UNIT -IV

1.Hydraulic Turbines and pumps

2.Classification of Hydraulic Turbines
K.Balasundaram , M.E.,
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
K.C.G. College Of Technology

WHAT IS TURBOMACHINERY ?
turbo or turbines is Latin in origin and implies
that which spins or whirls around

A turbo machine is a rotating (as opposed to

reciprocating) device that extracts energy from or
adds energy to fluids.

Energy is transferred to or from a continuously

flowing fluid by the dynamic action of moving
blades or rotors.

TURBINES
Turbines are defined as the hydraulic machines
which convert hydraulic energy into
mechanical energy.
This mechanical energy is used in running an
electric generator which is directly coupled to
the shaft of the turbine.
Thus the mechanical energy is converted into
electrical energy

PUMPES

Pumps are defined as the hydraulic

machines which convert Mechanical
energy into hydraulic energy are called
pumps.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Hydraulic turbines are the machines which use

the energy of water and convert it to mechanical
energy.
The mechanical energy developed by a turbine
is used in running an electric generator which is
directly coupled to the shaft of the turbine.
The electric generator thus develops electric
power, which is known as hydro-electric power.

General Layout of a Hydraulic Power Plant

A dam constructed across a river to store water

Pipes of large diameters called penstocks
Turbines having different types vanes fitted to the wheel
Tail race, which is a channel which carries water away from the
water

DEFINITIONS OF HEADS

Gross Head:
The difference between the head race level and tail race level
when no water is flowing is known as Gross head.
It is denoted by Hg
Net Head :
It is also called effective head and is defined as the head
available at the inlet of the turbine.
It is denoted by H
Net Head H = Hg hf
Where
Hg = Gross head
hf = Head loss due to friction

4. f .L.V 2
hf
d 2g

CLASSIFICATION OF HYDRAULIC
TURBINES
The hydraulic turbines classified are

According to the type of energy at inlet

According to the direction of flow through runner

Tangential flow turbine

Radial flow turbine
Axial flow turbine and
Mixed flow turbine

According to the head at the inlet of turbine

Impulse turbine and

Reaction turbine

High head turbine

Medium head turbine and
Low head turbine

According to the specific speed of the turbine

Low specific speed turbine

Medium specific speed turbine and
High specific speed turbine

IMPULSE TURBINE
If

at the inlet of the turbine, the energy

available is only kinetic energy, the turbine is
known impulse turbine

Example:
Pelton wheel turbine

REACTION TURBINE
If at the inlet of the turbine,
the water possesses kinetic energy as well as
pressure energy, the turbine is known as
reaction turbine.
Example:
Francis turbine,
Kaplan turbine

RADIAL FLOW TURBINE

If the water flow in the radial direction
through the runner, the turbine is called radial flow
turbine
INWARD RADIAL FLOW TURBINE :
If the water flows from outward to
inward, radially the turbine is known as inward
radial flow turbine.
OUTWARD RADIAL FLOW TURBINE :
If the water flow radially from
inward to outwards, the turbine is known as
outward radial flow turbine.

AXIAL FLOW TURBINE :

If the water flow through the runner along the
direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the runner,
the turbine is called axial flow turbine.
MIXED FLOW TURBINE:
If the water flows through the runner in the
radial direction but leaves in the direction parallel to axis
of rotation of the runner, the turbine is called mixed flow
turbine.
TANGENTIAL FLOW TURBINE :
If the water flows along the tangent of the
runner, the turbine is known as tangential flow turbine.

Reaction (Static pressure changes)

Converts both Flow & Kinetic energy
Axial flow or propeller turbine
Radial or (Francis turbine)
Impulse: (Static pressure unchanged)
Converts only Kinetic energy
Tangential flow on buckets (Pelton)

Man-Boat Analogy
Man = Fluid

Boat = Rotor blade

IMPULSE

REACTION

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMPULSE AND

REACTION TURBINES
Sl:
No
:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Impulse turbine

Reaction turbine

All the potential energy is converted

into kinetic energy by nozzle before
entering to turbine runner.

Only a portion of the fluid energy is

transferred into kinetic energy before the
fluid enters the turbine

Flow regulations is possible without

loss

Flow regulation is possible with loss

Unit is installed above the tailrace

Unit is kept entirely submerged in water

below tailrace

Blades are only in action when they are Blades are in action at all the time
in front of nozzle.

IMPULSE TURBINE
If at the inlet of the turbine, the energy available is only
kinetic energy, the turbine is known impulse turbine.

Tangential flow turbine

In tangential flow turbine, water flows along the tangent
to the path of the runner.

Example:
Pelton wheel turbine

Impulse turbine (PELTON WHEEL)

Converts
kinetic energy alone

The main parts of the pelton turbine are

Nozzle and flow regulating arrangement

Runner and buckets

Casing and
Breaking jet

Nozzle and flow Regulating Arrangement

The amount of water striking the buckets (vanes) of the runner is controlled by providing a
spear in the nozzle as shown in fig. The spear is a conical needle which is operated either by
a 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.

Runner with Buckets

Fig shows the runner of a pelton wheel. It consists of a circular disc on the periphery
of which a number of buckets evenly spaced are fixed. The shape of the buckets is of a double
hemispherical cup or bowl. Each bucket is divided into two symmetrical parts by a dividing wall
which is known as splitter.

The jet of water strikes on the splitter. The splitter divides the jet into two equal parts and
the comes out at the outer edge of the bucket. The buckets are shaped in such a way that the
jet gets deflected through 1600 or 1700. The buckets are made of cast iron, cast steel bronze
or stainless steel depending upon the head at the inlet of the turbine.

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 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.
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.
This jet of water is called breaking jet.

VELOCITY TRIANGLES AND WORK

DONE FOR PELTON WHEEL
Fig shows the shape of the buckets of the
pelton wheel. The set of water from the nozzle
strikes the bucket at the splitter which splits up
the set into two parts. These part of the set,
glides over the inner surfaces and comes out at
the outer edge.

The inlet velocity triangle is drawn at the splitter and

outlet velocity triangle is drawn at the outer edge of the
bucket.

RADIAL FLOW REACTION TURBINES

Reaction turbine means that 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 goes on changing into kinetic energy.
Thus the water through the runner is under pressure. The
runner is completely enclosed in an air tight casing and
casing and the runner is always full of water.
Radial flow turbine are those turbines in which the water
flows in the radial direction.
The water may flow radially from outwards to inwards or
from inwards to outwards
Examples : Francis Turbine
Kaplan Turbine
Propeller Turbine

Main parts of radial flow Reaction Turbine

1.Casing
2.Guide mechanism
3.Runner, and
4.Draft tube

INWARD RADIAL FLOW TURBINE

If the water flows from outwards to inwards through the

runner, the turbine is known as inward radial flow turbine

The water flows over the moving vanes in the inward radial direction and is
discharged at the runner diameter of the runner.
The outer diameter of the runner is the inlet and the inner diameter is the outlet.

Velocity Triangles
INWARD RADIAL FLOW TURBINE
Inlet Triangle

Outlet Triangle

Outward radial Flow reaction Turbine

The outward radial flow reaction turbine in which

the water from casing enters the stationary guide
wheel.
The guide wheel consists of guide vanes which
direct water to enter the runner which is around the
stationary guide wheel.
The water flows through the vanes of the runner in
the outward radial direction and is discharge at the
outer diameter of the runner.
The inner diameter of the runner is inlet and outer
diameter is the outlet.

Outward radial Flow reaction Turbine

The velocity triangles at inlet and outlet will be drawn by
the same procedure as inward flow turbine.

Francis turbines
This is the most common turbine type in hydroelectric stations.

The Francis turbine is a radial-flow turbine with water flowing

in a radial direction inward over the curved runner blades toward
the centre of the turbine

Francis turbines are suitable for hydroelectric systems with

water heads between 2 meters to 200 meters, and the efficiency
can be over 90%.

A Francis turbine comprises mainly

the four components
1. spiral casing,

2. guide on stay vanes,

3. runner blades and
4. draft-tube

Francis Turbine (Mixed flow)

Francis turbines

Francis turbine

Velocity Triangles of Francis turbines

The velocity triangle at inlet and outlet of the Francis turbines are
drawn in the same way as incase of inward flow reaction turbine.

As in case of Francis turbine, the discharge is radial at outlet, the

velocity of whirl at outletVw2 will be zero.

AXIAL FLOW REACTION TURBINE

If the water parallel to the axis of the rotation of the shaft,

the turbine is known as axial flow turbine.

For the axial flow reaction turbine the shaft of the turbine
is vertical. The lower end of the shaft is made larger which
is known as hub or boss.

The vanes are fixed on the hub and hence acts as a

runner for axial flow reaction turbine.

The following are the important type of axial flow reaction turbines

Propeller Turbine and

Kaplan Turbine

Propeller Turbine

The vanes are fixed to the hub and they are

not adjustable, the runner is known as
propeller turbine.

Kaplan Turbine
The

vanes on the hub are adjustable the turbine is

known as a Kaplan turbine. This turbine is suitable
where a large quantity of water at low heads is
available.

Kaplan Turbine

Kaplan turbine, which consists of a hub fixed to the shaft. On

the hub, the adjustable vanes are fixed as shown in fig.

The main parts of Kaplan turbine

are
Scroll casing
Guide vanes mechanism
Hub with vanes or runner of the
turbine , and
Draft tube.

Axial flow (Kaplan) Turbine

Difference Between Francis and

Kaplan Turbine
Sl;No
1.
2.
3.
4.

Francis turbine

Kaplan turbine

Mixed flow reaction turbine

Axial flow reaction turbine

Runner vanes are not adjustable Runner vanes are adjustable

Medium head turbine (50m to
250m

Low head turbine (up to30m)

Large No of vanes 16 to 24

Less No of vanes 3 to 8

- Propeller Turbine
A propeller turbine generally has
a runner with three to six blades
in which the water contacts all of
the blades constantly.
Picture a boat propeller running in
a pipe. Through the pipe, the
pressure is constant; if it isn't, the
runner would be out of balance.
The pitch of the blades may be
fixed or adjustable.
The major components besides
the runner are a scroll case,
wicket gates, and a draft
tube.

AXIAL FLOW PROPELLER TURBINE

AXIAL FLOW
Propeller / Kaplan Hydraulic Turbine

Guide Vanes / Wicket Gates

Rotor w/ blades

Draft Tube / Diffuser / Casing

Kaplan Turbine = Propeller turbine with adjustable blades
Efficiency 90 - 93%
Cavitation a concern

Propeller Turbine

MIXED FLOW
Fluid flow over the rotor
is both axial and radial

Radial Inflow / Axial Outflow .. MIXED

FLOW Reaction Turbine
Common in large hydraulic power plants
Large Flow / Medium Head / Low Specific
Speed

EFFICIENCIES OF A TURBINE
The following are the important efficiencies of a turbine
1 .Hydraulic efficiency
2 . Mechanical efficiency
3 . Volumetric efficiency
4 . Overall efficiency

Hydraulic efficiency
If is defined as the ratio of power given by water to the runner
of a turbine to the power supplied by the water at the inlet of the turbine
Power deliverd to runner
Power supplied at inlet

Mechanical efficiency
If is defined the ratio of the power available at the shaft of the
turbine to the power delivered to the runner.
Power at the shaft of the turbine
Power delivered by water to the runner

Volumetric efficiency
If is defined the ratio of the volume of the water actually striking
the runner to the volume of water supplied to the turbine.

OVERALL EFFICIENCY

If is defined as the ratio of power available at the shaft of the

turbine to the power supplied by the water at the inlet of the
turbine.
Volume available at theshaft of the turbine
Power supplied at the inlet of the turbine

specific speed

It is defined as the speed of a turbine which is identical in shape, geometrical

dimensions, blades angles, gate opening etc., with the actual turbine but of
such a size it will develop unit power when working under unit head. It is
denoted by the symbol Ns

The specific speed is used in comparing the different types of turbines as

every type of turbine has different specific speed.

N P
Ns =
5/4
H
Where

N= Speed of actual turbine

P = Power developed
H = head under which the turbine is working

Significance of specific speed

Specific speed plays an important role for selecting the type of the
turbine. Also the performance of a turbine can be predicted by knowing the
specific speed of the turbine.
The type of turbine for different specific speed is given in Table 18.1 as:
S.No
.

Specific speed

Types of turbine

(M.K.S.)

(S.I.)

1.

10 to 35

8.5 to 30

Pelt on wheel with single jet

2.

35 to 60

30 to 51

Pelton wheel with two or more jet

3.

60 to 300

51 to 225

Francis turbine

4.

300 to 1000

225 to 860

Kaplan or propeller turbine

Turbine application
Head (pressure)
Turbine
Impulse

Reaction

High
(30m +)
Pelton
Turgo
-

Medium

Low
(<10 m)
Cross flow Cross flow
Pelton
Turgo
Francis
Propeller
Pump
Darius

19