Elements of Mechanical Engineering

(MEL 100)
 Module III: Fluid Properties and their Applications:

Introduction to hydraulic machines:

turbines, pumps, their types and applications in energy conversion.
Turbo Machine’ is defined as a device that extracts energy from a continuously flowing fluid
by the dynamic action of one or more rotating elements.

Turbines are fluid machines that extracts energy from a fluid or converts the energy held by
the fluid due to pressure and velocity into mechanical energy.
energy by increasing
y are known as
The device in which the kinetic, potential or intermolecular energy held by the fluid
is converted in the form of mechanical energy of a rotating member is known as a
Turbine.

The machines, on the other hand, where the mechanical energy from moving parts
is transferred to a fluid to increase its stored energy by increasing either its

r blowers.
pressure or velocity are known as Pumps, compressors, fans or blowers.

Steam Turbines
Gas Turbines (Combustion Turbines)
Water (Hydraulic) Turbines
 Hydro electric power is the most remarkable development pertaining to the exploitation of
water resources throughout the world.

 Hydroelectric power is developed by hydraulic turbines which are hydraulic machines.

Turbines convert hydraulic energy or hydro-potential into mechanical energy.

 Mechanical energy developed by turbines is used to run electric generators coupled to the
shaft of turbines. Hydro electric power is the most cheapest source of power generation.

 J.V. Poncelet first introduced the idea of the development of mechanical energy through
hydraulic energy.

 Modern hydraulic turbines have been developed by L.A. Pelton (impulse), G. Coriolis and
J.B. Francis (reaction) and V Kaplan (propeller).
 HYDROPOWER

Hydro-energy is known as traditional renewable energy source.

It is based on natural circulating water flow and its drop from higher to lower land surface
that constitutes the potential.

In order to convert this potential to applicable electric energy, water flow should be led to
and drive a hydraulic turbine, transforming hydro-energy into mechanical energy, the latter
again drives a connected generator transforming the mechanical energy into electric
energy.

As hydroenergy exploitation and its utilization are completed at the same time. I.e. the
exploitation of first energy source and the conversion of secondary energy source occur
simultaneously, unlike the coal power generation which should have two orders; first order
is exploitation of fuel, second order is generation, so hydropower has the advantages over
thermal power generation.
Fig. General Layout of a dam based hydroelectric plant
 how a hydro electric power plant works?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhjhufhg3Xk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8HmRLCgDAI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC8Lbyeyh-E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hooifWJ1jY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RyPN7RAtKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MADGr7bXNs8
According to the Head and Quantity of Water
Introduction and Terminology:
 “Turbine” is a general term for any device that extracts mechanical energy from a fluid –
generally converting it to rotating energy of a turbine wheel.
 For liquids, we usually call them “hydraulic turbines” or “hydroturbines”.
 For gases, we usually call them “wind turbines”, “gas turbines”, or “steam
turbines”, depending on the type of gas being used.

Just as with pumps, there are two basic types of turbine:

Positive displacement turbines – fluid is forced into a closed volume, and then the fluid is
pushed out.
Dynamic turbines – no closed volume is involved; instead, rotating
blades called
Runner blades or Buckets extract energy from the fluid.
In general, positive-displacement turbines are used for flow measurement, rather than for
production of power, whereas dynamic turbines are used for both power generation and flow
measurement.
Dynamic Turbines:
Dynamic turbines do not have closed volumes. Instead, spinning blades called
runners or buckets transfer kinetic energy and extract momentum from the fluid.

 Dynamic turbines are used for both flow measurement and power
production. For example, turbine flow meters for air and water.

Positive-Displacement Turbines:
The nutating disc flowmeter, commonly used to measure the volume of water supplied to a
house, is an example of a positive-displacement turbine.
There are two main types of dynamic turbines: impulse turbines
and reaction turbines.
Impulse turbines: Fluid is sent through a nozzle that then impinges on the rotating
blades, called buckets. Compared to reaction turbines, impulse turbines require higher
head, and work with a lower volume flow rate.
 The most common example is the Pelton wheel turbine.

Pelton wheel turbine:

Water flows out of a

nozzle at very high
speed to rotate the
buckets.

The source of the water is usually from

either a natural or man-made reservoir at
much higher elevation, so that it has high
momentum to transfer to the buckets.
 Reaction turbines: Instead of using water jets, reaction turbines fill a volute with swirling
water that rotates the runner blades. Compared to impulse turbines, reaction turbines require
a lower head, and work with a higher volume flow rate. They are used primarily for
electricity production (hydroelectric dams).

The stay vanes are fixed guide

vanes that induce swirl to the water.

The wicket gates are adjustable

vanes that control the volume flow
rate through the turbine. They can
usually be completely closed in
order to shut off flow to the
turbine.
There are various types of
hydroturbine designs, as
discussed in the text: radial
flow, mixed flow, propeller
mixed flow, and propeller axial
flow.
The Francis Turbine
 Pelton Wheel Turbine Construction or Parts
The following construction or parts of Pelton wheel Turbine:

 Casing Spear
 Break Nozzle Runner or Rotor
 Penstock Governing Mechanism

Casing :
The Pelton wheel casing prevents the splashing of water and it will provide a discharge of
water from the nozzle to the tailrace. The casing surrounding the wheel has no hydraulic
function to perform, unlike the reaction turbine where the casing plays an important hydraulic
function.

Spear:
Needle Spear will control the water flow and it moves insides the nozzle and provides smooth
flow so there can be very less energy loss.
When the nozzle is completely closed by moving the spear in the forward direction the
amount of water striking the runner is reduced is zero but the runner due to inertia continues
revolving for a long time.
Break Nozzle:
To stop the runner to rest in a short time a breaking jet is provided which directs the water on
the bucket. This is called breaking jet.

Runner or Rotor:
A Pelton wheel has a runner that rotates and has kinetic energy, at the periphery of the runner
equally spaced hemispherical or double ellipsoidal buckets.

Penstock:
These are the channels or pipelines from high head source water is transferred to the actual
power station
 Governing Mechanism
Governing of Pelton turbine is done by means of oil pressure governor, which consists of the
following parts:

 Oil sump.
 The spear rod or needle.
 Pipes connecting the oil sump with the control valve and control valve with servomotor.
 The centrifugal governor or pendulum which is driven by a belt or gear from the turbine
shaft.
 The control valve or the distribution valve or relay valve.
 The servomotor also called the relay cylinder.

When the load on the generator decreases, the speed of the generator increases this increases
the speed of the turbine beyond the normal speed.
 Pelton Wheel Turbine Head Types
 Gross Head
 Net Effective Head

Gross Head:
The gross head is the difference between the water level at the reservoir and the water
level at the tailrace. It is denoted by Hg.

Net or Effective Head:

The head available at the inlet of the turbine is
known as the net or effective head.
It is denoted by H.

Net head available at the inlet of turbine could be

written as mentioned here.
Net head, H = Gross head (Hg) – head loss due to
friction (hf)
 Different types of Efficiency in the Pelton Wheel Turbine

There are four different types of efficiency and those are:

 Hydraulic Efficiency
 Mechanical Efficiency
 Overall Efficiency and
 Volumetric Efficiency
Mechanical Efficiency:
It is defined as the ratio of the power obtained from the shaft of the turbine to the power
developed by the runner.

Volumetric Efficiency:
The volumetric efficiency is the ratio of the volume of water actually striking the runner to
the volume of water supplied by the jet to the turbine.
Overall Efficiency:
It is defined as the ratio of the power available at the turbine shaft to the power supplied by
the water jet.
 Pelton Wheel Turbine Advantages

The following advantages of Pelton Turbine are:

 The Pelton Turbine simple in design and also the construction is not complex.
 The water which is clean cannot cause very rapid wear in high heads.
 The overhaul and inspection are much easier than another turbine.
 The overall efficiency is quite high as compared to reaction turbines.
 There is no requirement for the draft tube here.
 It can work on relatively less Q(discharge) of flow rate.
 In the Hydraulic Turbines, it is the most efficient turbine.
 The parts assemble of the Pelton turbine is very easy. No complexity here.
 Pelton Wheel Turbine Disadvantages

The following disadvantages of Pelton wheel turbine is:

 In the Pelton turbine, the variation in the operating head cannot be easily controlled
because it works at high heads.

 The ratio of maximum and minimum operating heads can be even less.
The mechanical efficiency of the Pelton wheel decreases faster compare to the Francis
turbine.

 The size of the runner, generator, powerhouse required is large and not economical if the
Pelton turbine is used instead of the Francis turbine for the same power generation.

Refer Recommended books for velocity diagrams and other analysis

Kindly refer recommended books for Reaction
turbine especially Kaplan & Francis Turbine
 Pump

The pump can be defined as equipment in engineering that is used to transfer liquids and
gases from one point to another point by use of mechanical effort.

Pumps can operate with the help of many energy streams like electrical, motor, wind energy,
mechanical and manual strategy, and many others.

This device is prepared for holding up liquids from low to high levels and moving fluids from
low to high-pressure areas.

Different Types or Categories of the Pump:

 Dynamic Pump and
 Positive Displacement Pump
Dynamic Pump:
The dynamic pump is a kind of speed pump in which kinetic power is augmented to the fluid by
enhancing the processing speed. This boost in energy is restored to a gain in potential energy
(pressure) when the speed is lessened previously or as the flow escapes the pump into the
release pipe.

Positive Displacement Pump:

The positive displacement pump uses motion like rotary, reciprocatory, and pneumatic for
moving or flowing the liquid through the pump, and discharge (Q) of the flowing fluid occurs in
the form of pulses rather smooth liquid flow.
This type of pump operates by trapping a fixed amount of fluid into the pump chamber (at the
inlet valve) and then it is being discharged by the outlet valve. These pumps work at high
pressure and high density.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri5QydTx3AQ
 Types or Categories of the Pump

1. Dynamic Pump: 2. Positive Displacement Pump:

Rotary Pump Reciprocating Pump:
Centrifugal or radial exit flow Piston pump
Axial flow Plunger pump
Mixed flow (between radial and axial) Diaphragm pump
Special effect Pump: Rotatory Pump:
Jet pump Screw pump
Electron magnetic pump Progressive cavity pump
Gear pump
 Centrifugal Pump

Centrifugal Pump is used to run fluid by managing centrifugal force to develop the speed of
the liquid. It is an automatic machine built to move fluid using the transfer of rotational energy
to hydrodynamic energy.