Introduction To Hydraulic Turbine and Classification Of hydraulic turbine

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Introduction To Hydraulic Turbine and Classification Of hydraulic turbine

HYDRAULIC TURBINES —DEFINITION

The hydraulic turbine is a prime mover that uses the energy of flowing water and converts is into the mechanical energy in the form of rotation of the runner. (A prime mover is a machine which uses the raw energy of a substance and converts it into the mechanical energy.) Since the fluid medium is water, these turbines are also known as the ‘ water turbines’ . Hydraulic turbines coupled with hydro — generators form the so —called ‘ hydrounits’ which are widely used now a days for generating electrical power.

See also:
Introduction to Hydraulic (Water) Turbine -Working Of Impulse and Reaction Turbine

Classification of Hydraulic turbines:

1) Based on type of energy at inlet to the turbine:

Impulse Turbine : The energy is in the form of kinetic form. e.g: Pelton wheel, Turbo wheel.
Reaction Turbine : The energy is in both Kinetic and Pressure form. e.g: Tubular, Bulb, Propellar, Francis turbine.

See Also: How Does Francis Turbine works? Main Parts of Francis Turbines

2) Based on direction of flow of water through the runner:

Tangential flow: water flows in a direction tangential to path of rotational, i.e. Perpendicular to both axial and radial directions.
Radial outward flow e.g : Forneyron turbine.
Axial flow : Water flows parallel to the axis of the turbine. e.g: Girard, Jonval, Kalpan turbine.
Mixed flow : Water enters radially at outer periphery and leaves axially. e.g : Modern Francis turbine.

3) Based on the head under which turbine works:

High head, impulse turbine. e.g : Pelton turbine.
Medium head,reaction turbine. e.g : Francis turbine.
Low head, reaction turbine. e.g : Kaplan turbine, propeller turbine.

4) Based on the specific speed of the turbine:

Low specific speed, impulse turbine. e.g : Pelton wheel.
Medium specific speed, reaction turbine. e.g : Francis wheel.
High specific speed, reaction turbine. e.g : Kaplan and Propeller turbine.

Classification According to Specific Speed Of the turbine

5) Based on the name of the originator:

Impulse turbine – Pelton wheel, Girard, Banki turbine.
Reaction turbine – Forneyron, Jonval, Francis, Dubs, Deriaze, Thomson kalpan, Barker, Moody, Nagler, Bell.