KAPLAN AND PROPELLER TURBINE

The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type  water turbine,

which has adjustable blades.
Is also an axial flow reaction turbine in which water
flows in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation
of the runner.

Developed in 1913 by the Austrian professor Viktor

Kaplan.
Evolution of the Francis turbine.
Allowed efficient electrical power production in low-
head applications that was not possible with
Francis turbines.
Both the turbines(kaplan and propeller) are the
important types of axial flow reaction turbine.
Kaplan turbine :- 
When the vanes are fixed to the hub and they are
adjustable , the turbine is known as kaplan
turbine.
Propeller turbine :- 
When the vanes are fixed to the hub and are not
adjustable , the turbine is known as propeller
turbine
 PRINCIPLE
      Water from penstock enters the scroll casing and
then moves to the guide vanes , which are fixed on
the hub acting as runner for axial flow reaction
turbine. From the guide vanes , the water turns
through 90 degrees and flows axially through the
 runner as shown in figure . Also the draft tubes is
of circular  inlet and rectangular outlet.

Construction of Kaplan turbine

Kaplan turbine is the only type of water turbine with
adjustable blades , which allow work with low
performance. Ex. In small hydropower plants.

The main parts of the kaplan turbine are :

1)Scroll casing 
2)Guide vanes mechanism
3)Hub with vanes or runner of the turbine , and 
4)Draft tubes

Functions:
    Scroll casing : Water from the penstocks enters
the scroll casing and then moves to the guide
vanes.
 Guide vanes : Directs fluid flow and control its
rotation and hence used as flow control valve.  
Hub : Shaft of turbine is vertical and its lower end
is made larger called ‘Hub’ or ‘Boss’ . Vanes are
fixed on the hub acting as runner.
Draft tubes : Water at exit cannot directly be
discharged to the tail race. A tube of gradually
increasing area is used for discharging water from
exit of turbine to the tail race , known as draft
tubes.
Theory of operation
The Kaplan 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. Power is recovered from both the
hydrostatic head and from the kinetic energy of
the flowing water. 
The inlet is a scroll-shaped tube that wraps around
the turbine's wicket gates through which water is
directed tangentially and spirals on to the hub,
causing it to spin.
The  outlet is a specially shaped draft tube that helps
decelerate the water and recover kinetic energy.
The  one end of the tube is connected to the exit of
the runner  while another is submerged into the
water below the tail race. 

Important points for Kaplan and Propeller Turbine

The discharge from runner is obtained as

Applications
Widely used throughout the world for electrical power
Are very expensive to design, manufacture and
install, but operate for decades.
Cover the lowest head hydro sites and are especially
suited for high flow conditions.
Manufactured for individual power production with as
little as two feet of head.