A Project Report on

Design of Pelton Wheel Turbine

Submitted To: Sir Abubakar Ayub

Group Members
M. Awais Saeed BME153090
Syed Mohsin Raza BME153003
Arqam Uddin Qureshi BME153013
M.Ammar Ali BME153088
Atta Ur Rehman BME153020

Semester: 5ᵀᴴ fall, 2017

Date: 8 Jan 2018

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Capital University of Science and Technology
 Abstract
A Pelton wheel is considered as an impulse turbine, a turbine that converts pressure head into
velocity head. This lab will use this mechanism along with a prone brake to calculate the input
power, output power, and efficiency of the turbine. The team will be provided with measuring
devices such as a stroboscope to measure the turbine speed as well as a hydraulic bench to
control the flow rate of the liquid flowing through the turbine. We are revised some designing
equation required for the designing of the Pelton wheel. We used plastic sheet for casing, nozzle
of steel, and some small pieces of PVC pipes for buckets.
 CONTENTS
1. Literature Review ................................................................................................................................. 4
2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Turbine Power ....................................................................................................................................... 5
USEFUL EQUATIONS:....................................................................................................................... 5
3. Notation: ............................................................................................................................................... 6
4. THE PELTON WHEEL .............................................................................................................................. 7
Force exerted by jet ............................................................................................................................... 8
5. Torque Exerted on the Wheel:.......................................................................................................... 9
6. POWER AND EFFICIENCY................................................................................................................. 10
7. Hydraulic Efficiency ....................................................................................................................... 11
8. CONSTRUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 13
 nozzle and flow regulating arrangment: ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
 runner and buckets: ............................................................................................................................ 13
 casing .................................................................................................................................................. 13
 breaking jet ......................................................................................................................................... 13
9. Desiging of te pelton wheel ................................................................................................................ 13
 NOZZLE DIMENSION:............................................................................................................. 13
 RUNNER PARAMETERS:........................................................................................................ 14
 Buckets Dimensions: .................................................................................................................. 14
The bucket radial length can be calculated as; ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
10. Finalized pictures ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
11. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 14
12. Refrences ........................................................................................................................................ 14
1. LITERATURE REVIEW
The hydraulic turbine has a long period of development, its oldest and simplest form being the
water wheel, first used in ancient Greece and subsequently adopted throughout medieval Europe
for the grinding of grain, etc. It was a French engineer, Benoit Fourneyron, who developed the
first commercially successful hydraulic turbine (1830). Later Fourneyron built turbines for
industrial purposes that achieved a speed of 2300rev/min, developing about 50kW at an
efficiency of over 80%. [1]

The Pelton wheel turbine, named after its American inventor Lester A. Pelton, was brought into
use in the second half of the nineteenth century. This is an impulse turbine in which water is
piped at high pressure to a nozzle where it expands completely to atmospheric pressure. The
emerging jet impacts onto the blades (or buckets) of the turbine producing the required torque
and power output. The head of water used originally was between about 90 m and 900 m
(modern versions operate up to heads of 2000 m).

A typical setup of a system generating electricity by using Pelton Turbine will have a water
reservoir situated at a height from the Pelton Wheel. The water from the reservoir flows through
a pressure channel to the penstock head and then through the penstock or the supply pipeline to
the nozzles, from where the water comes out as high speed jets striking the blades of the Pelton
Turbine. The penstock head is fitted with a surge tank which absorbs and dissipates sudden
fluctuations in pressure. For a constant water flow rate from the nozzles the speed of turbine
changes with changing loads on it. For quality hydroelectricity generation the turbine should
rotate at constant speed. To keep the speed constant despite the changing load son the turbine
water flow rate through the nozzles is changed. And for sudden reduction in load the jets are
Deflected using deflector plates so that some of the water from the jets do not strike the blades.
This prevents over speeding of the turbine.[2]

2. INTRODUCTION
Pelton wheel Turbine is impulse turbine. Impulse An impulse turbine first converts the water
head through a nozzle into a high velocity jet, which then strikes the buckets at one position as
they pass by. The runner passages are not fully filled and the jet flow past the buckets is
essentially at constant pressure. Impulse turbines are ideally suited for high head and relatively
low power. Since the water jet is always open to atmosphere, inlet and exit pressure of water jet
will be same and will be same as atmospheric pressure. However, absolute velocity of fluid will
have huge drop from inlet to exit of bucket. This kinetic energy drop is the maximum energy the
bucket can absorb. So it is clear that Pelton turbine gains mechanical energy purely due to
change in kinetic energy of jet, not due to pressure energy change. Which means Pelton turbine
is a pure impulse machine. The turbine is a wheel with ‘buckets’ around its circumference. Water
passes through a Spear Valve that controls and directs the inlet flow through a nozzle and onto
the buckets due to gravity.
Turbine Power
This is the power absorbed by the turbine wheel, taken from water,

𝑃𝑤=2𝜋𝑁𝑇60 or 𝑃𝑤=𝜔𝑇

USEFUL EQUATIONS:
𝑤√𝑤̇𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡
Ns´d=√𝑇𝑛𝑜𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑒 ( 5 )
(ℎ𝑎)4

vɵ2 = u+𝑤2 (𝑐𝑜𝑠β)

𝑇𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 = 𝑚̇𝑟𝑚 (𝑢 − 𝑣1 )(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠β).[3]

3. NOTATION:
4. THE PELTON WHEEL

The Pelton Wheel needs a source of water in order to run. If the head of water is known, along
with the flow rate, then it is possible to find the best size of wheel to use, how fast it should
rotate to obtain the maximum efficiency, and what power it is likely to develop.
The velocity in the jet can be estimated by using the known fixed head. The diameter of the jet
can then be found from the known flow rate. A suitable wheel diameter can be chosen in relation
to the jet size; typically the wheel would have a diameter of 10 times that of the jet. The best
speed of rotation may then be selected, such that the speed of the buckets is approximately half
that of the jet speed.
The power delivered in the jet can be calculated from the speed and cross-sectional area of the
jet. The power developed by the Pelton wheel will be less than this, in the ratio of the wheel’s
efficiency, which may be estimated by reference to the known performance of existing machines
of comparable size and output.
Depending on the head and flow rate available, the size and speed of the Pelton wheel obtained
in this way may prove to be impracticable or uneconomic. Fortunately, other types of water
turbine are available to suit a wide variety of circumstances.
The Pelton wheel is usually chosen when the available head is high, but the flow rate is
comparatively low.
Force exerted by jet
Figure shows a water jet emerging at speed v from a nozzle, and striking one of the buckets of
the wheel, which itself is moving at speed u. The mass flow rate is and it is assumed that all of
the water emerging from the nozzle strikes one or other of the set of buckets arranged around the
periphery of the wheel, although, for simplicity, just one bucket is shown in the diagram.

The relative velocity at which the jet impacts on the bucket is (𝑣 – 𝑢). The flow over the bucket
is decelerated slightly by frictional resistance at the surface. Suppose that the relative velocity, as
the water leaves the bucket, is (𝑣 – 𝑢), where k is a velocity reduction factor with a value
somewhat less than unity.
The relative velocity is inclined at the bucket exit angle 𝛽 to the jet’s direction. The absolute
velocity of the water at exit is the vector sum of the relative velocity and the bucket velocity 𝑢,
as shown.
The force 𝐹𝑤 generated on the bucket may be found by considering the momentum change, as
shown in Figure 6b. The incoming rate of momentum flow in the direction of motion of the
bucket is 𝑚̇𝑣, and the outgoing rate is

𝑚̇[𝑢+𝑘(𝑣−𝑢)cos𝛽]
Note the positive sign before the relative velocity at exit, indicating addition of the relative and
bucket velocities. Note also that 𝛽 is greater than 90°, therefore 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 will be negative.

5. Torque Exerted on the Wheel:

Variation of torque 𝑇 with speed ratio 𝜆

The force 𝐹𝑤 produced on the bucket by the difference between these rates of momentum flow
is:
𝐹𝑤=𝑚̇𝑣−𝑚̇[𝑢+𝑘(𝑣−𝑢)cos𝛽
𝐹𝑤=𝑚̇(𝑣−𝑢)(1−𝑘cos𝛽)
It is helpful to express the ratio of bucket speed 𝑢 to jet speed 𝑣 as λ: 𝜆=𝑢𝑣
so that
𝐹𝑤=𝑚̇(1−𝜆)(1−𝑘cos𝛽)
The torque 𝑇 exerted on the wheel is therefore:

𝑇=𝑚̇(1−𝜆)(1−𝑘cos𝛽)
We see that for a particular wheel, supplied with water at some fixed flow rate (so that both 𝑚̇
and 𝑣 are also fixed), torque 𝑇 varies as (1 – 𝜆). The torque therefore falls linearly from a
maximum when 𝜆 = 0 (i.e. when the wheel is stationary) to zero when 𝜆 = 1 (i.e. when the bucket
moves at the same speed as the jet). This is referred to as the runaway condition.

6. POWER AND EFFICIENCY

The power output 𝑃𝑤 developed at the wheel is given below by:

𝑃𝑤=𝜔𝑇
and noting that:

𝑢=𝜔𝑅𝑤
The power output may be written as:

𝑃𝑤=𝑚̇𝑣2(1−𝜆)(1−𝑘cos𝛽)
7. Hydraulic Efficiency
The power input 𝑃𝑖𝑛, in the form of kinetic energy in the jet, is:

𝑃𝑖𝑛=1/2𝑚̇𝑣2
Without an accurate figure for the jet diameter, the inlet pressure (shown on a small gauge) and water
flow (measured by the hydraulic bench) gives a good approximation of the inlet power from:

𝑃𝑖𝑛=𝑄𝑣𝑝
Where 𝑄𝑣 is in m3.s-1 and the pressure is in Pascals.
The hydraulic efficiency 𝜂ℎ, defined as the ratio of output power to input power is:

𝜂ℎ=𝑃𝑤𝑃𝑖𝑛=2(1−𝜆)(1−𝑘cos𝛽)
with a maximum value:

𝜂𝑚𝑎𝑥=1/2(1−𝑘cos𝛽)
In terms of percentage:

𝜂ℎ=𝑃𝑤𝑃𝑖𝑛×100
In the absence of friction, the relative speed is not reduced by passage over the bucket surface, so
the value of 𝑘 would then be unity. Moreover, the lowest conceivable value of 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 is –1,
corresponding to 𝛽 = 180°. So the factor (1 – 𝑘𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽) could ideally just reach the value 2. The
maximum ideal efficiency, 𝜂𝑚𝑎𝑥, would then just reach 100%, all the kinetic energy in the jet
being transformed into useful power output, with the water falling from the buckets with zero
absolute velocity. In practice, however, surface friction over the bucket is always present, and β
cannot reasonably exceed a value of about 165°, so 100% efficiency can never be achieved.
It must be emphasized that the hydraulic efficiency used here gives the ratio of hydraulic power
generated by the wheel to the power in the jet. The overall efficiency of the turbine will fall short
of this hydraulic efficiency due to some loss of head in the nozzle, air resistance to the rotating
turbine, and losses at the bearings.
As shown in Figure you can reasonably expect a maximum efficiency of around 60% for this
small turbine. Your results should show that the turbine may not be most efficient at its
maximum power position and that the spear valve position affects maximum speed, torque,
Theoretical Variation of Efficiency with speed
8. CONSTRUCTION: –
Following are the main parts of Pelton wheel:

 RUNNER AND BUCKETS:

Runner consists of a circular disc on the periphery of which a number of buckets evenly spaced
are fixed. The space of the buckets is of a double hemispherical cup or bowl. Each bucket is
divided into two symmetrical parts by dividing wall, which is known as Splitter. The Splitter
divides the jet into two equal parts. The buckets are shaped in such a way that the jet gets
deflected through 160° or 170°. The buckets are made of cast iron, cast steel bronze or stainless
steel depending upon the head at the inlet of the turbine. However, here we use pvc pipes as a
buckets.

 CASING
The function of water is to prevent the splashing of water and to discharge water to tail race.

 BREAKING JET
When the nozzle is completely closed by moving the spear in the forward direction, the amount
of water striking the runner reduces to zero. But the runner due to inertia goes on revolving for a
long time. To stop the runner in a short time, a small nozzle is provided which directs the jet of
water on the back of vanes. This jet of water is called Breaking Jet.

9. DESIGING OF TE PELTON WHEEL

 NOZZLE DIMENSION:
The water jet through a nozzle has a velocity 𝑉1 in (m.s-1) can be calculated through

𝑉1 = Cv × √2𝑔𝐻𝐸
Cv = Coefficient of the velocity for the Nozzle and its value ranging from 0.97 to 0.99
The water flow rate through nozzle (Q) can be calculated as,

Q= 𝑉1 × 𝐴𝑗
Where Aj is the area of the jet.
𝜋
Q=𝑉1 × 𝑑 2 × 4
Where (d) is the nozzle diameter.
  RUNNER PARAMETERS:
The velocity of the wheel is given by,

𝑢= 𝜑 × √2𝑔𝐻𝐸
Where (𝜑) is the speed ratio or speed factor, this speed ratio varies from 0.43 to 0.47.
Ratio of the pitch diameter of the Pelton wheel to the diameter of the jet (d) is given by
𝐷
𝑚=
𝑑
The jet ratio varies from 10 to 14. In the case of the Pelton wheel, normally, a jet ratio of 12 is
adopted.

 Buckets Dimensions:
The number of buckets in each runner must be determined so that no water particle was lost
while minimizing the risks of detrimental interactions between the out flowing water particles
and adjacent buckets. It can be calculated as

Z = 15 + D/2d
Angle between adjacent buckets is given by,

𝛽=360/Z
10. CONCLUSION
As a conclusion from the experiment that had been performed, we can conclude that different
range of flow rates and rotational speeds influences the performance of Pelton wheel turbine
.The combination of flow rate and jet velocity manipulates the power or work input. The bigger
the diameter nozzle the faster the flow rates but lower in velocity jet. Therefore, we need the
perfect combination of both. In general, impulse turbine is high head, low flow rate device.
So we can assume that our experiment is successful due to the result we obtained. This is a
lab experiment, which we will perform.

11. REFRENCES
[1] https://www.scribd.com/document/249114107/Pelton-Wheel
[2]http://www.brighthubengineering.com/fluid-mechanics-
hydraulics/26777-hydraulic-turbines-the-pelton-turbine/