Constant speed characteristics of pelton turbine

Aerospace Engineering Department 1

PELTON TURBINE test rig














Constant speed characteristics of pelton turbine

Aerospace Engineering Department 2

Exp No :
Date :
CONSTANT SPEED CHARACTERISTICS OF PELTON TURBINE
Aim :
To conduct a load test on Pelton Turbine and plot the following characteristic curves.
Output Power Vs Discharge.
Output Power Vs Input Power.
Output Power Vs Efficiency.
Specifications:
Turbine :
Rated supply head - 40 m
Discharge - 660 lpm
Rated Speed - 800 rpm
Runner outside Diameter - 300 mm
No. of Pelton cups - 20 Nos
Brake drum diameter - 300 mm
Power output - 3.5 HP
Venturimeter :
Diameter of the inlet pipe - 65 mm
Throat diameter - 39 mm
Coefficient of discharge, C
d
- 0.9
Theory:
The turbine is to be run at constant speed at different loads and the efficiency of the turbine is determined
by measuring the input power and output power of the turbine. The speed is kept constant by adjusting the inlet
valve and nozzle opening.
The input power is determined by the equation,
gQH P
i
= watts
Where, = density of water in kg/m
3

g = acceleration due to gravity in m/s
2

H = total head in m of water
Q = Discharge in m
3
/s
The discharge can be find out by the venturimeter.
Q =
2
2
2
1
2 1
d
a a
gh 2 a a
C

Where,
(

= 1 - h h
m
w
m
and
m
&
w
are the densities of mercury and water respectively.
h
m
= h
1
- h
2
m of Hg

a
1
= Cross section area of Venturimeter at entry section.
a
2
= Cross section area of Venturimeter at throat section.

Constant speed characteristics of pelton turbine

Aerospace Engineering Department 3


The output power,
60
NT 2
P
o
t
= watts
Where, N = Speed of the turbine in rpm
T = Output Torque in N-m.
= ( ) R g S S
2 1
N-m
S
1
, S
2
= Spring balance readings in kg.
R = Radius of the brake drum in m.
Overall Efficiency of the turbine, 100
P
P
i
o
= q %
The maximum tangential load to be applied on the brake drum (S
1
S
2
) can be calculated by the maximum output
capacity of the turbine.
ie, (S
1
S
2
)
max
=
RNg 2
60 746 BHP
t

kg
Ref: Fundamentals of fluid mechanics, B.R.Munson, D.F.Young, Th.Okiishi, Fifth Edition, Chapt.12

Procedure :
1. Calculate the maximum load that can be applied on the turbine.
2. Start the motor connected to the pump by keeping the inlet valve to the turbine closed.
3. Remove the load on the turbine and gradually open the valve.
4. Maintain the speed as constant at rated speed and constant head at rated value by adjusting the spear and
the delivery valve of the pump simultaneously.
5. Note the spring balance readings S
1
and S
2
.
6. Note the manometer readings for finding the discharge.
7. Repeat the experiment by loading the machine in step till maximum load is achieved.
8. Release the load gradually keeping the speed within limit and finally switch off the motor.
Observations :

Diameter of the inlet pipe of venturimeter, d
1
= ______
Throat diameter of venturimeter, d
2
= ______
Coefficient of discharge of venturimeter,, C
d
= ______








Constant speed characteristics of pelton turbine

Aerospace Engineering Department 4



Graph :


















Sample Calculations: ( set no: ____)




Sl
No:
Speed
Pressure
gauge
reading
Spring
Balance
reading
Manometer readings
Venturi
head
Discharge
Input
Power
Output
Power
Efficiency
N p S
1
S
2
h
1
h
2
h
m
h Q P
i
P
o
q
rpm kg/cm
2
kg kg cm cm m of Hg
m of
water
m
3
/s W W
%
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Constant speed characteristics of pelton turbine

Aerospace Engineering Department 5













Result :



Inference :