The Pelton wheel Turbine

The pelton wheel uses the kinetic energy of the water jet, due to this, it is mainly used where the
available pressure head is high – often of the order of hundreds of meters of water. The flow rate
through the turbine is relatively small.
Single units of up to 470 MW (in Switzerland) have been installed in power stations. Smaller
units of several hundred kilowatts are also common. The wheel diameter vary from several
metres to less than a meter for small wheels.
An Overall efficiency of about 75% has been obtained. The high pressure water can also be used
as so called hydro power to drive mechanical equipment like fans and winches directly by means
of pelton turbines.
Construction and working of pelton Wheel/ Turbine
A pelton wheel/ turbine consist of a rotor, at the periphery of which are mounted equally spaced
double hemispherical or double ellipsoidal buckets. Water is transferred from a high head source
through penstock which is fitted with a nozzle, through which the water flows out at high speed
jet. A needle spear moving inside the nozzle controls the water flow through the nozzle and the
same time, provides a smooth flow with negligible energy loss. All the available energy is thus
converted into kinetic energy before the jet strikes the buckets of the runner. The pressure all
over the wheel is constant and equal to atmosphere, so that energy transfer occurs due to purely
impulse action.

Fig. 1 Pelton wheel

The pelton turbine is provided with a casing the function of which is to prevent the splashing of
water and to discharge water to the tail race. When the nozzle is completely closed by moving
the spear in the forward direction the amount of water striking the runner is reduced to zero but
the runner dueto inertia continues revolving for a long time. In order to bring the runner to rest in
short time, a nozzle (brake) is provided which directs the jet of water on the back of buckets; this
jet of water is called braking jet.

Fig. 2. The bucket dimensions

Theory of pelton turbines

Fig. 3. Velocity triangle

Where
𝑉1 = Absolute velocity of water at inlet,
𝑉𝑟1 = Jet velocity relative to vane/ bucket at inlet
α = Angle between the direction of the jet and direction of motion of the vane/ bucket (also
called guide angle)
ϕ = Angle made by the relative velocity (𝑉𝑟1) with the direction of motion at inlet (also called
vane angle at inlet)
𝑉𝑤1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑓1 = the component of the velocity of the jet 𝑉1, in the direction of motion and
perpendicular to the direction of motion of the vane respectively,
𝑉𝑤1 is also known as velocity of whirl at inlet
𝑉𝑓1 is the also known as velocity of flow at inlet

𝑉2 = velocity of jet, leaving the vane or velocity of jet at outlet of the vane,
𝑉𝑟2 = relative velocity of the jet with respect to the vane at outlet
𝑉𝑤2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑓2 = the component of the velocity of the jet 𝑉2, in the direction of motion and
perpendicular to the direction of motion of the vane respectively,
𝑉𝑤2 is also known as velocity of whirl at outlet
𝑉𝑓2 is the also known as velocity of flow at outlet

The total pressure head h of the water in the nozzle causes the water to be discharged with a
velocity 𝑉1 from the nozzle.
If the velocity coefficient of the nozzle is 𝐶𝑣 , then

𝑉1 = 𝐶𝑣 √2𝑔ℎ ………………………………………………………………………………1

Consider the wheel if it is turning at speed of N r/ min or 𝜔 rad/. Then the velocity of the bucket
on the pitch circle diameter d is
𝐷 𝜋𝑁𝐷
𝑢 = 2𝜔 = ……………………………………………………………………………..2
60

The relative velocity of the jet, i.e. the velocity with which the water strikes the bucket is
𝑉𝑟1 = 𝑉1 − 𝑢……………………………………………………………………………….3
The water slides along the wall of the bucket and is deflected through an angle 180 − ϕ,the
deflection angle , and leaves the bucket with a relative velocity 𝑉𝑟2 which is usually somewhat
less than 𝑉𝑟1due to friction losses.
Putting 𝑉𝑟2 = 𝑛𝑉𝑟1, n being a constant which represents the losses. Usually the value of n is
about 90% - the velocity of water is reduced by 10% while flowing across the bucket.
To determine the force on the bucket we use the principle of the conservation of momentum.
That is the force that develops at a point of impact is equal to the mass flow rate of the water
times the change in velocity of the water in the direction of the force
The direction of the force is of course tangential to the wheel, thus in the same direction as the
initial jet of water. The velocity in this direction is the whirl velocity 𝑉𝑤
Thus 𝑉1 = 𝑉𝑤1
To determine 𝑉𝑤2 it is necessary to find the component of 𝑉2.
Note, it is sometimes necessary to determine the direction of 𝑉𝑤2 by inspection. This is done by
calculating the magnitude of 𝑉𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ and comparing that with u. consider figure 4 showing the
various possibilities

ϕ
𝑉𝑟2 𝑉𝑟2
𝑉2 𝑉2

u 𝑉𝑤2 u 𝑉𝑤2

ϕ
𝑉𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ < u 𝑉𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ > u
Fig 4. Velocity triangle
The force on the bucket is
𝐹 = 𝑚̇(𝑉𝑤2 + 𝑉𝑤1 )………………………………………………………………………..4
𝜋
The mass flow rate 𝑚̇ = 𝜌𝑄 = 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 with 𝐴 = 4 𝑑 2 the cross sectional area of jet of diameter d.

𝐹 = 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 (𝑉𝑤1 + 𝑉𝑤2 ).

= 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 (𝑉1 + {𝑉𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ − u}).
= 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 (𝑉1 + {𝑛𝑉𝑟1 𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ − u}).
= 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 (𝑉1 + {𝑛[𝑉1 − 𝑢]𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ − u}).
= 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 (𝑉1 + {𝑛[𝑉1 − 𝑢]𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ − u}).
= 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 [(𝑉1 − 𝑢)(1 + 𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)].
The power transferred to the wheel is the force on the bucket times the speed of the bucket. This
is called the hydraulic power, because it the power transferred by the water to the bucket.
Now
𝑃 = 𝐹 × 𝑢. ………………………………………………………………………………5
= 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 [(𝑉1 − 𝑢)(1 + 𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u.
1 ̇
The energy supplied to the jet at inlet is in the form of KE and is equal to 2 𝑚̇𝑉12 .

1 ̇
Kinetic energy (KE) of jet per second = 2 (𝜌𝐴𝑉1 )𝑉12
 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝜌𝐴𝑉1 (𝑉𝑤1 +𝑉𝑤2 )×𝑢
Hydraulic efficiency, 𝜂ℎ = = 1 ̇
𝐾.𝐸 𝑜𝑓 𝐽𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 (𝜌𝐴𝑉1 )𝑉12
2

2(𝑉𝑤1 +𝑉𝑤2 )×𝑢

𝜂ℎ = . ………………………………………..6
𝑉12

2[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u
𝜂ℎ = .
𝑉12

𝑑 2[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u
[ ]=0………………………………...7
𝑑𝑢 𝑉12

2(1 + 𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ) 𝑑
× (𝑉 𝑢 − 𝑢2 ) = 0
𝑉12 𝑑𝑢 1
2(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ) 𝑑
Since, ≠ 0, (𝑉1 𝑢 − 𝑢2 ) = 0
𝑉12 𝑑𝑢

𝑉1
𝑉1 − 2𝑢 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑢 = …………………………………………………8
2

The above equation states that hydraulic efficiency of a pelton wheel is maximum when the
velocity of the wheel is half the velocity of jet of water at inlet. The maximum efficiency can be
𝑉
obtained by substituting the value of 𝑢 = 21 in eq 7.
𝑉 𝑉
2(𝑉1 − 1 )(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ) 1
2 2
(𝜂ℎ )𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑉12

(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)
(𝜂ℎ )𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ………………………………………………………………9
2

If friction factor, n = 1(i.e. assuming no friction), we have

(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)
(𝜂ℎ )𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2
Therefore, if the circumferential velocity of the wheel is half of the velocity of the jet we get the
maximum power delivered and also the maximum efficiency of the wheel. In practice it is found
that maximum power occurs at speed corresponding to typically 𝑢 = 0.46𝑉1
Efficiencies
When efficiencies are expressed, the system which is being investigated must be specified,
specifying whether the system includes the supply pipe or not, whether the nozzle is also
included or not, etc. consider the following typical pelton wheel installation shown in figure 5.
 Fig. 5. Pelton wheel installation
Figure 6 depicts how the available power is reduced each time a loss occurs in a real system.

Fig 6. Energy flow in a pelton turbine installation

The gross power available in the physical surroundings i.e. from the water source, is

𝑃𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 = 𝜌𝑔𝑄𝐻𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 ………………………………………………………..10

The power available just after the supply pipe and just in front of the nozzle

𝑃𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 𝜌𝑔𝑄ℎ𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 𝜌𝑔𝑄ℎ…………………………………………………11

The power available in the jet
1 1 1 2 𝜋
𝑃𝑗𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚̇𝑉12 = 𝜌𝑄𝑉12 = 𝜌𝐴𝑉13 with 𝐴 = 𝑑𝑗𝑒𝑡
2 2 2 4

The hydraulic power transferred to the turbine wheel by the jet of water

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟 = 𝜌𝑄[(𝑉1 − 𝑢)(1 + 𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u…………………………………….12

The power available on the turbine shaft as mechanical power is
𝑃𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = 𝑇𝜔 where T is the output torque
In general, the efficiency of a machine is

𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 =
𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒
……………………………………………13
𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒

Therefore, for the turbine (nozzle plus the wheel)

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟
𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝜂𝑡𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑦𝑑 = .
𝑃𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒

𝜌𝑄[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u
i.e. 𝜂𝑡𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑦𝑑 =
𝜌𝑔𝑄ℎ

[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u
= .
𝑔ℎ

Turbine overall
𝑃𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ 𝑇𝜔
𝜂𝑡𝑢𝑟 = = ……………………………………………………………14
𝑃𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝜌𝑔𝑄ℎ

The mechanical efficiency of the turbine

𝑃𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ 𝑇𝜔
𝜂𝑡𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑐ℎ = = ……….................................................15
𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟 𝜌𝑄[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u

If the whole installation, supply pipe plus nozzle plus wheel is considered, the overall efficiency
of the installation can be defined as
𝑇𝜔
𝜂𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙 = ………………………………………………………………16
𝜌𝑔𝑄𝐻𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠
The hydraulic efficiency of the wheel only is
𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟 𝜌𝑄[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u
𝜂𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑙 ℎ𝑦𝑑 = = 1 ……………………………17
𝑃𝑗𝑒𝑡 𝜌𝑄𝑉12
2

[(𝑉1 −𝑢)(1+𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑠ϕ)]u
𝜂𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑙 ℎ𝑦𝑑 =
𝑉12

Example
A double jet pelton turbine has to drive a generator required to develop 20 000 kW. The available
pressure head at the nozzle is 660 m. Assume the efficiency of the generator is 95%, the overall
efficiency of the turbine is 87%, the 𝐶𝑣 value of the nozzle is 0.97, the bucket velocity is 0.46 of
the velocity of the jet, the outlet angle of the buckets is 15° and that the velocity of the water is
reduced by 10% while moving across the bucket.
(a) The volumetric flow rate
(b) The diameter of the jet
(c) The force exerted by the jet on the buckets and
(d) The hydraulic efficiency of the turbine and of the wheel.