Study of different types of water turbine

INTRODUCTION
Water Turbines :

Harnessing the Power of Water for Renewable Energy Water turbines are mechanical
devices that convert the kinetic energy of water into electrical energy. These turbines play a
crucial role in hydroelectric power plants, which generate renewable energy from the flow of
water in rivers, oceans, and tidal currents.

History of Water Turbines :

The concept of water turbines dates back to ancient Greece, where water wheels were used to
power grain mills. Over the centuries, water turbines have evolved significantly, with modern
turbines capable of generating hundreds of megawatts of power

Components of a Water Turbine

1. Runner: The rotating part of the turbine that extracts energy from the water.
2. Shaft: The rod that connects the runner to the generator.
3. Generator: The machine that converts the mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical
energy.
4. Guide Vanes: The stationary vanes that direct the water flow onto the runner.
5. Draft Tube: The tube that carries the water away from the turbine.

Advantages of Water Turbines

1. Renewable Energy Source: Water turbines use a renewable energy source (water).

2. Low Operating Costs: Water turbines have low operating costs compared to fossil fuel-based
power plants.
3. High Efficiency: Water turbines can achieve high efficiency rates (up to 90%).
4. Reliability: Water turbines are reliable and can operate for extended periods.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 1

 Study of different types of water turbine

Applications of Water Turbines

1. Hydroelectric Power Plants: Water turbines are used in hydroelectric power plants to generate
electricity.

2. Irrigation Systems: Water turbines are used in irrigation systems to pump water for agricultural
purposes.

3. Water Supply Systems: Water turbines are used in water supply systems to pump water for
municipal purposes.

Hydro Power Plant:

In this type of power plant energy (electricity) is produced by conversion of potential head of
water stored at some height called DAM to the mechanical energy by running of turbine shaft
which is connected to the runner blade on which water strikes. This turbine shaft is then coupled
to the generator shaft through which electricity is produced. Hydro power plants can be classified
on different basis like:

1. Availability of Head:
• High head : >100m
• Medium head: 30 – 100m
• Low head: <30m

2. Type of load:

• Base
• Peak

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 2

 Study of different types of water turbine

Fig. no. 1: Hydro power plant .

The figure shows the basic parts of the hydro power plant required. The elements of the
hydroelectric power plant are – Catchment area, Reservoir, Dam, Sluice gate, Penstock, Spillway,
Surge tank, Trash rock, Fore way, Power house, Draft tube, Switch yard for transmission lines.

Hydraulic Turbines and Their Classification:

Hydraulic turbines are the prime movers which convert the head energy of water into shaft work.
Hydraulic turbine can be differentiated as:

Type of Turbine Maximum Head (m) Specific Speed

Pelton 300-2000 4-70

Francis 30-500 60-400

Kaplan 2-70 300-1100

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 3

 Study of different types of water turbine

Pelton wheel

The Pelton The Pelton wheel is an impulse turbine which is among the most efficient types
of water turbines. It was invented by Lester Allan Pelton in the 1870s. The Pelton wheel extracts
energy from the impulse (momentum) of moving water, as opposed to its weight like traditional
overshot water wheel

A Pelton turbine consists of one nozzle or

set of nozzles and a pelton wheel. The runner
consists of a large circular disc on the on the
periphery of which a number of two-lobe
ellipsoidal buckets are evenly mounted. Each
bucket has a ridge or splitter in the middle which
divides the jet into two equal stream. The
symmetry of the bucket ensures zero momentum
in the axial thrust on the shaft bearing. It works on
the principle of Newton’s 2nd Law.

Main parts of the Pelton turbine are:

1. Jet
2. Runner and Bucket Fig. no. 2 : Pelton Wheel
3. Needle Head
4. Tail water level
5. Runner disc
6. Deflector
7. Steering wheel for needle movement
8. Turbine housing

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 4

 Study of different types of water turbine

Theory of Operation:

The water leaves the penstock and strike the bucket which is connected to the runner. The water
flows along the tangent to the path of the runner. Nozzles direct forceful streams of water against
a series of spoon-shaped buckets mounted around the edge of a wheel. As water flows into the
bucket, the direction of the water velocity changes to follow the contour of the bucket. When the
water-jet contacts the bucket, the water exerts pressure on the bucket and the water is decelerated
as it does a "u-turn" and flows out the other side of the bucket at low velocity. In the process, the
water's momentum is transferred to the turbine. This "impulse" does work on the turbine. For
maximum power and efficiency, the turbine system is designed such that the water-jet velocity is
twice the velocity of the bucket. A very small percentage of the water's original kinetic energy will
still remain in the water; however, this allows the bucket to be emptied at the same rate it is filled,
thus allowing the water flow to continue uninterrupted.

Because water and most liquids are nearly incompressible, almost all of the available energy is
extracted in the first stage of the hydraulic turbine. Therefore, Pelton wheels have only one turbine
stage, unlike gas turbines that operate with compressible fluid.

2. FRANCIS TURBINE

The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell,
Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow
concepts. Medium size and larger Francis turbines are most often arranged with a vertical shaft.
Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 5

 Study of different types of water turbine

Main Components:

1. Runner and runner cone

2. Servomotor

3. Turbine shaft

4. Bearing pad and cover

5. Turbine cover

6. Stay vane and Scroll case

7. Guide vane

8. Link

9. Regulating ring

10. Draft tube

Fig no. 3 :Francis Turbine

Design of Francis Turbine:

Francis Turbine has a circular plate fixed to the rotating shaft perpendicular to its surface and
passing through its center. This circular plate has curved channels on it; the plate with channels is
collectively called as runner. The runner is encircled by a ring of stationary channels called as
guide vanes. Guide vanes are housed in a spiral casing called as volute. The exit of the Francis
turbine is at the center of the runner plate. There is a draft tube attached to the central exit of the
runner. The design parameters such as, radius of the runner, curvature of channel, angle of vanes
and the size of the turbine as whole depend on the available head and type of application altogether.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 6

 Study of different types of water turbine

Theory of operation:

The Francis turbine is a reaction turbine, which means that the working fluid changes pressure as
it moves through the turbine, giving up its energy. A casement is needed to contain the water flow.
The turbine is located between the high-pressure water source and the low-pressure water exit,
usually at the base of a dam.

The inlet is spiral shaped. Guide vanes direct the water tangentially to the turbine wheel, known
as a runner. This radial flow acts on the runner's vanes, causing the runner to spin. The guide vanes
(or wicket gate) may be adjustable to allow efficient turbine operation for a range of water flow
conditions.

As the water moves through the runner, its spinning radius decreases, further acting on the runner.
For an analogy, imagine swinging a ball on a string around in a circle; if the string is pulled short,
the ball spins faster due to the conservation of angular momentum. This property, in addition to
the water's pressure, helps Francis and other inward-flow turbines harness water energy efficiently.

3. KAPLAN TURBINE

The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type water turbine which has adjustable blades. It was developed
in 1913 by the Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan, who combined automatically adjusted propeller
blades with automatically adjusted wicket gates to achieve efficiency over a wide range of flow
and water level.

The Kaplan turbine was an evolution of the Francis turbine. Its invention allowed efficient power
production in low-head applications that was not possible with Francis turbines. Kaplan turbines
are now widely used throughout the world in high-flow, low-head power production.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 7

 Study of different types of water turbine

Fig. no. 4 : Kaplan turbine

Main components:

The Kaplan turbines have the following main components:-

1. Scroll casing and stay ring

2. guide apparatus
3. Covers
4. Runner
5. runner blade servomotor
6. regulating mechanism of the runner blades
7. co-operation of regulating the runner blades and guide vanes
8. turbine shaft
9. turbine bearing
10. shaft sleeve and seal box
11. runner chamber
12. draft tube

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 8

 Study of different types of water turbine

Design of Kaplan Turbine:

To generate substantial amount of power from small heads of water using

Kaplan Turbine it is necessary to have large flow rates through the turbine.

Kaplan Turbine is designed to accommodate the required large flow rates. Except the alignment
of the blades the construction of the Kaplan Turbine is very much similar to that of the Francis
Turbine. The overall path of flow of water through the Kaplan Turbine is from radial at the
entrance to axial at the exit. Similar to the Francis Turbine, Kaplan Turbine also has a ring of fixed
guide vanes at the inlet to the turbine.
Unlike the Francis Turbine which has guide vanes at the periphery of the turbine rotor (called as
runner in the case of Francis Turbine), there is a passage between the guide vanes and the rotor of
the Kaplan Turbine. The shape of the passage is such that the flow which enters the passage in the
radial direction is forced to flow in axial direction. The rotor of the Kaplan Turbine is similar to
the propeller of a ship

Theory of operation:

The Kaplan turbine is an inward flow reaction turbine, which means that the working fluid changes
pressure as it moves through the turbine and gives up its energy. Power is recovered from both the
hydrostatic head and from the kinetic energy of the flowing water. The design combines features
of radial and axial turbines.

The inlet is a scroll-shaped tube that wraps around the turbine's wicket gate. Water is directed
tangentially through the wicket gate and spirals on to a propeller shaped runner, causing it to spin.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 9

 Study of different types of water turbine

Various Components of Hydro Power Plant and its manufacturing by BHEL Bhopal:-

1. DAM:

A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the
primary purpose of retaining water. hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are often
used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be used to collect water
or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Based on structure
and material used, dams are classified as timber dams, archgravity dams, embankment dams
or masonry dams, with several subtypes. It is onsite construction component of hydro plant.

2. SLUICE GATE:

A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate. The terms "sluice gate",
"knife gate", and "slide gate" are used interchangeably in the water/wastewater control
industry. The term sluice gate refers to any gate that operates by allowing water to flow
under it. When a sluice gate is fully
lowered, water sometimes spills over
the top, in which case the gate operates
as a weir. Usually, a mechanism drives
the sluice gate up or down. This may
be a simple, hand-operated, worm
drive or rack-and-pinion drive, or it
may be electrically or hydraulically
powered.

Fig. no. 5 : Sluice gate

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 10

 Study of different types of water turbine

3. PENSTOCK:

A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that

controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that
delivers water to hydraulic turbines and sewerage
systems. It is a term that has been inherited from the
technology of wooden watermills. Penstocks for
hydroelectric installations are normally equipped
with a gate system and a surge tank. Flow is
regulated by turbine operation and is nil when
turbines are not in service.

Fig. no. 6 : Penstock

4. MAIN INLET VALVE:

The conduits in all water power plants except large low head plants, are ordinarily provided
with shut off devices. Generally these components are valves. They exist in different types and
design depending on function and requirements.

In any power plant valves for different purposes are usually needed. Normally it is a shut-off
valve just in front of the turbine. In this way the turbine may be emptied without emptying the
shaft or penstock. In addition the guide vane cascade is depressurized so that leakage flow is
avoided.

With a long head race tunnel and surge chamber it is normal to have a shut off valve just
downstream of the surge chamber. In this way the shaft or penstock may be emptied without
emptying the tunnel.

To prevent large damage at an eventual rupture of the penstock, a pipe break valve is normally
installed in the pipe just downstream of the shut off valve. This valve closes automatically
when the water velocity exceeds a certain set value.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 11

 Study of different types of water turbine

The most relevant types of valves which are manufactured by BHEL are:

-- Spherical valves

-- Butterfly valves

a) SPHERICAL VALVE:

Fig. no. : 7 Spherical valve

Spherical valves are applied mostly as shut off valves in front of high head water turbines.
They are however, used as pipe brake valves as well. Spherical valves are presently covering a
pressure range of 160 m to 1250 m water head. The spherical valves consist of the valve
housing with flanges, valve rotor, bearings and seals. The valve housing has a spherical shape.
It may either be axially split permanently in two halves and bolted together with heavy flanges,
or these two halves may be welded together after the rotor has been installed.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 12

 Study of different types of water turbine

b) BUTTERFLY VALVE:

Butterfly valves are normally applied in front of low and medium head water turbines, i.e.
heads up to 200 m. For high head power plants the butterfly valve is from time to time used as
a closing device in inlet tunnels and
alternatively as emergency closure valves.
Valves consist of mainly of a ring shaped
housing, the valve disc, operating mechanism
and counter weight. The butterfly valve shall be
able to open and close under equalized water
pressure on the disc sides as well as to close at
full turbine discharge. In addition emergency
closure valves shall close automatically in the
case of penstock rupture. The opening is done
by means of one (or two) servomotors. This
may be mounted on the side of the valve and is
acting on the counterweight arm which is
bolted to the trunnion .

Fig. no.8 : Butterfly Valve

5. SPIRAL CASING:

These are the connecting link between

penstock and stay rings. Spiral casing are
gradually decreasing conduct around the
circumference of the wheel (maximum at the
entrance and minimum at the tip). These
carry water from the penstock and supply to
the runner. These are made of decreasing
cross section because the losses occur during
the flow can be avoided.

Fig. no. 9 : Spiral Casing

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 13

 Study of different types of water turbine

6. STAY RING:

The stay ring consists of an upper and

a lower ring to which the stay vanes are
welded. The stay vanes are given a
favorable hydraulic shape to conduct
the water towards the guide vanes with
minimal losses. The stay vanes also
carry the axial forces inside the scroll
casing. The vanes in the stay ring
conduct the water towards the guide
vanes. In addition the hydraulic forces
are transferred through the stay ring and
the stay vanes which are anchored to the
concrete with large pre stressed stay bolts. Fig. no.10 : Stay Ring

TOP COVER AND PIVOT RING:

These are the circular ring with seat or projection provided on them to accumulate the guide
vanes. Top cover is provided on the top of the guide vanes in which the hub of the guide vanes
are connected which is connected with the lever to the arm which is bolted on the regulating
ring. As the regulating ring rotates with the help of servomotor the arm rotates, rotating the
lever to the guide vanes and hence flow of water is regulated.

Pivot ring is provided on the base of the guide vanes which act as supporting or pivot to the
guide vanes. It is also of circular shape. For Kaplan the runner starts from the pivot ring while
in Francis it starts from the guide vanes.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 14

 Study of different types of water turbine

7. GUIDE VANES:

The basic purpose of the guide vanes or stay vanes is to

convert a part of pressure energy of the fluid at its
entrance to the kinetic energy and then to direct the
fluid on to the runner blades at the angle appropriate to
the design. Moreover, the guide vanes are pivoted and
can be turned by a suitable governing mechanism to
regulate the flow while the load changes. The guide
vanes are also known as wicket gates. The guide vanes
impart a tangential velocity and hence an angular
momentum to the water before its entry to the runner.
The flow in the runner of a Francis turbine is not purely
radial but a combination of radial and tangential.

Fig. no. 11 : Guide Vanes

The flow is inward, i.e. from the periphery towards the centre. The height of the runner
depends upon the specific speed. The height increases with the increase in the specific speed.
The main direction of flow change as water passes through the runner and is finally turned into
the axial direction while entering the draft tube.

8. REGULATING RING:

The guide blades of a Francis turbine are pivoted and connected by levers and links to the
regulating ring. The regulating ring is attached with two regulating rods connected to the
regulating lever. Thus regulating lever in turn is connected with regulation shift, which is
operated by the piston of servomotor.

When load on the turbine increases, regulating ring is moved in reversed direction to increase
the passage between the guide blades thus allowing more water to meet the increased load
demand. Similar is the function and connection in case of Kaplan turbine except that
servomotors are connected to runner blade also to give the required motion, hence this system
is known as “Double Regulation” and gives higher efficiency.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 15

 Study of different types of water turbine

9. RUNNER:

It is basically a rotating part of the turbine on which blades are either casted or bolted and then
it is mounted on the shaft which transmits energy. Runners are classified on the basis of type
of working head.

Runner of a Pelton wheel consists of a circular disc mounted on a horizontal shaft.

On the periphery of the runner, a number of buckets are fitted uniformly. The Pelton runners
may be designed either for casting of the disc and buckets in one piece or the disc and each of
the buckets are casted in separate pieces and the bolted together. The first method mentioned
is preferred and common for the Pelton turbines in modern power plants where the turbine
units are of the high power and bigger sizes.

Runner of the francis is a circular wheel on which a series of radial curved vanes are fixed. The
runner may be either cast or fabricated. For a large unit, cast steel or stainless steel may be used
and for small unit, cast iron. The surface of runner is made smooth to reduce losses. The runner
is so shaped that water flow through the runner in combination of radial and tangential flow
and leaves runner without shock.

Kaplan consists of an axial flow runner usually with four to six blade of aerofoil shape. In
consist of a slot in which blades can be bolted and can be rotated with the help for servomotors
according to the load.

Runners for Pelton, Francis and Kaplan for projects like Parbati III, Srinagar, Pulichintala,
Rampur had been manufactured in BHEL Bhopal. Other than this guide vanes are finished
here, drilling of blades of Kaplan are also done here.

10. DRAFT TUBE:

• It makes possible the installation of the turbine above the tail race level without the loss
of head.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 16

 Study of different types of water turbine

• The velocity of water at the runner outlet is very high. By employing a draft tube of
increasing cross sectional area, the discharge takes place at a much lower velocity and
thus, a part of the kinetic energy that was going as a waste is recovered as a gain in the
pressure head, and this increases the efficiency of the turbine.
• The draft tube prevents the splashing of water coming out of the runner and guides the
water to the tail race.

Types of draft tubes are :

• Simple elbow tubes

• Conical draft tube

• Circular inlet and square outlet

• Moody’s bell- mounted tube

Conclusion

The study of different types of water turbines reveals that each type is designed to optimize
energy conversion based on specific site conditions such as water flow rate, head height, and
efficiency requirements.

• Impulse Turbines (e.g., Pelton) are best suited for high-head, low-flow applications,
where water velocity plays a critical role in power generation.
• Reaction Turbines (e.g., Francis and Kaplan) are more efficient for medium- to low-
head applications and are commonly used in large-scale hydropower plants due to
their ability to operate under varying flow conditions.
• Crossflow and Turgo turbines provide versatile alternatives for small and micro-
hydropower projects, offering cost-effective solutions with relatively high efficiency.

The selection of an appropriate water turbine depends on factors such as site-specific

hydrological conditions, cost, and maintenance requirements. With advancements in turbine
technology, efforts continue to improve efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability to different
environmental conditions. Ultimately, water turbines remain a vital component of renewable
energy generation, contributing to sustainable power solutions worldwide.

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 17

 Study of different types of water turbine

References
• https://www.energy.gov/
• https://www.hydropower.org/
• https://www.nrel.gov/
• https://www.Chatgpt.com

DEPT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 18