HYDRAULIC TURBINES

Definition:
Hydraulic turbines are defined as hydraulic machines which convert hydraulic
energy (energy possessed by water) into mechanical energy. In other words, hydraulic
turbines absorb the energy in falling water and make it available for useful work.
Major classification of Hydraulic Turbines:
1. Impulse Turbine
2. Reaction Turbine
Impulse Turbine:
At the inlet of the turbine, energy available is only kinetic energy, the turbine is known as
Impulse Turbine.

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Principle:

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In the impulse turbine, all the potential (pressure) energy of water is converted into
kinetic (velocity) energy in the nozzle before striking the turbine wheel buckets.
Hence, an impulse turbine requires high head and low discharge at the inlet.
The impulse turbine may be radial flow or axial flow or tangential flow type.

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Pelton Wheel:

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The Pelton wheel is a tangential flow impulse turbine. It is named after L.A.
Pelton, an American Engineer, who developed the first impulse turbine in the year 1882.

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The main parts of the pelton Wheel are as follows:

1. Nozzle and Spear:
The amount of water striking the buckets of the Pelton wheel is controlled
by a spear in the nozzle. The spear is a conical needle operated by a hand
wheel.
2. Pelton Wheel with Buckets:
Pelton wheel is a circular wheel. On the periphery of the wheel, a number
of buckets are fixed. The shape of the buckets is a semi-ellipsoidal cup.
3. Casing:
The function of the casing is to prevent the splashing of water and to
discharge the water to tail race.
Working:
Water at high pressure from the penstock pipe enters the nozzle provided with a
spear. The pressure energy of water is converted into velocity energy, as it flows
through the nozzle.
By rotating the hand wheel, the spear is moved to control the quantity of water
flowing out of the nozzle. When the spear is pushed forward into the nozzle, the
amount of water striking the buckets is reduced.
The jet of water at high velocity from the nozzle strikes the buckets at the center of
the cup. The impulsive force of the jet striking on the buckets causes the rotation
of the wheel in the direction of the striking jet.
Here, the pressure energy of the water is converted into mechanical energy.
The pressure inside the casting is atmospheric. The pelton Wheel operates under a
high head of water. Therefore, it requires less quantity of water. Draft tubes are
not usually used with it.

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Reaction Turbine:
At the inlet f the turbine, the water possesses both kinetic energy as well as
potential energy, the turbine is known as Reaction Turbine.
It requires low/medium head with high rate of low.
Principle:
First, water enters the guide blades, which guide the water to enter the moving
blades.
In the moving blades, part of the pressure energy is converted into kinetic
energy, which causes rotation of the runner. Water leaving the moving blades
is at a low pressure.

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 There is a pressure difference between the entrance and the exit of the moving
blades. This difference in pressure is called Reaction.
Pressure acts on moving blades and causes the rotation of the wheel in the
opposite.
Francis Turbine:
Farancis Turbine was developed by the American Engineer J.B.Francis in 1850.
It is an inward flow radial type reaction turbine. It operates under medium head.
Working:
Francis turbine consists of a Spiral Casing, Fixed Guide Blades, Runner, Moving
Blades and Draft Tube.
The Spiral casing encloses a number of stationary guide blades. The guide blades
are fixed around the circumference of an inner ring of moving blades. Moving
blades are fixed to the runner.
Water at high pressure from the penstock pipe enters the inlet in the spiral casing.
It flows radically inwards to the outer periphery of the runner through the guide
blades.
From the outer periphery of the runner, water flows inwards through the moving
blades and discharges at the center of the runner at a low pressure.
During its flow over the moving blades, water imparts kinetic energy to the
runner, causing the rotation of the runner.
Draft tube is a diverging conical tube fitted at the center of the runner.
It enables the discharge of water at low pressure. The other end of the draft tube is
immersed in the discharging side of the water, called tail race.

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Kaplan Turbine:

Kaplan Turbine is a low head reaction turbine, in which water flows axially. It was
developed by German Engineer Kaplan in 1916.
All the parts of the Kaplan turbine (viz., spiral casing, guide wheel and guid
blades) are similar to that of the Francis turbine, except the runner blades, runner
and draft tube.
The runner and runner blades of the Kaplan turbine resemble with the propeller of
the ship. Hence, Kaplan turbine is also called as Propeller Turbine.

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Working Principle:
Water at high pressure enters the spiral casing through the inlet and flows over the
guide blades. The water from the guide blades strikes the runner blades axially.
Thus, the kinetic energy is imparted by water to the runner blades, causing the
rotation of the runner.
The runner has only 4 or 6 blades.
The water discharges at the center of the runner in the axial direction into the draft
tube. The draft tube is of L-shape with its discharging end immersed into the tail
race.

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