Experiment - 03

Aim: - To Study the Kaplan Turbine and its

characteristics.

Theory: - Axial flow Turbine: -

1. Kaplan Turbine (Adjustable blades)
2. Propeller (Blades are fixed)
 Kaplan Reaction turbines are axial flow
turbines in which the flow is parallel to the
axis of the shaft.
 They are low head, high discharge turbine.
 water turn at right angles between the guide
vanes, runner & then flow parallel to the shaft.
 The runner of this turbine is in the form of
boss or hub which extends in a bigger dia.
 The blade angles should be properly adjusted
so that water enters & flow through the
runner blades without shock.
 Specifications

 Type – Reaction turbine

 Type of flow – Axial
 Head – Low (below 40 m)
 Number of blades on runner – 3 or 4 (max. 6)
 Specific speed – High - 250 to 850
 Discharge - High
 Constructional details
Penstock
Spiral or scroll casing
Guide mechanism
Runner
Draft tube
Penstock: - It is the water way used to carry the
water from the reservoir to the turbine. At the
inlet of the penstock trash cracks are used to
prevent the debris from going into the turbine.
Spiral or Scroll casing: -
 In case of reaction turbine casing and runner are
always full of water.
 The water from the penstock enters the casing
which is of spiral shape in which area of cross-
section of the casing goes on decreasing gradually.
 The casing is made of spiral shape, so that the
water may enter the runner at constant velocity
throughout the circumference of the runner.
Guide Mechanism: -
 It consists of a stationary circular wheel all-round the runner of the
turbine. The stationary guide vanes are fixed on the guide
mechanism.
 The guide vanes allow the water to strike the vanes fixed on the
runner without shock at inlet.
 The width between two adjacent vanes of a guide mechanism can
be altered so that the amount of water striking the runner can be
varied.
 A space, called whirl Chamber, is provided between the guide vanes
and the runner. In this chamber, the flow turns by 90° & move as a
free vortex i.e. without the aid of any external torque.
 The radial component changes into axial component due to the
guidance from the fixed housing.
Runner: -
 It is a circular wheel, also called ‘hub’ or ‘boss’ on
which a series of radial curved vanes are fixed.
 The surface of the vanes is made very smooth. The
radial curved vanes are so shaped that water
enters and leaves the runner without shock.
 The runners are made of cast steel, cast iron or
stainless steel.
 In Kaplan turbine, the shaft is the extended part of
runner with smaller diameter.
Draft tube: -
 The pressure at the exit of an axial turbine is
generally less than atmospheric pressure.
 The water at exit cannot be directly discharged
to the tail race.
 A tube or pipe of gradually increasing area is
used for discharging water from the exit of the
turbine to the tail race. This tube of increasing
area is called draft tube.
 Comparison of Pelton , Francis & Kaplan turbine
• Kaplan Turbine Working and Design.mp4
• Comparison of Pelton, Francis & Kaplan Turbine.
mp4
 Tutorial Questions
1. A Francis turbine developing 16120 kW under an a
head of 260 m runs at 600 rpm. The runner outside
diameter is 1500 mm and the width is 135 mm.
The flow rate is 7 m3/s . The exit velocity at the
draft tube outlet is 16 m/s. Assuming zero whirl
velocity at exit and neglecting blade thickness.
Determine :
(i) The overall and hydraulic efficiency. (90.29%, 94.98%)
(ii) rotor blade angle at inlet.(12.08°)
(iii) Also find the guide vane outlet angle.(68.74°)
2. A small Francis turbine develops 2555 kW
working under a head of 25 m. The overall
efficiency is 0.9. The diameter and width at
inlet are 1310 mm and 380 mm. At the outlet
these are 1100 mm and 730 mm. The runner
blade angle at inlet is 135° along the direction
of the blade velocity. The whirl is zero at exit.
Determine the runner speed, whirl velocity at
inlet, the guide blade outlet angle and the flow
velocity at outlet.
Assume ηv = 0.98, ηm = 0.97. (11.99 , 16.26 m/s, 7.385 m/s,
164.24°, 4.59 m/s )
• 3. An inward flow reaction turbine of the Francis
type operates with a flow rate of 1.67 m3/s runs
at 416 rpm. The available head is 81 m. The
blade inlet angle is 120 with the direction of
wheel velocity. The flow ratio is 0.2. Hydraulic
efficiency is 92%. Determine :
(i) runner diameter. (1.35 m)
(ii) the power developed and (1220.8)
(iii) the speed ratio (1.128 )
4. A Francis turbine delivers 16 MW with an overall
efficiency of 85 % and a hydraulic efficiency of 91
percent, when running at 350 rpm under a head
of 100 m. Assume ID = 0.6 OD and width as 0.10
D. The flow ratio is 0.2 and blade blockage is 8 %
of flow area at inlet. Assume constant flow
velocity and zero whirl at exit. Determine :
(i) The runner diameter, (2.74 m , ID = 1.64)
(ii) and blade angles. (β1 = 15.30 , β2 = 16.4°)
5. The diameter and blade angles of a Francis
turbine with a specific speed of 95 are to be
determined. The power delivered is 45 MW
under a head of 180 m. Assume overall
efficiency of 85% and hydraulic efficiency of
90%. Also b1 = 0.1 D1 and blade thickness
occupies 5% of flow area. The constant flow
velocity is 15 m/s.
Ans - (560 rpm, d1= 1.295 m, α1 = 12.48° β1 =
18.7° ,β2 = 156° (24°)