained by axial exit
Best option: Kaplan Turbine
Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Transition: Francis to Kaplan: V triangles

Inlet
Francis: (a, b, c)
Dubbs: (d)
Kaplan: (e)
(a to d): Vf1 is radial
(e): Vf1 is axial
Outlet for all: (f)
NST increases with decrease in head
Decrease in inlet velocity V1
change in blade angle
-> increase in flow velocity component Vf1
allows large amount of water to enter turbine
Courtesy: Fluid Mech. & Fluid Machines SKS, GB, SC

III.
Kaplan Turbine
Austrian Engineer: Viktor Kaplan (1876 1934)
Designed in 1913
Axial Flow Turbine

Features
Reaction
Operates in closed conduit
Flow parallel to axis of rotation
Entry and Exit: Axial
Low Head
Large flow rate

Schematic + Components
Components: Similar to Francis
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Scroll casing
Stay rings
Guide vanes
Runner
Draft Tube

Runner: 4 to 6 blades; 8
Blades: Complex twisted airfoils
Runner resembles Ship Propeller

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Actual

Courtesy: Web

Advantage of Kaplan
difference with propeller turbine: Variable Vs. Fixed blade angles
Inclination angle of runner & guide vanes can be varied in operation
high efficiency over wide range of operating conditions
even at part load conditions
change in shape of V triangles
but, shockless entry ensured
Eddy losses totally eliminated
Inevitable in Francis & Propeller

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Working

Cavitation

How does it occur?

when local pressure falls below vapour pressure for local temperature
reaction turbines: min pressure = exit of runner
Thomas Cavitation Parameter : German Engineer
Reduces efficiency

Governing
of
Turbines
Constant frequency electricity generation
Synchronous speed
Operation of regulation of speed of turbine runner
device = Governor

Pelton
Solid arrow -> decrease in load;

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Broken -> Increase

Reaction Turbines: Franscis & Kaplan

Solid arrow -> decrease in load;

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Broken -> Increase

Relief Valve
performs job of deflector in Pelton

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Francis & Kaplan

Bulb Turbine
Extremely low head Turbines
can be installed in fast flowing rivers on hills
For tidal waves as well
not so common in India!!

Working
Turbine components + Generator: in a Bulb shaped casing
typical runner diameter: 4 5 m
Reaction turbine of Kaplan type; mixed flow axial & radial
horizontal shaft; Generator, usually upstream

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Performance
Characteristics

Need
Turbines have to work under varying conditions:
head, speed, load, gate opening, output, etc.
need: to remain close to max. efficiency performance
not always possible!
hence, study performance characteristics, under varying conditions

for comparison of different turbines of same type:

express performance ch. in terms of unit quantities
for comparison of different types of turbines:
express performance ch. in terms of specific quantities

Unit Quantities
Output developed by turbine while working under unit head
adjust speed such that the efficiency remains unaffected
this is possible: only if velocity triangles (H & 1 ) are similar
ensuring shockless entry

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Specific Quantities
Specific Turbines / Runners

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Performance Characteristics

1. Constant head characteristics

2. Constant speed characteristics
3. Constant efficiency characteristics

1. Constant Head Characteristics

Qu

Pu
o
Pelton Wheel

Francis, Kaplan

Keep head constant

Vary speed, measure Qu Pu o for various gate openings
Qu: Low sp. speed Francis: drooping, why?
Pu o: Parabolic
o for Pelton wheel at almost same value ~ 0.46
o at different values for Franscis, Kaplan

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

2. Constant Speed Characteristics

Keep speed constant, by regulating gate opening, thus discharge

head: may or may not be constant
eta increases with load
eta maximum at full load
Kaplan, Pelton better for part load conditions!
o/p power eta Vs. Discharge:
(o/p power) Q
eta_o: curvilinear; constant beyond certain Q
Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

3. Constant Efficiency Characteristics

also, Universal characteristic curves: for all conditions of running
Procedure: operate for 8-10 gate openings, get o Vs Nu & Nu Vs Qu (Pu)
draw hori. line on o Vs Nu, and project points of constant o on Nu Vs Qu (Pu)
Innermost: max o; outermost: min o

Francis

Courtesy: Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics Modi & Seth

Sp. Speed Vs. Efficiency

Courtesy: Fluid Mech. & Fluid Machines SKS, GB, SC

Pelton, Kaplan, Francis:

Comparative Study

Summary

Announcement:
nd
2 & Final Quiz
Day: Wednesday
Date: 2nd November 2016
Time: 2 3 pm
Venue: L18
Syllabus: up to & including Module 5
Please bring CALCULATORS!

Courtesy: www.youtube.com

(for videos)

Thank you ...