Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management

California State University, Long Beach

Lab # 7
Operating characteristics of a Pelton Turbine
(Prepared by Dr. Rebeka Sultana)
Objectives
The purpose of this experiment is to understand operating characteristics of a Pelton turbine.
measure efficiency of a Pelton turbine. Students will vary operating conditions and determine
how efficiency, power of the turbine will change at various speeds.
General Discussion
Turbines are mechanical device that extract energy from flowing fluid and converts the energy to
useful work. Turbines have rotor assembly and flowing fluid exerts torque on the rotor in the
direction of rotation. The power generated by the turbine can be used to drive generators or other
devices.
Turbines can be grouped into two types depending on the type of fluid used to generate energy
hydraulic turbines (working fluid is water) and gas/stream turbines (working fluid is gas).
Hydraulic turbines are further classified into two types impulse turbines and reaction turbines.
In Pelton turbines the individual jets of fluid striking the bucket generates the torque in the rotor.
In Reaction turbines, the rotor is completely surrounded by a casing and casing is completely
filled with fluid.

Figure 1. Schematic of rotors in Impulse and Reaction turbines

Pelton turbine is the commonly used impulse turbine where the total head of the incoming fluid
(the sum of pressure head, velocity head and elevation head) is converted to a large velocity head
at the exit of the supply nozzle. Pressure drop across the Pelton turbine rotor is zero and all the
pressure drop across the turbine stage occurs in the nozzle flow. These turbines are associated
with considerable changes in kinetic energy and little change in pressure energy.
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Pelon turbine is most efficient when operated with a high-head for example, a water head from
a lake located significantly above the turbine nozzle, which is converted to large velocity head at
the exit of the nozzle.
Typically turbines are used at a fixed speed when used for generating electricity. So, design
objective is to ensure maximum efficiency at normal operating speed. Peak efficiency changes
slightly with load/flow rate changes (see Fig 2).
Pelton turbine that will be used in this experiment is shown in Figure 3 and the basic parameters
that are used to define operational characteristics of a Pelton turbine are:

Qv = / t

[m3/s]

(1)

where Qv is the volumetric flow rate through the turbine, of water flowing through the turbine
during time t. When the volume of water flows through the turbine, brake force working on the
turbine is Fb and the torque T that rotates the rotor is given by

T = Fb r

[Nm]

(2)

where r is the radius of the brake pulley (given r = 0.03 m). Fb applied on the turbine is given by
the readings (w1 and w2) from two spring balances. So,
Fb = w2-w1

[N]

(3)

Mechanical power Pb produced by the turbine that is rotating at n speed is

Pb = 2 n T [Watts]

(4)

Hydraulic power Ph supplied by the water is,

Ph = Qv H i

[Watts]

(5)

where Hi is the pressure difference Pi [N/m2] across a turbine such that

Hi =

pi

[mH2/O]

The Bourdon pressure gauge measures the pressure difference relative to the atmospheric
pressure. Overall efficiency of the turbine can be calculated from,

ht =

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Powerout
P
2nT
100% = h 100% =
100%
Powerin
Pb
Qv H i

(6)

Figure 2. Schematic of the Pelton Turbine

Equipment
-

A F1-25 Pelton turbine apparatus as shown in Figure 2.

A hydraulic bench (F1-10).
A hand held digital tachometer.
A stopwatch to record volumetric flow rate.

Figure 3. Pelton turbine on hydraulic bench

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Equipment set up
1. Position the apparatus above the working channel of the hydraulic bench as shown in
Figure 3.
2. Connect the flexible tube of the turbine apparatus (inlet pipe in Figure 2) at the hydraulic
bench supply connector.
3. The tachometer will be used to find the speed of the turbine.
4. A band brake assembly will be used to apply force on the turbine and change operating
speed of the turbine. First, add the band brake assembly and lower it until the brake is
clear of the brake drum.
Procedure
1. First, close the bench flow control valve and keep the spear valve closed but do not force
it shut.
2. Turn the switch of the bench pump and open the bench control valve fully.
3. Gradually open the spear valve.
4. At this stage, band brake assembly is around the brake drum and tension in both the
spring balances is 0 mark (both the spring balances should read 0). With 0 mark applied,
the turbine operates at maximum speed.
5. Find this maximum speed of the turbine using the tachometer. Place the tachometer
horizontally to read the reading in the tachometer. A stabilized number in the tachometer
is the correct motor speed.
6. When the turbine is operating at maximum speed, find the flow rate through the turbine
using a stop watch and collecting 4 L of water in the hydraulic bench.
7. Record the inlet pressure gauge readings.
8. Next, apply tension in the band brake slightly (i.e., 2 mark) to slow the rotor speed
slightly.
9. Use the tachometer to find the speed of the turbine.
10. Record the spring balance readings, pressure gauge readings, and flow rate using stop
watch using a stop watch.
11. Increase the tension in the brake and repeat the steps 8 to 10 and collect at least a total of
6 sets of data. The last data set should be the highest speed at which the rotor has 0 speed.
12. When 6 sets of data are collected with the spear valve completely open, then reduce the
flow rate slightly by closing the spear valve and repeat the experiment from steps 1
through 11.
Record experimental data in Table 1.
Calculations
1. Rotor speed (n) is measured in RPM. Convert it to Hz by dividing the reading by 60.
2. Read the force reading w1 and w2 from spring balance 1 and 2, respectively.
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3. Find the volumetric flow rate (Qv) by collecting 4 L of water and finding the time to
collect that amount of water Column 6.
4. Inlet head Hi is calculated from the pressure reading at the Bourdon gauge using the
P
H i = i - Column 8.
g
5. Brake force Fb is the difference between w1 and w2. So, Fb = w1 w2 -Column 9.
6. Torque T can be calculated using T = Fb r , where r is radius of the drum on which
brake band operates and is given as r = 0.03 m. Column 10.
7. Brake power is calculated using Pb = 2 n T - Column 11.
8. Hydraulic power Ph can be calculated using Ph = gH iQv - Column 12.
9. Overall turbine efficiency ht =

Pb
100% - Column 13.
Ph

10. Plot a graph of measured Brake Horse Power Pb, Torque T, and overall efficiency for

different rotational speed n for a series of volumetric flow rate Qv.

11. For the case of spear valve partially open, plot a graph of measured Brake Horse Power
Pb, Torque T, and overall efficiency for different rotational speed n for a series of
volumetric flow rate Qv.
Discussions
Discuss your results by addressing the followings1. Comment on the shape of the graphs.
2. Compare at what speed maximum torque, maximum power output occurred when the
spear valve was completely open, partially open.
3. Discuss if the maximum efficiency is at the same speed when the spear valve was
completely open and partially closed.
4. Suggest optimum condition for operation of the Pelton turbine.
References
Armfield, 2011, Demonstration Pelton Turbine, Instruction Manual.
Munson, B. R., T. H. Okiishi, W. W. Huebsch, A. P. Rothmayer, 2012, Fundamentals of Fluid
Mechanics, 7th edition, John Wiley, Chapter 12.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbine.

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Table 1: Data Table for Pelton Turbine Efficiency

(a) Spear valve completely open
Rotor
Speed

Force 1

Force 2

Volume
of water

Time to
collect

Inlet
Head

Brake
Force

Torque

Brake
Power

Volume
Flow
rate

Hydraulic
Power

Overall
Turbine
Efficiency

N
(Hz)

w1
(N)

w2
(N)

V
(m3)

t
(sec)

Hi
(mH2O)

Fb
(N)

T
(N-m)

Pb
(W)

Qv
(m3/s)

Ph
(W)

Et
(%)

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(b) Spear valve partially open

Rotor
Speed

Force 1

Force 2

Volume
of water

Time to
collect

Inlet
Head

Brake
Force

Torque

Brake
Power

Volume
Flow
rate

Hydraulic
Power

Overall
Turbine
Efficiency

N
(Hz)

w1
(N)

w2
(N)

V
(m3)

t
(sec)

Hi
(mH2O)

Fb
(N)

T
(N-m)

Pb
(W)

Qv
(m3/s)

Ph
(W)

Et
(%)

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