Design of Hydraulic Turbine

(low head and high discharge)

GUIDED BY
DR. S. PAVITRAN

Objective

Design and analysis of Hydraulic turbine for low head and

high discharge ( H 10 to 50 m & Nq 70 to 300 rpm)

Design of Propeller Turbine which is most suitable for

available head and discharge ( Head = 2m , Discharge Q =
6m3/sec).

Design of Blade profile depending on parameters.

To fullfill low power requirement in remote areas for general

use of electricity (Below 150 Kw)

Introduction to axial turbines

When the path of the through-flow is wholly or mainly parallel

to the axis of rotation, the device is known as an axial flow
turbo machine.
The radial component of the fluid velocity is negligible. Since
there is no change in the direction of the fluid, several axial
stages can be used to increase power output.
A working fluid contains potential energy (pressure head)
and kinetic energy (velocity head). The fluid may be
compressible or incompressible.

Advantages
Almost all electric power on Earth is generated with a
turbine of some type.
Used for large engines.
Large mass flow rates
Better efficiencies
It gives high flow at low heads.

Disadvantages
Expensive
Difficult to manufacture

Chart to determine
selection of turbine

Propeller Turbine

The Propeller is of the propeller type.

The difference between the Propeller and Propeller
turbines is that the Propeller turbine has fixed runner
blades while the Propeller turbine has adjustable
runner blades.
It is a pure axial flow turbine uses basic aerofoil
theory.
The Propeller turbine, unlike all other turbines, the
runner's blades are movable.

Working Priciple

The PROPELLER Turbine is of the reaction type. The

velocity of the water decreases steadily, entering the guide
vanes, passing through the runner and final exit. The twist in
water flow runs in parallel to the turbine shaft and to the fully
admitted runner blades, where the pressure for energy
conversion is reduced further.
Special constructional measures are necessary to prevent
cavitations. The water flow is regulated by adjustable guide
vanes. To achieve optimum efficiency at varying flows, the
runner blades are automatically adjusted in relation to the
wicket gate position

PARTS OF PROPELLER TURBINE

WORKING

The PROPELLER turbine is an inward

flow reaction turbine, which means that
the working fluid changes pressure as it
moves through the turbine and gives up
its energy

Advantages of Propeller turbine

The Propeller's blades are adjustable for pitch and will handle a
great variation of flow very efficiently
They are 90% or better in efficiency and are used in place of
some of the old (but great) Francis types in a good many of
installations.
The application of Propeller turbines are from a head of 2m to
40m.

Disadvantages of Propeller turbine

They are very expensive.

CAVITATION

Cavitation occurs especially at spots where the pressure is low.

In the case of a Propeller turbine, the inlet of the runner is quite
susceptible to it.
The major design criteria for blades is :
Avoid Cavitations.

Reasons to avoid cavitations

It decreases the efficiency

It causes crackling noises.
The main problem is the wear.
Cavitation does not just destroy the parts, chemical
properties are also lost.

Turbine Design

The design procedure follows a series of logical steps.

The calculations for each step have been put into the
sheet.
The design starts from the runner and then calculates
the dimensions of the scroll casing to give the correct
swirl velocity at runner inlet.
The dimensions of the runner may need to be adjusted
through several iterations to avoid large twist in the
blades or reverse angles at the hub, which would make
the runner blades difficult to manufacture accurately.

Turbine Design Parameters

The design parameters for turbine are :Head - H
Volume Flow, Or Discharge - Q
Rotational Speed -N
Dt, Dh=Tip and Hub diameters
W=specific work
Wbl=Blade specific work
1,2=blade angles at outlet and inlet
=angle of attack
CL=coefficient of lift
Z=Number of blades
S=spacing ,
Ch=chord length

Design Procedure

Assume speed of turbine 90 rpm

Specific work W=gh
Shape no. nsh= n(p)1/2/(W)0.15
Specific speed Nq= n(Q)1/2/(H)3/4
From chart we find Kug
No of blade (Z) also find by chart.
Kug=ut/(2gH)1/2
Ut=(Dtn)/60
By chart dh/dt
So we get Hub and Tip Diameter i.e. Dh and Dt

 V =(Dt2-Dh2)Cm
Assume hyd=0.85
hyd=Wbl/W
we get Wbl
1=tan-1(Cm/u)
2=tan-1((u*Cm )/(u2-wbl))
We get 1 & 2 for hub and tip
Cavitation
min=(3.65*nq)1.64/50327
=((Pb-PV)/-dt((C12-Cex2)/2)-gHe)
Assume dt=0.9
so, >min
Hence cavitation is not possible

Kb=(2gH(s/ch))/(u*Wme)=M*CL
tan(90-me)=0.5(tan(90-1)+tan(90-2))
We get me for hub and tip
Sinme= Cm/Wme
We get Wme for hub and tip
We find space: chord ratio and M by graph for hub and tip
By putting all above values in equation we get Kb for hub
and tip.
But Kb=M*CL
So we get CL
=(1b+2b)/2=42.7050
me- =
=2b-1b

Camber=0.5(1-cos /2)/sin /2=m/ch

We get Camber for hub and tip
s=D/z
Therefore,
We get Ch and m for hub and tip
From graph we get Angle of attack() for Hub and Tip

Graphs Used

Graphs Used

Dimensions:

Drunner

Dhub

Applications of PROPELLER Turbine

PROPELLER turbines are widely used throughout the world

for electrical power production. They cover the lowest head
hydro sites and are especially suited for high flow conditions.
Inexpensive micro turbines on the PROPELLER turbine model
are manufactured for individual power production designed
for 3m of head which can work with as little as 0.3m of
head at a highly reduced performance provided sufficient
water flow.
Large PROPELLER turbines are individually designed for each
site to operate at the highest possible efficiency, typically
over 90%. They are very expensive to design, manufacture
and install, but operate for decades.
They have recently found a new home in offshore wave
energy generation, see Wave Dragon.

Conclusion

Propeller turbine is most efficient for low head and high

discharge case of power generation.
It can work between 20% to 100% of the maximum design
discharge.
Tangential velocity increase from hub to tip.
Chamber decreases from hub to tip.
Angle of attack decreases from hub to tip.
Arc radius increases from hub to tip