Reaction Turbines

Reaction Turbines
• A reaction turbine is a pressure turbine i.e. the
water enters the wheel under pressure after
passing through the guide vanes.
• At the outlet of turbine, the pressure is
atmospheric or below atmospheric if the
discharge is taken through a draft tube into the
tail race. Owing to this difference of pressure,
the water flows through the vanes of the turbine
towards the outlet. Thus difference of pressures
exist throughout the runner.
 Reaction Turbines
• The difference of pressure between guide vanes
and the runner, called reaction pressure, is
responsible for the motion of the runner.
Therefore, such a turbine is also called a
reaction turbine.
• As the water passes through the vanes,
pressure energy is continuously converted into
the velocity energy which is transferred to the
wheel and it rotates.
• Finally, water is discharged into the tailrace
through the draft tube, which is a closed tube of
enlarging cross section, the other end of which is
submerged in the tailrace.
Evaluation of Reaction Turbines
• The power produced by a turbine is proportional
to QH. If the demands permits, we would like to
produce as much as possible from a unit. If the
water is available in abundance at high altitudes,
obviously we can produce as much power as
desired. The design criteria will only be limited
by mechanical considerations of the turbine i.e.
material, space etc and not by hydraulic
considerations.
Evaluation of Reaction Turbines
• But is it possible to increase Q to any extent in a
turbine to get high power?
• In case of Pelton turbines, it is observed that the
impulse wheel gives best performance or
highest efficiency when its speed ratio is
approximately 0.46
i.e
Evaluation of Reaction Turbines
• This means, for low heads H, either D or N has
to be reduced to maintain this constant speed
ratio. But N, speed of the runner, cannot be
decreased as the turbines are to be coupled with
high speed electric generators. Thus, diameter
of the runner D has to be reduced. With limited
size of the runner, discharge through the nozzle
will also be limited. Hence, Pelton turbines
become unsuitable for low heads.
Evaluation of Reaction Turbines
• This limitation of Pelton or impulse turbines led
to the investigations of some other type of
turbines. As a result, reaction turbine came into
existence in which water is admitted all around
the turbine runner under pressure and turbine
functions under a difference of pressure
between the inlet and the outlet. For such a type
of turbine, it has been found that speed ratio can
be increased safely to a higher value to have
larger wheels that will admit high flow to pass
through them.
 Francis Turbine
• A Francis turbine is a mixed flow turbine in which
the water enters at the circumference of the
runner and travels towards the axis of the
runner. Finally, it comes out axially along the
shaft.
• It operates under medium heads and requires
medium quantity of flow.
• The water through the guide vanes and then
through runner vanes, transferring its energy to
the runner.
• Finally, the water is discharged into the tailrace
through a draft tube.
 Main components
A Francis turbine has the following main
components
• Penstock
• Scroll Casing
• Guide Mechanism
• Runner and runner vanes
• Draft tube
 Penstock
• It is the waterway used to carry the water
from the reservoir to the turbine. At the
inlet of the penstock, trashracks are used
to prevent the debris from going into the
turbine.
 Scroll Casing
• It is the casing around the turbine wheel and it
evenly distributes the water around the
circumference of the wheel. It is also called
spiral casing.
• Cross section gradually decreases to maintain
velocity and pressure, maximum at the entrance
to zero at the tip.
• Usually made of steel or concrete and is water
tight
Scroll Casing
 Guide Mechanism
• It has a guide wheel consisting of guide
vanes. The guide vanes are to facilitate
smooth and eddiless flow. Each guide
vane can be moved on its pivot centre,
thus changing the area of flow into the
runner. This regulates the flow to meet the
varying requirements of demand.
• Material for the guide vanes is usually cast
steel.
Guide Mechanism
 Runner and Runner Vanes
• Runner is a circular wheel having radial
vanes (radial curved) installed on it

• Runner vanes have a smooth surface and

are shaped to ensure that water enters
and leaves without shock

• Made of iron or stainless steel and are

keyed to the shaft
Runner and Runner Vanes
 Draft Tube
• Water flows from the runner to the tail race
through a tube called draft tube

• Usually diverging in cross section and is

fully airtight

• Takes water from the runner to the tail

race
Example-1: What will be the increase in power and
efficiency of a reaction turbine producing 500 kW, under a
head of 6m and a discharge of 10 m3/s, if its draft tube of
cylindrical cross section of diameter 1.75m is replaced by a
tapered one having an outlet diameter of 2m. Assume
efficiency of the draft tube 92%.

Solution:
H=6m
P = 500 kW
Q = 10 m3/s
ηd = 0.92
Do = 1.75 m
Dd = 2 m
Example-1
Example-1