FRANCIS TURBINE

INTRODUCTION
A hydraulic machine is a device in which mechanical energy is transferred from the liquid
flowing through the machine to its operating member (runner, piston and others), or from
the operating member to the liquid flowing through it.

Hydraulic turbines are designed for service at hydraulic power plants where they drive
electric generators. There are four main major types of turbines: Axial flow (Kaplan)
turbines, mixed flow turbines (also known as Francis Turbine) and the Pelton Turbine.

The Francis turbine is a medium head hydraulic machine. They are used with heads from
40-60 to 500-700 m.

For every turbine, there are parameters that affect the turbine operating conditions. These
include: sizes, speed, efficiency, installation head and so on. The actual functional
relationships between these parameters are referred to turbine characteristics. This
experiment looks at these characteristics for the Francis Turbine.

OBJECTIVES
To obtain the characteristics of a Francis turbine i.e. Torque-speed, Brake H.P-speed
Efficiency-Speed, Q-speed, Unit power – unit speed Efficiency-Unit speed, find Ns at
maximum efficiency, unity quantity-Unit speed

APPARATUS
Francis Turbine, shaft upon which a Rope dynamometer is mounted, A pressure gauge, A
hand tachometer, A flow meter in supply main to measure discharge.
DIAGRAM

Spiral Case
Water
Inlet
Stay ring

Wicket
gate

METHOD
Two model guide vanes mounted on the side of the turbine are used. The machines as those
in the turbine operate these. The area of flow to the runner can easily be calculated by
measuring the gap (with a gauge provided) between the model guide vanes.
The opening was set to full with the aid of gauge and the slice valve was adjusted until the
algebraic difference of the inlet and outlet heads is 50ft of water (the outlet gauge was at
zero throughout the experiment). Continuous adjustment was made to ensure that the inlet
gauge was at 50ft at all times throughout the experiment.
The Rope was removed from the dynamometer and runway speed was determined for full
openings of the guide vanes with the aid of the hand tachometer.
The flow was also determined by taking the time for 100 gallons of water to flow through
the time for 100 gallons of water to flow through the meter. The rope was also then refitted
and the weight hanger placed on it. The speed and the flow were determined as above. The
spring balance reading was also noted, the hanger weight was measured in steps of 2 lbs
and all the readings mentioned above were taken for each increment until the turbine
runner, shaft and dynamometer came to a standstill. The hanger weight was measured. The
results were then tabulated.
THEORY

V1
V01 W1 1 
U1

Vw1

1 U2

W2
V2

The Francis turbine is a reaction machine, which means that during energy transfer in the
runner (impeller) there is a drop in static pressure and a drop in velocity head. Only part of
the total head presented to the machine is converted to velocity head before entering the
runner. This is achieved in the stationary but adjustable guide vanes shown in the diagram
below. The guide vane ring may surround the runner on its outer periphery, in which case
the flow of fluid is towards the runner center. In such a case the turbine is known as an
inward-flow type. The alternative arrangement is for the fluid to enter the guide vanes at
the center and to flow radially outwards into the runner, which is now surrounds, the guide
vanes. Such a turbine is known as outward-flow type.

Consider the inward flow type Francis Turbine represented diagrammatically in the figure
below. A section of the runner guide vane angle, showing the blades, vanes and velocity
triangle is also shown.

The total head available to the machine is H and the water velocity on entering the guide
vanes is Vo. The velocity leaving the guide vanes is V 1 and is related to Vo by the continuity
equation as:
V 0A0 V 01A1
But V 01V 1Sin , so that
V 0A0 V 1A1 sin 
The direction of V1 is governed by the guide vane angle . It is chosen in such a way that
the relative velocity meet the runner blade tangentially. i.e. it makes an angle of 1 with the
tangent at the blade inlet. Thus:
V 01 V 01
tan   and tan  1 
V W1 V 1 V W1

E lim inatin V w1 , from the two equations :

V 01
tan  1 
U 1  V 01 tan  
U1
or cot  1   cot 
V 01

Therefore ,
U1
 cot  1 cot 
V f1
or U 1V 01  cot  1 cot  
2
V1
The total energy at inlet to the runner consists of the velocity head and pressure head
2g

H1 . In the runner the energy is decreased by E, velocity is transferred to the runner. Water

2
V2
leaves the impeller with kinetic energy .
2g

Thus the following energy equations hold:

2
V1 '
H   h1  h1 and
2g
2
V2
H E  h1
2g

In which h1 ‘ is the loss of head of the guide vane ring and h1 is the loss in the whole turbine,
including entry the entry guide vanes and runner.

The energy transferred is given by the Euler’s equation, which for maximum energy
transfer or condition secured when Vw2 is zero takes the form:
V w1U 1
E 
g

The condition of no whirl component at the outlet may be achieved by making the outlet
blade angle 2 such that the absolute velocity at outlet V 2 radial, as shown in the velocity
diagram.
From the outlet velocity diagram then it follows that:
V2
tan  2 but sin ce
U2
V W 2 0, then V 2V 02 and by the continuity equation
A1V 01 A2V 02
So that  2 can det er min ed

If the condition of no whirl at outlet is satisfied, the second energy equation takes the form:
2
V w1U 1 V 2
H    h1
g 2g
The hydraulic efficiency is given by
E V U
h  w1 1
H gH
and the overall efficiency by
P

gQH

In which P is the power output of the machine, Q is the volumetric flow rate through the
turbine, H is the head available at the turbine inlet.
The relationship between the runner speed and the spouting velocity, 2 gH for the Francis

U2
is not so rigidly defined as for the Pelton wheel. In practice the speed ratio is
2 gH

contained within the limits 0.6 – 0.9.

Similarly, to a Pelton Wheel the Francis turbine usually drives an alternator and hence its
speed must be constant. Since the total head available is constant and dissipation of energy
by throttling is undesirable, the regulation at part load is achieved by varying the guide
angle , sometimes referred to as the gate. This is possible because they’re no requirement
for the speed ratio to remain constant. A change in  results in a change in VW and Vf . Thus
E is altered from giving U. However, such changes means a departure from the no shock
condition at inlet and also give rise to whirl component at outlet. As a result the efficiency
at part load falls off more rapidly than in the case of the Pelton wheel. Also, vortex motion
in the draft tube resulting from the whirl component may cause cavitation in the center.
Suddenly load changes are catered for either by a by-pass valve or by a surge tank.
1. Torque , T  Pr
where is the effectuve tension in the braking system and P  (W  S )9.81
W is the load applied , S is the spring balance reading , r  radius of dynamometer
2
2. Speed n  rad / s, where  is the speed of rotation in rpm
60
3. Power output from the dynamometer N v Tn
Pr  2 
N v   KW
1000  60 
output power
4. Efficiency ,   100% 
input power
Input power  gHQ  gHQ KW
Q  Disch arg e of water ,
  density of water , H  water head
Then
NV
 (100%)
gQH
volume of water collected in mm3
5. Disch arg e Q 
Time taken in sec onds

Nv
6. Unit Power N u
 H  3

Q
7. Unit disch arg e QU 
H
n
8. Unit speed n u 
H

TABLE OF RESULTS
Parameters
Let Torque = T (Nm), Speed = n (rad/s), Power = Nv (KW), Efficiency =  (%)
Discharge= Q (m3/s), Unit Discharge = Qu, Unit speed = nu,, Unit Power = Nu

Full opening

T(Nm) n (rad/s)  (%) Q (m3/s) Nv (KW) Nu nu Qu H(m)

(10-3) (10-3)
0.000 209.466 0.000 9.477 0.000 0.000 53.726 2.431 15.200
0.976 182.212 9.580 12.383 0.177 2.986 46.736 3.176 15.200
2.332 173.834 20.610 13.188 0.4053 6.839 44.584 3.383 15.200
3.688 171.740 34.000 12.580 0.633 10.802 44.208 3.238 15.092
5.043 154.985 41.590 13.520 0.7816 14.656 41.175 3.592 14.168
6.399 119.381 45.000 13.370 0.764 16.418 43.192 3.719 12.936
7.755 108.908 49.114 13.880 0.845 18.819 30.647 3.906 12.628
9.110 83.775 45.120 14.354 0.763 18.332 24.172 4.140 12.012
9.788 50.265 30.973 14.317 0.492 6.673 14.889 4.241 11.396
11.144 23.038 15.969 14.778 0.257 6.530 6.918 4.438 11.088
12.500 0.000 0.000 14.758 0.000 0.000 0.000 4.432 11.088

Three quarter opening

T (Nm) n (ras/s)  (%) Q (m3/s)(10-3) Nv (KW) Nu nu Qu (10-3) H (m)

0.000 211.530 0.000 8.147 0.000 0.000 54.248 2.089 15.200
0.970 190.589 10.450 11.800 0.184 3.105 48.885 3.026 15.200
2.330 184.300 26.000 10.990 0.429 7.239 47.270 2.810 15.200
3.687 180.118 36.600 12.160 0.664 11.205 46.190 3.118 15.200
5.043 169.000 48.250 11.840 0.852 14.377 43.347 3.036 15.200
6.399 146.600 46.700 13.820 0.938 16.500 38.120 3.590 14.784
7.754 127.758 51.000 13.510 0.990 17.800 33.467 3.539 14.568
9.110 104.700 54.025 13.300 0.953 19.170 28.475 3.617 13.520
10.466 79.580 48.88 13.100 0.832 17.260 21.867 3.600 13.244
11.483 52.350 36.340 13.350 0.601 13.392 14.730 3.756 12.628
12.830 16.755 13.000 13.670 0.215 4.970 4.774 3.890 12.320
13.855 0.000 0.000 13.778 0.000 0.000 0.000 3.90 12.012

Half Open
Torque n (ras/s)  (%) Q (m3/s) Nv (KW) Nu nu Qu H(m)
(Nm) (10-3) (10-3)
0.000 213.600 0.000 6.490 0.000 0.000 54.787 1.660 15.200
0.976 194.778 15.300 8.320 0.190 3.206 49.959 2.134 15.200
2.332 186.40 32.300 9.025 0.435 7.340 47.81 2.315 15.200
3.687 171.740 59.380 9.780 0.866 14.619 44.050 2.509 15.200
5.043 163.362 66.500 10.440 1.036 17.480 41.97 2.670 15.200
6.399 142.418 69.520 10.610 1.104 18.629 36.529 2.720 15.200
7.754 127.758 70.650 11.040 1.163 19.625 32.760 2.830 15.200
9.110 108.900 66.820 11.430 1.139 19.200 27.932 2.930 15.200
10.466 90.058 59.354 12.030 1.064 17.150 23.099 3.085 15.200
11.822 62.830 45.560 12.172 0.827 13.950 16.115 3.122 15.200
13.177 35.600 27.855 12.158 0.505 8.520 9.131 3.110 15.200
14.195 9.420 7.670 12.381 0.140 2.400 2.428 3.190 15.092
14.870 0.000 0.000 12.566 0.000 0.000 0.000 3.268 14.784

One quarter Opening

T (Nm) n (rad/s)  (%) Q (m3/s) Nv Nu nu Qu H(m)
(10-3) (KW) (10-3)
0.000 196.873 0.000 4.330 0.000 0.000 50.496 1.110 15.220
0.976 140.324 15.967 5.712 0.136 2.290 35.992 1.460 15.220
2.332 106.814 27.175 6.145 0.249 4.201 27.397 1576 15.220
3.687 94.247 37.275 6.243 0.347 5.855 24.174 1.601 15.220
5.043 69.115 33.3536 6.959 0.348 5.872 17.727 1.785 15.220
6.399 27.227 17.460 6.730 0.174 2.936 6.984 1.726 15.220
7.077 0.000 0.000 6.756 0.000 0.000 0.000 1.732 15.220

Discussion of Results and Conclusion

The graphs obtained from the experimental values approximate that expected from theory. There
are however few deviations from the curve. These deviations are caused by errors encountered in
the course of the experiment. The following may have contributed to the errors:
 Friction at the bearings
 Power fluctuations did not allow us to maintain a constant head of 50 ft.
 Deflections of the shaft due to the weight of the dynamometer introduce vibrations
especially at high speeds which may affected the speed of rotation of the dynamometer
 Mathematical approximations
 Human errors in reading the instruments
 Cavitation in the pipe and in the runner may have caused uneven velocity distribution and a
possible change in the flow pattern.

The following measures were put in place to minimize the errors:

 Water was constantly introduced at the dynamometer to reduce the heat produced due to the
applied load.
 No parallax method was used to take the readings
REFERENCES:
1. FLUID MECHANCS BY: J.F DOUGLAS, J. M. GASIOREK AND J. A. SWAFFIELD, PAGES 633 - 661
2. HYDRAULIC MACHINES, TURBINES AND PUMPS BY: G. I. KRIVCHENKO, PAGES 2 - 186