Unit 6

Impulse water
Turbines
Introduction
A fluid machine is a device which converts the
energy stored by a fluid into mechanical energy or vice
versa . The energy stored by a fluid mass appears in the
form of potential, kinetic and intermolecular energy.
The mechanical energy, on the other hand, is
usually transmitted by a rotating shaft. Machines using
liquid (mainly water, for almost all practical purposes)
are termed as hydraulic machines.
In this chapter we shall discuss, in general, the basic
fluid mechanical principle governing the energy transfer
in a fluid machine and also a brief description of
different kinds of hydraulic machines along with their
performances.
Continued…….
The device in which the kinetic, potential or
intermolecular energy held by the fluid is converted
in the form of mechanical energy of a rotating
member is known as a turbine. The machines, on
the other hand, where the mechanical energy from
moving parts is transferred to a fluid to increase its
stored energy by increasing either its pressure or
velocity are known as pumps, compressors, fans
or blowers.
Classification of Water Turbines
1) Based on head and quantity of water
According to head and quantity of water available, the
turbines can be classified into
a) High head turbines
High head turbines are the turbines which work under heads
more than 250 m. The quantity of water needed in case of
high head turbines is usually small. The Pelton turbines are
the usual choice for high heads.
b) Medium head turbines
The turbines that work under a head of 45 m to 250 m are
called medium head turbines. It requires medium flow of
water. Francis turbines are used for medium heads.
c) Low head turbines
Turbines which work under a head of less than 45 m are
called low head turbines. Owing to low head, large quantity
of water is required. Kaplan turbines are used for low heads.
Continued…….
2) Based on hydraulic action of water
According to hydraulic action of water, turbines can be
classified into
a) Impulse turbines
If the runner of a turbine rotates by the impact or impulse
action of water, it is an impulse turbine.
b) Reaction turbines
These turbines work due to reaction of the pressure
difference between the inlet and the outlet of the runner.
3) Based on direction of flow of water in the runner
Depending upon the direction of flow through runner,
following types of turbine are there
a) Tangential flow turbines
When the flow is tangential to the wheel circle, it is a
tangential flow turbine. A Pelton turbine is a Tangential
flow turbine.
Continued…….
b) Radial flow turbines
In a radial flow, the path of the flow of water remains in
the radial direction and in a plane normal to the runner
shaft. No pure radial flow turbine is in use these days.

c) Axial flow turbines

When the path of flow water remains parallel to the axis
of the shaft, it is an axial flow turbine. The Kaplan turbine
is axial flow turbine

d) Mixed flow turbines

When there is gradual change of flow from radial to axial
in the runner, the flow is called mixed flow. The Francis
turbine is a mixed flow turbine.
Continued…….
4) Based on specific speed of turbine
a) Low specific speed turbine

b) Medium specific speed turbine

c) High specific speed turbine

Euler’s Equation of Rotodynamic
Machines
Let V1 = Velocity of the jet at inlet.
u1 = Velocity of the plate (vane) at inlet.
Vr1 = Relative velocity of jet and plate at inlet.
α = Angle between the direction of the jet and direction of motion of the
plate, also called guide blade angle.
Ɵ = Angle made by the relative velocity (Vr1) with the direction of motion
at inlet also called vane angle at inlet.
Vw1 and Vf1 = The components of the velocity of the jet V1, in the direction
of motion and perpendicular to the direction of motion of the vane
respectively.
Vw1 = It is also known as velocity of whirl at inlet.
Vf1 = It is also known as velocity of flow at inlet.
V2 = Velocity of the jet, leaving the vane or velocity of jet at outlet of the
vane.
u2 = Velocity of the vane at outlet.
Vr2= Relative velocity of the jet with respect to the vane at outlet.
β = Angle made by the velocity V2 with the direction of motion of the
vane at outlet.
Φ = Angle made by the relative velocity Vr2 with the direction of motion
of the vane at outlet and also called vane angle at outlet.
Vw2 and Vf2 = Components of the velocity V2 in the direction of motion
of vane and perpendicular to the direction of motion of vane at outlet.
Vw2 = It is also called the velocity of whirl at outlet.
Vf2 = Velocity of flow at outlet.
The triangles ABD and EGH are called the velocity triangles at inlet
and outlet. These velocity triangles are drawn as given below:
Continued…….

Let H = Net head acting on the Pelton wheel

= H g - hj
where
Hg = Gross head and
hj
where
D* = Dia. of Penstock,
N = Speed of the wheel in r.p.m.,
D = Diameter of the wheel,
d = Diameter of the jet.
Then
V1 = Velocity of jet at inlet = √(2gH)
u = u 1 = u2 =
The velocity triangle at inlet will be a straight
line.
where
Vr1 = V1 - u1 = V1 - u
Vw1 = V1
α = 0° and Ɵ = 0°
Continued…….

From the velocity triangle at outlet, we have

Vr2 = Vr1 and Vw2 = Vr2 cos Ø - u2.
The force exerted by the jet of water in the direction of motion is given
by
Fx = ρaV1 [Vw1 + Vw2]
As the angle is an acute angle, +ve sign should be taken. Also this is the
case of series of vanes, the mass of water striking is ρaV1 and ρaVr1. In
above ‘a’ is the area of the jet which is given as
a = area of jet = d2
Now work done by the jet on the runner per second
= Fx * u = ρaV1 [Vw1 + Vw2] * u Nm/s
Power given to the runner by the jet
= KW
Work done/s per unit weight of water striking/s
=
=
=
Pelton Turbine
Pelton Turbine is a Tangential flow impulse turbine in
which the pressure energy of water is converted into
kinetic energy to form high speed water jet and this jet
strikes the wheel tangentially to make it rotate. It is also
called as Pelton Wheel.
Parts and Their Functions of Pelton Turbine
Different parts and their functions of Pelton turbine are as
follows.
1. Nozzle and Flow Regulating Arrangement
2. Runner and Buckets
3. Casing
4. Braking Jet
Continued…….
1. Nozzle and Flow Regulating Arrangement
The water from source is transferred through penstock to
which end a nozzle is provided. Using this nozzle the high
speed water jet can be formed. To control the water jet
from nozzle, a movable needle spear is arranged inside the
nozzle. The spear will move backward and forward in axial
direction. When it is moved forward the flow will reduce or
stopped and when it is moved backward the flow will
increase.
Continued…….
2. Runner and Buckets
A Pelton turbine consists of a runner, which is a circular disc on the
periphery of which a number of buckets are mounted with equal
spacing between them. The buckets mounted are either double
hemispherical or double ellipsoidal shaped. A dividing wall called
splitter is provided for each bucket which separates the bucket into
two equal parts. The buckets are generally made of cast iron or
stainless steel or bronze depending upon the head of inlet of Pelton
turbine.
Continued…….
3. Casing
The whole arrangement of runner and buckets, inlet and
braking jets are covered by the Casing. Casing of Pelton
turbine does not perform any hydraulic actions but
prevents the splashing of water while working and also
helps the water to discharge to the tail race.
Continued…….
4. Braking Jet
Braking jet is used to stop the running wheel when it is
not working. This situation arises when the nozzle inlet is
closed with the help of spear then the water jet is stopped
on the buckets. But Due to inertia, the runner will not
stop revolving even after complete closure of inlet nozzle.
To stop this, a brake nozzle is provided as shown in figure
1. The brake nozzle directs the jet of water on the back of
buckets to stop the wheel. The jet directed by brake
nozzle is called braking jet.
Working of Pelton Turbine
The working of Pelton turbine is as follows:
The water is transferred from the high head source
through a long conduit called Penstock. Nozzle arrangement at
the end of penstock helps the water to accelerate and it flows
out as a high speed jet with high velocity and discharge at
atmospheric pressure.
The jet will hit the splitter of the buckets which will
distribute the jet into two halves of bucket and the wheel starts
revolving. The kinetic energy of the jet is reduced when it hits
the bucket and also due to spherical shape of buckets the
directed jet will change its direction and takes U-turn and falls
into tail race. In general, the inlet angle of jet is in between 1o to
3o, after hitting the buckets the deflected jet angle is in between
165o to 170o. The water collected in tail race should not
submerge the Pelton wheel in any case.
To generate more power, two Pelton wheels can be
arranged to a single shaft or two water jets can be directed at a
time to a single Pelton wheel.
Design aspects of Pelton Turbine
Following are the aspects to be considered while designing
the Pelton wheel turbine.`

1. Velocity of Jet
The velocity of the jet at inlet is given by
V1 = Cv√2gH
where Cv = co-efficient of velocity =0.98 or 0.99.
H= Net head on turbine.
2. Velocity of Wheel
The velocity of wheel (u) is given by
u = ∅ √2gH
where, ∅ = speed ratio = 0.43 to 0.48

3. Angle of Deflection of Jet

The angle of deflection of jet after striking the buckets is
taken as 165o if no deflection angle is given.
Continued…….
4) Mean Diameter of the Wheel
The mean diameter or the pitch diameter D of the pelton
turbine is given by

5) Jet Ratio
It is defined as the ratio of the pitch diameter (D) of the
pelton turbine to the diameter of the jet (d). It is denoted by
m and is given as
m = D/d
Jet ratio(m) is lies between 11 to 16 for maximum hydraulic
efficiency. However, in most of the cases it is taken as 12.
6) Bucket Dimensions
Buckets dimensions are designed in such a way that its
breadth should be 3 to 4 times of diameter of jet, length
should be 2 to 3 times of diameter of jet and thickness
should be 0.8 to 1.2 times the diameter of jet.
Efficiencies of Pelton wheel

1) Hydraulic efficiency:-
It is defined as the ratio of power given by water to the runner of
a turbine to power supplied by the water at inlet of turbine.
ηh =
=

2) Mechanical efficiency:-
The power delivered by water to the runner of a turbine is
transmitted to the shaft of the turbine. Due to mechanical losses,
the power available at the shaft of the turbine is less than the
power delivered to the runner of a turbine. The ratio of power
available at the shaft of the turbine to power delivered to the
runner is defined as mechanical efficiency.
ηm =
Continued…….

3) Volumetric efficiency:-
The volume of the water striking the runner of a turbine is
slightly less than the volume of the water supplied to the turbine.
Some of the volume of the water is discharged to the tail race
without striking the runner of the turbine. Thus the ratio of the
volume of the water actually striking the runner to the volume of
water supplied to the turbine is defined as volumetric efficiency.
ηv =
4) Overall efficiency:-
It is defined as the ratio of power available at the shaft of the
turbine to the power supplied by the water at the inlet of the
turbine.
ηo =
==
=
= ηm ηh
Governing of turbine:-
The governing of a turbine is defined as the operation by which the
speed of the turbine is kept constant under all conditions of working. It
is done automatically by means of a governor, which regulates the rate
of flow through the turbines according to the changing load conditions
on the turbine.
Governing of a turbine is necessary as a turbine is directly
coupled to an electric generator, which is required to run at constant
speed under all fluctuating load conditions. The frequency of power
generation by a generator of constant number of pair of poles under all
varying conditions should be constant. This is only possible when the
speed of the generator, under all changing load condition, is constant.
The speed of the generator will be constant, when the speed of the
turbine ( which is coupled to the generator) is constant.
When the load on the generator decreases, the speed of the
generator increases beyond the normal speed (constant speed). Then
the speed of the turbine also increases beyond the normal speed. If the
turbine or the generator is to run at constant (normal ) speed, the rate
of flow of water to the turbine should be decreased till the speed
becomes normal. This process by which the speed of the turbine (and
hence of generator) is kept constant under varying condition of load is
called governing.
Governing of Pelton Turbine (Impulse Turbine)
Governing of Pelton turbine is done by means of oil pressure governor, which
consists of the following parts:
1. Oil sump.
2. Gear pump also called oil pump, which is driven by the power obtained
from turbine shaft.
3. The Servomotor also called the relay cylinder.
4. The control valve or the distribution valve or relay valve.
5. The centrifugal governor or pendulum which is driven by belt or gear from
the turbine shaft,
6. Pipes connecting the oil sump with the control valve and control valve with
servomotor and
7. The spear rod or needle.
Figure shows the position of the piston in the relay cylinder, position
of control or relay valve and fly-balls of the centrifugal governor, when the
turbine is running at the normal speed. When the load on the generator
decreases, the speed of the generator increases. This increases the speed of
the turbine beyond the normal speed.
The centrifugal governor, which is connected to the turbine main
shaft, will be rotating at an increased speed. Due to increase in the speed of
the centrifugal governor, the fly-balls move upward due to the increased
centrifugal force on them. `
Due to the upward movement of the fly-balls, the sleeve will also move
upward. A horizontal lever, supported over a fulcrum, Connects the
sleeve and the piston rod of the control valve. As the sleeve moves up,
the lever turns about the fulcrum and the piston rod of the control valve
moves downward. This closes the valve V1 and opens the valve V2 as
shown in figure. The oil, pumped from the oil pump to the control valve
or relay valve, under pressure will flow through the valve V2 to the
servomotor (or relay cylinder) and will exert force on the face A of the
piston of the relay cylinder. The piston along with piston rod and spear
will move towards right. This will decrease the area of flow of water at
the outlet of the nozzle. This decrease of area of flow will reduce the
rate of flow of water to the turbine which consequently reduces the
speed of the turbine. When the speed of the turbine becomes normal,
the fly-balls, sleeve, lever and piston rod of control valve come to its
When the load on the generator increases, the speed of the generator
and hence of the turbine decreases. The speed of the centrifugal
governor also decreases and hence centrifugal force acting on the fly-
balls also reduces. This brings the fly-balls in the downward direction.
Due to this, the sleeve moves downward and the lever turns about the
fulcrum, moving the piston rod of the control valve in the upward
direction. This closes the valve V2 and opens the valve V1. The oil under

pressure from the control valve, will move through valve V1 to the
servomotor and will exert a force on the face B of the piston. This will
move the piston along with the piston rod and spear towards left,
increasing the area of flow of water at the outlet of the nozzle. This will
increase the rate of flow of water to the turbine and consequently, the
speed of the turbine will also increase, till the speed of the turbine
becomes normal.