Kaplan turbine

Jebba, Nigeria

D0 = 8,5 m
De = 7,1 m
Di = 3,1 m
B0 = 2,8 m

*Q = 376 m3/s
*H = 27,6 m
*P = 96 MW

Machicura, CHILE

*Q = 144 m3/s
*H = 36,7 m
*P = 48 MW

D0 = 7,2 m
De = 4,2 m
Di = 1,9 m
B0 = 1,3 m

Outlet
draft tube

Outlet
runner

Inlet
runner

Outlet
Inlet
guide vane guide vane

Hydraulic efficiency h

Hydraulic efficiency

Runner blade angle

= constant

Flow rate Q

Hill chart

u1
v1

c1
c2

u2
v2

u 1 c u1 u 2 c u 2
h =
gH

Pressure distribution and

torque
c

Lift

Drag

Torque
D

Arm

1
FL = C L V 2 A
2
1
FD = C D V 2 A
2

FLift

FDrag

v
LChord
4

Blade profile data

CD
CL

Angle of attack
Angle of attack

Average relative
velocity

Pressure distribution and

torque
0,24 l

Cord length, l
Suction side

Pressure side
Single profile
Cascade
The pressure at the outlet is lower for a cascade than
for a single profile. The cavitation performance will
therefore be reduced in a cascade.

Radial distribution of the

blade profile

CL =Lift coefficient for a cascade

CL1 =Lift coefficient for a single profile

The ratio t/l influences the lift coefficient in a

cascade. The cord length for a blade will therefore
increase when the radius becomes increase

Radial distribution of the

blade profile

Flow in the axial plane

The figure shows blades with two different design

of the blade in radial direction. This is because it
will influence the secondary flow in the radial
direction

Main dimension of a
Kaplan turbine

Diameter of the runner

o

= Qn

1.0
> (tilnrmet)
Cml =0.12 + 0.18 0

Cml

0.5

0
1.5

2.0
0
>

2.5

3.0

D d
Qn =
c1m
4

D=

Qn 4
c1m

Height of the guide vanes

and runner diameter
ns = n

0.7

d/D , B0/D

0.6

P
H

d/D

0.5

B0/D
0.4
0.3
300

400

500

ns

600

700

800

900

54
n

Gap between hub and ring

and the runner blades
Gap between the
blade and ring

Gap between the

blade and hub

Efficiency
Virkningsgrad

0.90

s = x 10-3 d
0.85

0.80

Spaltepning
Gap x =1000s/D

Runaway speed
Runaway speed
Rusningstall/normalturtall

2.6
2

2.4

3
4
2.2

5
6
0

0.5

1.0

Voit h

2.0

kavitasjonskoeffisient
Cavitation
coefficient

3.0

10 H S
=
H
The figure shows different runaway speed at
different runner blade openings. The runaway speed
is dependent of the cavitation as shown in the figure

Hill chart

Example
Find the dimensions D, d and Bo
Given data:

P = 16,8 MW
H = 16 m
Qn = 120 m3/s
n = 125 rpm

Speed number:
2 g H = 2 9,82 16 = 17,7 m s

n 2 125 2
=
=
= 13,1 rad
s
60
60

13,1 rad

s = 0,74 m 1
=
=
2 g H 17,7 m
s
3
m
120
Q
s = 6,78 m 2
Qn =
=
2 g H 17,7 m
s

= Q n = 0,74 6,78 = 1,93

Diameter, D:
c1m = 0,12 + 0,18 = 0,467
o

D=

Qn 4
c1m

6,78 4
=
= 4,3 m
0,467

Diameter, d:
ns = n

P
H n5 4

22826 Hp
= 125rpm
= 590
54
16m

0.7

d/D , B0/D

0.6

d/D

0.5

B0/D
0.4
0.3
300

400

500

ns

600

700

800

d
= 0,45 d = D 0,45 = 1,9 m
D

900

Height, B:
0.7

d/D , B0/D

0.6

d/D

0.5

B0/D
0.4
0.3
300

400

500

ns

600

700

800

900

BO
= 0,41 BO = D 0,41 = 1,76 m
D

Number of blades z

Number of vanes, z:

l
= 0,95
t

z=5