SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107

AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

QUESTION BANK S EMESTER – III

UNIT V TURBINES
PART-A
1. Define hydraulic machines.
Hydraulic machines which convert the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy.

2. Give example for a low head, medium head and high head turbine.
Low head turbine – Kaplan turbine
Medium head turbine – Modern Francis turbine
High head turbine – Pelton wheel

3. What is impulse turbine? Give example.

In impulse turbine all the energy converted into kinetic energy. From these the turbine
will develop high kinetic energy power. This turbine is called impulse turbine. Example:
Pelton turbine
4. What is reaction turbine? Give example.
In a reaction turbine, the runner utilizes both potential and kinetic energies. Here
portion of potential energy is converted into kinetic energy before entering into the
turbine.
Example: Francis and Kaplan turbine.

5. What is axial flow turbine?

In axial flow turbine water flows parallel to the axis of the turbine shaft.
Example: Kaplan turbine

6. What is mixed flow turbine?

In mixed flow water enters the blades radially and comes out axially, parallel to the
turbine shaft. Example: Modern Francis turbine.

7. What is the function of spear and nozzle?

The nozzle is used to convert whole hydraulic energy into kinetic energy. Thus the nozzle
delivers high speed jet. To regulate the water flow through the nozzle and to obtain a
good jet of water spear or nozzle is arranged.

8. Define gross head and net or effective head.

Gross Head: The gross head is the difference between the water level at the reservoir
and the level at the tailstock.
Effective Head: The head available at the inlet of the turbine.

9. Define hydraulic efficiency.

It is defined as the ratio of power developed by the runner to the power supplied by the
water jet.

10. Define mechanical efficiency.

It is defined as the ratio of power available at the turbine shaft to the power
developed by the turbine runner.

11. Define volumetric efficiency.

It is defied as the volume of water actually striking the buckets to the total water
supplied by the jet.
 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

12. Define over all efficiency.

It is defined as the ratio of power available at the turbine shaft to the power available
from the water jet.
PART-B

1. At a location for a hydroelectric plant, the head available (net) was 335 m. The
power availability with an overall efficiency of 86% was 15500 kW. The unit is
proposed to run at 500 rpm. Assume Cv = 0.98, φ = 0.46, Blade velocity
coefficient is 0.9. If the bucket outlet angle proposed is 165° check for the validity
of the assumed efficiency.
 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

2. The jet velocity in a pelton turbine is 65 m/s. The peripheral velocity of the runner
is 25 m/s. The jet is deflected by 160° by the bucket. Determine the power
developed and hydraulic efficiency of the turbine for a flow rate of 0.9 m3/s. The
blade friction coefficient is 0.9.

3. A Pelton turbine is to produce 15 MW under a head of 480 m when running at

500 rpm. If D/d = 10, determine the number of jets required.
 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

4. The outer diameter of a Francis runner is 1.4 m. The flow velocity at inlet is 9.5
m/s. The absolute velocity at the exit is 7 m/s. The speed of operation is 430
rpm. The power developed is 12.25 MW, with a flow rate of 12 m3/s. Total head
is 115 m. For shockless entry determine the angle of the inlet guide vane. Also
find the absolute velocity at entrance, the runner blade angle at inlet and the loss
of head in the unit. Assume zero whirl at exit. Also fluid the specific speed.

5. A Francis turbine works under a head of 120 m. The outer diameter and width
are 2 m and 0.16 m. The inner diameter and width are 1.2 m and 0.27 m. The
flow velocity at inlet is 8.1 m/s. The whirl velocity at outlet is zero. The outlet
blade angle is 16°. Assume ηH = 90%. Determine, power, speed and blade angle
at inlet and guide blade angle.
 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

6. In an inward flow reaction turbine the working head is 10 m. The guide vane
outlet angle is 20°. The blade inlet angle is 120°. Determine the hydraulic
efficiency assuming zero whirl at exit and constant flow velocity. Assume no
losses other than at exit.
 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

7. A Kaplan turbine plant develops 3000 kW under a head of 10 m. While running

at 62.5 rpm. The discharge is 350 m3/s. The tip diameter of the runner is 7.5

mand the hub to tip ratio is 0.43. Calculate the specific speed, turbine efficiency, the
speed ratio and flow ratio.

8. A Kaplan turbine delivers 30 MW and runs at 175 rpm. Overall efficiency is 85%
and hydraulic efficiency is 91%. The tip diameter 5 m and the hub diameter is 2
m. determine the head and the blade angles at the mid radius. The flow rate is
140 m3/s.
 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

9. A Kaplan turbine delivers 10 MW under a head of 25 m. The hub and tip

diameters are 1.2 m and 3 m. Hydraulic and overall efficiencies are 0.90 and
0.85. If both velocity triangles are right angled triangles, determine the speed,
guide blade outlet angle and blade outlet angle.

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 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

10. Explain about pelton wheel, Francis and Kaplan turbines

PELTON TURBINE

The rotor or runner consists of a circular disc, fixed on suitable shaft, made of cast or
forged steel. Buckets are fixed on the periphery of the disc. The spacing of the buckets
is decided by the runner diameter and jet diameter and is generally more than 15 in
number. These buckets in small sizes may be cast integral with the runner. In larger
sizes it is bolted to the runner disc. The buckets are also made of special materials and
the surfaces are well polished. A view of a bucket is shown in fig. with relative
dimensions indicated in the figure. Originally spherical buckets were used and pelton
modified the buckets to the present shape. It is formed in the shape of two half
ellipsoids with a splilter connecting the two. A cut is made in the lip to facilitate all the
water in the jet to usefully impinge on the buckets. This avoids interference of the
incoming bucket on the jet impinging on the previous bucket.
Francis Turbines

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 SNS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Kurumbapalayam (Po), Coimbatore – 641 107
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Accredited by NBA – AICTE and Accredited by NAAC – UGCwith ‘A’ Grade
Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai

The main components are (i) The spiral casing (ii) Guide vanes (iii) Runner (iv) Draft
tube and (v) Governor mechanism. Most of the machines are of vertical shaft
arrangement while some smaller units are of horizontal shaft type.
The spiral casing surrounds the runner completely. Its area of cross section decreases
gradually around the circumference. This leads to uniform distribution of water all along
the circumference of the runner. Water from the penstock pipes enters the spiral casing
and is distributed uniformly to the guide blades placed on the periphery of a circle. The
casing should be strong enough to withstand the high pressure.

kaplan Turbine

The popular axial flow turbines are the Kaplan turbine and propeller turbine. In
propeller turbine the blades are fixed. In the Kaplan turbines the blades are mounted in
the boss in bearings and the blades are rotated according to the flow conditions by a
servomechanism maintaining constant speed. In this way a constant efficiency is
achieved in these turbines. The system is costly and where constant load conditions
prevail, the simpler propeller turbines are installed.
There are many locations where large flows are available at low head. In such a
case the specific speed increases to a higher value. In such situations axial flow
turbines are gainfully employed. A sectional view of a kaplan turbines in shown in fig.
These turbines are suited for head in the range 5 – 80 m and specific speeds in the
range 350 to 900. The water from supply pipes enters the spiral casing as in the case of
Francis turbine. Guide blades direct the water into the chamber above the blades at the
proper direction. The speed governor in this case acts on the guide blades and rotates
them as per load requirements. The flow rate is changed without any change in head.
The water directed by the guide blades enters the runner which has much fewer blades
(3 to 10) than the Francis turbine. The blades are also rotated by the governor to
change the inlet blade angle as per the flow direction from the guide blades, so that
entry is without shock. As the head is low, many times the draft tube may have to be
elbow type. The important dimensions are the diameter and the boss diameter which
will vary with the chosen speed. At lower specific speeds the boss diameter may be
higher.

PREPARED BY S RAJA GANAPATHY/II MECH/SNSCE

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