Types of Turbines: Turbine Classifications

Types of Turbines
Turbines are also divided by their principle of operation and can be:
1. An Impulse turbine, which is driven by a high-velocity jet (or multiple jets) of water.
2. A Reaction turbine. The rotor of a reaction turbine is fully immersed in water and is enclosed in a pressure casing. The runner
blades are profiled so that pressure differences across them impose lift forces, just as on aircraft wings, which cause the r unner to
rotate faster than is possible with a jet.
3. A Gravity turbine is driven simply by the weight of water entering the top of the turbine and falling to the bottom, where it is
released – for example, an overshot waterwheel. These are inherently slow-running machines.
There are 3 main types of impulse turbine in use: the Pelton, the Turgo, and the Crossflow turbine. The two main types of reaction
turbine are the propeller turbine (with Kaplan variant) and the Francis turbine. The reverse Archimedes Screw and the oversho t
waterwheel are both gravity turbines.
The approximate ranges of head, flow and power applicable to the different turbine types are summarised in the chart of Figure
1 (up to 500kW power). These are approximate and depend on the precise design of each manufacturer.
TURBINE CLASSIFICATIONS
FIGURE 1 – OPERATING ENVELOPE DIAGRAM

The diagram to the left shows the operating ranges for the Archimedes screw in comparison with other types of turbines in ter ms of
head and flow rate.
Within its operating range, the Archimedes screw is unmatched in terms of;
 -costs
 -reliability
 -ease of maintenance
 -performance under non ideal head and flow conditions
 -fish and environmental friendliness
There are two main types of hydro turbines: impulse and reaction. The type of hydropower turbine selected for
a project is based on the height of standing water—referred to as "head"—and the flow, or volume of water, at
the site. Other deciding factors include how deep the turbine must be set, efficiency, and cost.
REACTION TURBINE
A reaction turbine develops power from the combined action of pressure and moving water. The runner is
placed directly in the water stream flowing over the blades rather than striking each individually. Reaction
turbines are generally used for sites with lower head and higher flows than compared with the impulse
turbines.
Propeller
A propeller turbine generally has a runner with three to six blades in which the water contacts all of the blades
constantly. Picture a boat propeller running in a pipe. Through the pipe, the pressure is constant; if it isn't, the
runner would be out of balance. The pitch of the blades may be fixed or adjustable. The major components
besides the runner are a scroll case, wicket gates, and a draft tube. There are several different types of
propeller turbines:
BULB TURBINE
The turbine and generator are a sealed unit placed directly in the water stream.
STRAFLO
The generator is attached directly to the perimeter of the turbine.
TUBE TURBINE
The penstock bends just before or after the runner, allowing a straight line connection to the generator.
KAPLAN
Both the blades and the wicket gates are adjustable, allowing for a wider range of operation.
Francis
A Francis turbine has a runner with fixed buckets (vanes), usually nine or more. Water is introduced just above
the runner and all around it and then falls through, causing it to spin. Besides the runner, the other major
components are the scroll case, wicket gates, and draft tube.
Kinetic
Kinetic energy turbines, also called free-flow turbines, generate electricity from the kinetic energy present in
flowing water rather than the potential energy from the head. The systems may operate in rivers, man-made
channels, tidal waters, or ocean currents. Kinetic systems utilize the water stream's natural pathway. They do
not require the diversion of water through manmade channels, riverbeds, or pipes, although they might have
applications in such conduits. Kinetic systems do not require large civil works; however, they can use existing
structures such as bridges, tailraces and channels.
IMPULSE TURBINE
The impulse turbine generally uses the velocity of the water to move the runner and discharges to atmospheric
pressure. The water stream hits each bucket on the runner. There is no suction on the down side of the
turbine, and the water flows out the bottom of the turbine housing after hitting the runner. An impulse turbine is
generally suitable for high head, low flow applications.
Pelton
A pelton wheel has one or more free jets discharging water into an aerated space and impinging on the
buckets of a runner. Draft tubes are not required for impulse turbine since the runner must be located above
the maximum tailwater to permit operation at atmospheric pressure.
A Turgo Wheel is a variation on the Pelton and is made exclusively by Gilkes in England. The Turgo runner is
a cast wheel whose shape generally resembles a fan blade that is closed on the outer edges. The water
stream is applied on one side, goes across the blades and exits on the other side.
Cross-Flow
A cross-flow turbine is drum-shaped and uses an elongated, rectangular-section nozzle directed against
curved vanes on a cylindrically shaped runner. It resembles a "squirrel cage" blower. The cross-flow turbine
allows the water to flow through the blades twice. The first pass is when the water flows from the outside of the
blades to the inside; the second pass is from the inside back out. A guide vane at the entrance to the turbine
directs the flow to a limited portion of the runner. The cross-flow was developed to accommodate larger water
flows and lower heads than the Pelton.
Gravity Turbines
The Archimedes Screw has been used as a pump for centuries, but has only recently been used in reverse
as a turbine. It’s principle of operation is the same as the overshot waterwheel, but the clever shape of the
helix allows the turbine to rotate faster than the equivalent waterwheel and with high efficiency of power
conversion (over 80%). However they are still slow-running machines, which require a multi-stage gearbox
to drive a standard generator. A key advantage of the Screw is that it avoids the need for a fine screen and
automatic screen cleaner because most debris can pass safely through the turbine. The Archimedian screw
is proven to be a ‘fish-friendly’ turbine.
TURBINE TYPES
Types of Hydropower Turbines

Types of Turbines: Turbine Classifications

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Types of Turbines

FIGURE 1 – OPERATING ENVELOPE DIAGRAM

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