Experiment 6 Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Fluid Mechanics Laboratory HYDRAULIC TURBINE LAB

PELTON WHEEL TURBINE Objective The performance characteristics of a Pelton wheel hydraulic turbine are to be determined. Specifically, torque and power are to be presented as a function of turbine speed. Theoretically a Pelton Wheel turbine is most efficient when the speed of its buckets is half the speed of its water jet. The purpose of this lab is to check this prediction Apparatus A Pelton wheel with the following parts is employed to do this experiment. Figure 1 shows the wheel and its main components.

Figure 1. Pelton wheel components

Jet nozzle Torquemeter

Pelton wheel

V-Notch flowmeter

Tachometer

weir

Pressure gauge Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the experiment set-up

Pump

Figure 2 show as a schematic of the experiment. A water pumps drives water through a nozzle which creates a jet within the turbine body. The water jet hits the turbine buckets and the exchange of momentum causes the rotation. The brake power of the turbine is measured by a torque meter. Flow rate of water and pressure at the nozzle are measured using V notch flow meter and a pressure gauge. A handheld tachometer Theory The Pelton Wheel is a turbine to convert fluid energy to mechanical energy. The pressure due to a head of water in a reservoir above the turbine is converted into kinetic energy in the form of a jet, which then impinges on a series of targets mounted on a wheel transferring energy from the water into rotation of the wheel. For historical reasons, the type of turbine which operates with a jet of water at atmospheric pressure is known as impulse turbine. The targets on the rotating wheel are known as buckets, and the assembly of the wheel and buckets is called the runner. Theoretically a Pelton Wheel turbine is most efficient when the speed of its buckets is half the speed of its water jet. The purpose of this lab is to check this prediction. For the lab you will use just one flow rate of water and one jet speed. You will adjust the load on the turbine with a brake. You will adjust the load on the turbine with a brake. You will measure shaft rotational speed N using an optical tachometer and brake load L using a mercury bellows. For a Pelton Wheel the jet speed is: V=Cv(2gh) =Cv(2P/) =0.97(2P/) And the bucket speed is u=r. Its theoretical power is:

C = Q( V-u)(1-kcos) u The derivative of power with respect to turbine speed yields: dC/du=0 u=V/2 JET SPEED BUCKET SPEED BRAKE TORQUE ROTOR SPEED BRAKE POWER AVAILABLE POWER POWER ANGLE =165 V=0.97(2P/) u=r T = RL =2N/60 A =T B=PQ C = Q( V-u)(1-kcos) u FACTOR k=0.8

Where : r = distance from the axis of rotation down to the center of the bucket and jet u = bucket speed V = jet speed Q = volumetric flow rate of water N = shaft speed L = brake load A = brake power C = theoretical power D = pump motor brake power B = available power =165 and k=0.8: k accounts for friction losses. Experimental Procedures STEP1 : Use a ruler to estimate r the distance from the axis of rotation down to the center of the bucket and jet. This is needed to calculate the bucket speed u. Use a ruler to also estimate R the distance from the axis of rotation out to the center of load bellows. This is needed to calculate brake torque. STEP2: Turn on turbine and set the jet speed. Wait till transients settle. Then record P the pressure in the pipe from which the jet flows. This allows you to calculate the jet speed (V).Also record Q the volumetric flow rate of water using V notch weir. P and Q give you flow power. STEP3: Adjust the brake and record (1) the shaft speed N and (2) the brake load L. Repeat this step for many different closely spaced brake settings. Calculate the brake power A and the theoretical power C. Also calculate the available power B. Construct plots A/B and C/B versus u/V. Comment on plots. Measure the pump motor brake power D compare with available power B. Note that the available power in 3

the flow is B=PQ. The brake power is A=T. The brake torque is T=RL. The rotor speed is = N/60 2 if N is in RPM. Record the following R = 0.160(m) Pump Speed = Brake Setting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Reduce Shaft Speed by approx 150-200 rpm for each step. Start brake at full open r =0.06(m) Q= P =

Pump Bellows Load = Shaft Speed N (rpm) Turbine Bellows load L (Newton)