FRANCIS TURBINES

Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today. They operate in
a water head from ! to "#! meters $%% to &%% feet'. They are primari(y used for
e(ectrica( power production. The turbine powered )enerator power output )enera((y
ran)es from % to *#! me)awatts. The speed ran)e of the turbine is from +% to
!!! rpm. Francis turbines are a(most a(ways mounted with the shaft ,ertica( to -eep
water away from the attached )enerator and to faci(itate insta((ation and maintenance
access to it and the turbine.
A../ICATI0N
Francis turbines may be desi)ned for a wide ran)e of heads and f(ows. This a(on)
with their hi)h efficiency1 has made them the most wide(y used turbine in the wor(d.
Francis type units co,er a head ran)e from &! to *!! meters $!! to &%!! feet'1 and
their connected )enerator output power ,aries from 2ust a few -i(owatts up to one
)i)awatt. /ar)e Francis turbines are indi,idua((y desi)ned for each site to operate
with the )i,en water supp(y and water head at the hi)hest possib(e efficiency1
typica((y o,er 3!4.
In addition to e(ectrica( production1 they may a(so be used for pumped stora)e1
where a reser,oir is fi((ed by the turbine $actin) as a pump' dri,en by the )enerator
actin) as a (ar)e e(ectrica( motor durin) periods of (ow power demand1 and then
re,ersed and used to )enerate power durin) pea- demand. These pump stora)e
reser,oirs act as (ar)e ener)y stora)e sources to store 5e6cess5 e(ectrica( ener)y in the
form of water in e(e,ated reser,oirs. This is one of on(y a few ways that temporary
e6cess e(ectrica( capacity can be stored for (ater uti(i7ation.
C0NSTRUCTI0N
Construction8 Fi)ure shows schematic dia)ram of a Francis turbine.
The main parts are8
. Penstock8 It is a (ar)e si7e conduit which con,eys water from the upstream to
the dam9reser,oir to the turbine runner.
&. Spiral Casing8 It constitutes a c(osed passa)e whose cross:sectiona( area
)radua((y decreases a(on) the f(ow direction; area is ma6imum at in(et and
near(y 7ero at e6it.
%. Guide Vanes8 These ,anes direct the water on to the runner at an an)(e
appropriate to the desi)n1 the motion of them is )i,en by means of hand whee(
or by a )o,ernor.
<. Governing Mechanism8 It chan)es the position of the )uide b(ades9,anes to
affect a ,ariation in water f(ow rate1 when the (oad conditions on the turbine
chan)e.
#. Runner and Runner Blades8 The dri,in) force on the runner is both due to
impu(se and reaction effect. The number of runner b(ades usua((y ,aries
between " to &<.
". Draft Tube8 It is )radua((y e6pandin) tube which dischar)es water1 passin)
throu)h the runner to the tai( race.
.ERF0R=ANCE CUR>ES
?ESI@N
' A B !1!3# &' A B 1+ %' A B &1%
Rotors of hydrau(ic turbines with different specific speeds C