TECHNICAL MANUAL

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PELTON WHEEL TURBINE TEST RIG

INTRODUCTION:
Hydro -power is one of major cheap source of power available on earth, and
hence it is widely used for generation of electric power world wide. Water stored in the
dam contains potential energy. The water flows through the turbine, so that power is
generated by impact of water or reaction of water flow. The turbine drives a generator
which delivers electrical power. Thus, turbines are of great importance.
Turbines are basically of two types, viz. impulse turbines and reaction turbines.
In impulse turbines, water coming from high head acquires high velocity. The high
velocity water jet strikes the buckets of the turbine runner and cause it to rotate by
impact. In reaction turbine, total head of water is partly converted into velocity head as
it approaches turbine runner and it fills the runner and pressure of water gradually
changes as it flows through runner. In impulse turbine, the only turbine used now-a-days
is Pelton Wheel Turbine. In reaction turbines, Francis Turbine and Kaplan Turbine are
the examples.
The Pelton wheel turbine consists of runner mounted over the main shaft.
Runner consists of buckets fitted to the disc. The buckets have a shape of double
ellipsoidal cups. The runner is encased in a casing provided with a perspex window for
visualization. A nozzle fitted in the side of casing directs the water jet over the ‘Splitter’
or centre ridge of the buckets. A spear operates inside the nozzle to control the water
flow. On the other side of the shaft, a rope brake is mounted for loading the turbine.

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 SPECIFICATIONS : -
1)Turbine Power –2 H.P, fitted with 18 No of buckets, mounted over the sump
tank provided with nozzle and spear.
2) Pump- 7.5 H.P. monoblock pump, Head - 30 mtr., Discharge - 7.4 lps.
provided with starter.
3) Measurements –
a) Venturimeter with mercury manometer for discharge measurement.
b) Rope brake pulley dia. 0.195 m. with spring balance 10 Kg. & 5 kg.
Capacity & Belt thickness- 6 mm.
c) Pressure gauge to note down the pressure 0-7 Kg /cm2 capacity.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE : -
1) Fill up sufficient water in the sump tank.
2) Keep the venturimeter valves closed.
3) Close nozzle by operating the sphear. Press ‘Green’ button of starter, so that
pump starts running.
4) Observe direction of pump rotation during starting. It should be clockwise, as
seen from fan end. If it is reverse, interchange any two phases in supply line. If
direction pump is correct, pressure gauge will read the pressure about 3 - 3.5 Kgs / cm 2.
If it is reverse, pressure gauge will read l -2 Kgs / cm2
5) First open air valves then open the venturimeter valves, remove all the air
bubbles and close the air valves slowly and simultaneously so that mercury does not
run away into water.
6) Release all the load. Keep at 1/4 opening . Load the rope brake with 2 Kgs.
load . Note down the speed.
7) Go on adding the load, without disturbing sphear position. Note down pressure
gauge reading, speed, manometer reading and load each time.
8) Repeat the procedure for 1/2 , 3/4 and full sphear opening. This is a constant
head test.

OBSERVATION TABLE:

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 Constant head test -- Sphear opening - 1/4 , 1/2 , 3/4 , Full.
Manometer difference - m.
Pressure gauge reading - Kg/cm2

Sr. No Sphere Spring Balance Difference Turbine Speed

Position (Kg) (rpm)
1.
2.
3.

CALCULATIONS:-
1) Head over the turbine -
Since 10 m. of water head corresponds to 1Kg/cm2
H = Pressure Gauge Reading Kg / cm2 X 10 Mtr.
2) Water flow rate -
a 1 x a2
Q = Cd x ------------------- x ( 2gh w ) 0.5 m3 /sec
( a12 - a22 ) 0.5
Where,
a1 = Inlet area of Venturimeter at dia.= 0.052m = 2.12 X 10 -3 m2
a2 = Throat area of Venturimeter at dia = 0.035m = 9.62 X 10 -4 m2
Cd = Co - efficient of discharge = 0.98
hw = Water head across venturi
= Manometer difference (h) x 12.6 m of water.

3) Power supplied to turbine -

Pin = WQH x 9.81 watts
Where ,
W = Density of water = 1000 Kg./m3

4) Brake Power -
(radius of drum + thickness of belt)

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 T= (Spring balance diff. Kgs) x 9.81x (0.0975 +0.006) N.m
2  NT
Brake Power = ___________ watts
60
Note - i) Turbine speed is to be noted from laboratory
tachometer, which is not the part of equipment.
ii) Belt thickness is 6 mm., (i.e. 0.006 m )

5) Overall efficiency of turbine -

B.P.
 = ________
x 100 %
P in

Graphs : -
1) Constant head test -
Plot the graph of speed N Vs. B. P. and
N Vs. overall efficiency for various spear openings

PRECAUTIONS : -
1) While putting ‘ON’ the pump see that the nozzle is closed by the spear and load on
the brake drum is released.
2) Use clean water in the tank.
3) Operate all the controls and switches gently.
4) Lubricate the bearings, before experiment.
5) Drain the water after completion of experiment.

Sample calculation
OBSERVATION TABLE:
Constant head test -- Sphear opening - 1/4 , 1/2 , 3/4 , Full.

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 Pressure gauge reading - Kg/cm2

Sr. No Sphere Spring Balance Difference Turbine Speed Manometer

Position (Kg) (rpm) Diff (mm)
1. Full 11 588 90
2. 9 708 90
3. 3 774 94
4 7 575 94
5 5 1000 94

CALCULATIONS:- for reading no. 2

1) Head over the turbine -
Since 10 m. of water head corresponds to 1Kg/cm2
H = Pressure Gauge Reading Kg / cm2 X 10 Mtr.
H= 3.4 x 10 = 34 m
2) Water flow rate -
a 1 x a2
Q = Cd x ------------------- x ( 2gh w ) 0.5 m3 /sec
( a12 - a22 ) 0.5
Where,
a1 = Inlet area of Venturimeter at dia.= 0.05m = 1.96 X 10 -3 m2
a2 = Throat area of Venturimeter at dia = 0.0315m = 7.79 X 10 -4 m2
Cd = Co - efficient of discharge = 0.98
hw = Water head across venturi
= Manometer difference (h) x 12.6 m of water.

Q = 8.48 x 10-4 h x12.6

h= 0.090m
Q= 8.7471 x 10-4
3) Power supplied to turbine -
Pin = WQH x 9.81 kw
-------------------------
Where , 1000

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 W = Density of water = 9810 N./m
Hence,
9810 x 8.7471x10-4 x 34 x 9.81
Pin = ----------------------------------------------
1000

Pin = 2.86 kw
4) Brake Power -
(radius of drum + thickness of belt)
T= (Spring balance diff. Kgs) x 9.81x (0.095 +0.006) N.m
2  NT
Brake Power = ___________ kw
60,000
Note - i) Turbine speed is to be noted from laboratory
tachometer, which is not the part of equipment.
ii) Belt thickness is 6 mm., (i.e. 0.006 m )

T =9 x 9.81(0.095 + 0.006)
T = 18.82 .N/m

Hence , 2 x π x 708 x 18.82

BP= -----------------------------------
60,000

BP = 1.36 kw

5) Overall efficiency of turbine -

B.P.
 = ________
x 100 %
P in

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 1.36
Hence , η = -----------x 100
2.86
η= 47%