ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC)

MECHANICAL & PRODUCTION ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT (MPE)
MCE 4512/92, FLUID MACHINERY LAB, Credit: 0.75, Credit hour: 0-0-1.5

Experiment No: 01

Name of the Experiment: Study and Performance Test of a Hydraulic Impulse Turbine
(Pelton Wheel).

1. OBJECTIVES

i) To draw overall efficiency (0 ) vs Flowrate (Q) curve as well as overall efficiency
(0 ) vs Head (H) curve.
ii) To draw mechanical efficiency ( m ) vs Flowrate (Q) curve as well as mechanical
efficiency ( m ) vs Head (H) curve.

2. APPARATUS
Compact Pelton Turbine Unit.
3. THEORY
3.1 PELTON WHEEL/TURBINE

An American Engineer Lester A. Pelton discovered this turbine in 1880. It operates under very
high heads (up to 1800 m or more) and requires comparatively less quantity of water.
The Pelton wheel is a classical example of an impulse turbine. In these machines the total head
of the incoming fluid (the sum of the pressure head, velocity head, and elevation head) is
converted into a large velocity head at the exit of the supply nozzle (or nozzles if a multiple
nozzle configuration is used). Both the pressure drop across the bucket (blade) and the change
in relative speed (i.e., fluid speed relative to the moving bucket) of the fluid across the bucket
are negligible. The space surrounding the rotor is not completely filled with fluid. It is the
impulse of the individual jets of fluid striking the buckets that generates the torque.

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 1

The buckets are fixed on the periphery of a circular wheel (also known as runner), which is
generally mounted on a horizontal shaft, vertical shaft configuration is also possible. The
primary feature of the impulse turbine with respect to fluid mechanics is the power production
as the water jet is deflected by the moving buckets. The impact of water on the buckets causes
the runner to rotate and thus develops mechanical energy. The buckets deflect the jet through
an angle of about 160 and 165 degrees in the same plane as the jet. After doing work on the
buckets water is discharged in the tailrace, and the whole energy transfer from nozzle outlet to
tailrace takes place at constant pressure. The buckets are so shaped that water enters
tangentially in the middle and discharges backward and flows again tangentially in both the
directions to avoid thrust on the wheel. Unlike the spiral casing of Kaplan Turbine, the casing
of a Pelton wheel does not perform any hydraulic function. But it is necessary to safeguard
the runner against accident and also to prevent the splashing water and lead the water to the
tailrace.

Impinging Water Jet

Figure 1: (a) Schematic diagram of a Pelton wheel turbine,

(b) photograph of a Pelton wheel turbine (can be mounted both horizontally and vertically)

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 2

 Figure 2: Runner of a Pelton Wheel Turbine

Figure 3: Pelton Wheel Turbine with horizontally mounted shaft configuration

Figure 4: Working of Pelton Wheel Turbine

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 3

Pelton wheel as a hydraulic turbine is used to generate electricity with the help of mechanical
energy. In this way, at first the hydraulic power/water power ( Ph ) is converted into mechanical
power/shaft power ( Pm ) by Pelton wheel. The shaft of the Pelton wheel is coupled to the rotor
of the generator hence the mechanical power is transferred to the generator. The generator then
converts this mechanical power into electrical power ( Pe ).

Mechanical/shaft Electrical Power

Hydraulic
power
power/water power
PELTON ELECTRICITY
WHEEL GENERATOR

Figure 5: Layout of electricity generation by Pelton Wheel Turbine

3.1.1 HYDRAULIC POWER ( Ph )

This is the power of water which is developed due to height (head) of water. But here in this
experiment the huge water head (H) required for Pelton wheel is not practical to achieve due
to limitation of height in the laboratory. So, a pump is used to create this head artificially.

Ph = Q H (Watt) <1>

Where,
Q = Flow Rate ( m3 / s )
 = Specific weight of water = 9810 N/m3
H = Available water head (m)

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 4

In the experimental setup, the “Flow Rate Q” of water can be estimated directly from the
Rotameter in the unit of cubic-meter/hour.
The water head H, developed artificially by the pump at the turbine inlet can be calculated with
the help of a differential pressure gage. The pressure gage measures the pressure difference
which is developed across the pump. The gage reading P and water head H are related by
the following expression:
P
H= (m) <2>

Where,
P = Pressure difference (Pascal).
 = Specific weight of water = 9810 N/m3 .

3.1.2 MECHANICAL POWER ( Pm )

This power is the result at the turbine shaft that means the rotational power of the shaft. This
output power of the turbine is the mechanical power. Mechanical power is measured by
measuring the torque (T) created in the shaft as well as its rotational speed ( n ) simultaneously.
The torque developed (T) at the turbine shaft can be measured by applying an external torque
equivalent to this torque. To apply this external torque a weight (W) is loaded at a perpendicular
distance (r) from the shaft center.


Pm = T  

= (W  r )    <3>
2 n 
= (W  r )  (Watt) 
60 
Where,
n = Rotational speed of the shaft (rpm).
 = Angular speed of the shaft (rad/s).
W = Total applied weight (N).
r = Perpendicular distance from the shaft center to the line of action of added weight (m).

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 5

While calculating W, the weight of the load hanger must be encountered along with the added
weights.
3.1.3 ELECTRICAL POWER ( Pe )

The electrical power is produced with the help of the mechanical power produced from the
Pelton wheel. The power is:
Pe = VI (Watt) <4>
Where,
V = Output Voltage (volts)
I = Output Current (ampere)

3.1.4 MECHANICAL/TURBINE EFFICIENCY

Power output at the turbine shaft Pm

m = = <5>
Power available to water Ph

3.1.5 OVERALL EFFICIENCY

Electrical power generated Pe 

o = =  <6>
Power available to water Ph 

4. REFERENCES

a) Turbomachinery Design and Theory by Rama S.R. Gorla and Aijaz A. Khan.
b) Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics by Munson and Young.
c) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf9meqw2SQA, “Pelton Turbine/Wheel Working
& Design” from YouTube Channel “Learn Engineering”.
d) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbyL--6q7_4, “Pelton Turbine” from YouTube
Channel “mekanizmalar”.

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 6

5. DATA TABLE
Perpendicular distance from the turbine’s shaft center to the line of action of the applied
weight, r = 0.405m.
Mass of the load hanger = kg.

Differential Rotational
Total Flow
Pressure Speed of
No. of applied Rate, Q Voltage, V Current, I
Gage turbine
Observation Weight, W 3 (Volts) (amp)
Reading, shaft, n (m / h)
(N)
P (bar) (rpm)

01

02

03

04

05

06

6. RESULT TABLE

No. of  T H Ph Pm Pe m o
Q (m3 / s)
Observation (rad/sec) (Nm) (m) (W) (W) (W) (%) (%)

01

02

03

04

05

06

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 7

7. CALCULATION (add additional paper if needed)

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 8

8. PLOTS
Scale:
Along Horizontal Axis:

Along Vertical Axis:

(%)
Mechanical Efficiency,

Flowrate, Q (m3 / s) ; Head, H (m)

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 9

Scale:
Along Horizontal Axis:

Along Vertical Axis:

(%)
Overall Efficiency,

Flowrate, Q (m3 / s) ; Head, H (m)

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 10

9. DISCUSSIONS (add additional papers if needed)
The following points must be discussed:
▪ The plots and the relationship between the plot variables.
▪ Errors in results (if any) and their possible causes.

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 11

10. ASSIGNMENT (add additional papers if needed)
Draw a simple figure of Pelton Wheel Turbine Identifying its distinct features.
A Pelton Wheel operates in High head, Low flow condition. What will happen if you
use Pelton Wheel for low water head applications?
How was the required head for Pelton Wheel generated during the experiment?
Write down the Advantages and Disadvantages of Pelton Wheel over other types of
impulse turbine.
What is the function of a casing in a Pelton Wheel?
The rotational speed of a Pelton Wheel’s Runner is 500 rpm, diameter of the runner is
2.5 m. The speed of water jet impinging on the buckets is 40 m/s. How much power
has been extracted from water? What would be your answer if you increase the water
jet speed around 3.27 times?
Calculate the efficiency of the generator in this particular experiment for all the
observations you have taken. In order to get the maximum generator efficiency, at
what flowrate water should be supplied to the turbine?
Suppose you are the “Chief Engineer, Turbine Operation and Maintenance” of a
Hydro-electric powerplant which supplies electricity demand on Peak Hours (i.e. 8
pm to 12 am) only. Your Powerplant uses a Pelton Wheel as the prime mover of the
generators. The Average load expectancy on the plant is around 50 MW. On a cold
winter night, the load on the plant suddenly reduced to 25 MW. What would you do
as an on-duty engineer to synchronize the generators to the new reduced demand?
Describe the flow control and stopping (or braking) mechanism of Pelton Wheel.
Appropriate figures are preferred.
Write short notes on the main elements (or components) of a Hydro-electric Power
Plant run by Pelton Wheel. (Layout was shown in Fig. 5).
According to researcher M. Nechleba, for a Pelton Turbine which has diameter ratio
(Water jet dia. to Runner dia.) of 1/6, 17 to 21 buckets to be installed on the runner for
optimum performance. What is most likely to happen if the number of buckets is
inadequate?

PREPARED BY MR. TANVIR SHAHRIAR; LECTURER, MPE DEPT. 12