To Study and Draw The Characteristics Curve of Francis Turbine Objectives

Lab # 06
To study and draw the Characteristics Curve of Francis Turbine

Objectives:
The main objective of this lab is to study the construction of Francis Turbine and its components
and to draw its characteristics curves. We have to find how ITS efficiency at different points and
how it is affected by different factors
Francis Turbine:
Francis Turbine is a combination of both impulse and reaction turbine, where the blades rotate
using both reaction and impulse force of water. In the modern Francis turbine, the water enters
the runner of the turbine in the radial direction and leaves in the axial direction at the outlet of
the runner. Thus, the modern Francis turbine is a mixed flow type turbine.
Parts of a Francis Turbine:

The main parts of the Francis Turbine are:
1. Penstock
2. Spiral Casing
3. Guide Vanes
4. Stay vanes
5. Runner Blades
6. Draft tube
Penstock:
It is a long pipe at the outlet of which o nozzle is fitted. The water from reservoir flows through
the penstock. The nozzle increases the kinetic energy of water flowing through the penstock
Spiral Casing
The water flowing from the reservoir or dam is made to pass through this pipe with high
pressure. The blades of the turbines are circularly placed, which mean the water striking the
turbines blades should flow in the circular axis for efficient Striking. So, the spiral casing is used,
but due to circular movement of the water, it loses its pressure. To maintain the same pressure
the diameter of the casing is gradually reduced, thus uniform momentum or velocity striking the
runner blades.
Guide Vanes:
Guide vanes are not stationary, they change Their angle as per the requirement to control The
angle of striking of water to turbine Blades to increase the efficiency. They also Regulate the
flow rate of water into the Runner blades thus controlling the power Output of a turbine
according to the load on The turbine.
Stay Vanes:
Stay vanes and guide vanes guides the water to the runner blades. Stay vanes Remain stationary
at their position and reduces the swirling of water due to radial Flow, as it enters the runner
blades. Thus, making turbine more efficient.
Runner Blades:
The performance and efficiency of the turbine is dependent on the design of the Runner blades.
In a Francis turbine, runner blades are divided into 2 parts. The Lower half is made in the shape
of small bucket so that it uses the impulse action of Water. The upper part of the bladeu uses the
reaction force of water. These two Forces together make the runner to rotate.
Draft tube:
The pressure at the exit of the runner of a reaction turbine is generally less than Atmosphere
pressure. The at exit cannot be directly discharged to the tail Race. A tube or pipe of gradually
increasing area is used for discharging water from The exit of the turbine to the tail race. This
tube of increasing area is called draft Tube. The draft tube, in addition to serve a passage for
water discharge, Has the Following two purposes also.
1. The turbine may be placed above the tail race and hence turbine may be Inspected
properly.
2. The kinetic energy rejected at the outlet of the turbine is converted into Useful pressure
energy
Applications of Francis Turbine

 Francis turbine is the most widely used turbine in hydro-power plants to Generate
electricity.
 Mixed flow turbine is also used in irrigation water pumping sets to pump Water from
ground for irrigation.
 In addition to electrical production they may also be used for pumped Storage, where
reservoir is filled by the turbine during ow power demand, And the reserved to generate
power during peak demand.
 It is efficient over a wide range of water head and flow rate.
Apparatus:
Model of Pelton wheel turbine
Water supply
Hydraulic Test bench
Dial Gauge
Spring Gauge
AC power supply
Laser tachometer
Procedure:
First of All set the Francis turbine on the top of the hydraulic test bench And connect the AC
main supply Carefully.
Now turn on the water supply, so the pump is filling the case of the turbine, Keep in mind that
the turbine should run when casing is full of water.
Now adjust the guide vane in the direction that the blade is rotating with Maximum RPM with no
load on that pressure. And don’t change the position Of guide vanes throughout the experiment.
Carefully check that the belted is not engaged with the back pulley or the Load pulley. And
check the RPM with no load with the help of laser Tachometer
In this experiment the flow rate is varied with the load applied to the rotor Of the turbine, so we
have to find flow rate for every reading separately.
Now apply some load and again check the RPM of the turbine at that Condition.
Keep on changing the load by tightening one end of the belt and taking the Difference at the
spring balance to check the load on the turbine.
Each time as you increase the load it disturbs the flowrate, so each time you Have to measure the
flow rate.
Keep on changing till the turbine has enough force that it cannot move Anymore.
Now pot the graph between rpm vs efficiency, power and torque.
Observation & Calculations:
Volum Torque
Pressure Time Force Speed
Sr. e Phyd T Pout
P T F1-F2 N Pout/Phyd
No V (W) (Nm) (W)
(bar) (min) (N) (rpm)
(litre)
1 0.51 4 5.17 0 2006 39.45 0 0 0
2 0.48 4 5.16 0.5 1589 37.2 0.0125 2.068 5.568
3 0.45 4 4.59 1 1350 38.34 0.025 3.534 9.216
4 0.42 4 4.52 1.5 1000 37.17 0.0375 3.927 10.565
5 0.41 4 4.62 2 707 35.49 0.05 3.701 10.428
6 0.41 4 4.66 2.4 450 35.19 0.06 2.827 8.0337
7 0.42 4 4.92 2.5 260 33.73 0.0625 1.701 5.0436
8 0.42 4 4.62 2.2 96 36.19 0.055 0.553 1.528
9 0.43 4 4.58 3.4 0 37.55 0.085 0 0
Formula Used:
Pv ×10 5
Phyd =
1000 × 60
2 πNT
Pout =
60
Pout
¿ P
hyd
Graph:
Graph of RPM vs Torque

4.5
3.927
4 3.701
3.534
3.5
3 2.827
2.5
Efficiency
2.068
2 1.701
1.5
1
0.553
0.5
0 0
0
0 5.568 9.216 10.565 10.428 8.0337 5.0436 1.528 0
RPM
Observation:
In the above graphs we can easily observe that on a certain value of blade speed The efficiency
of the system is maximum as we further increase from that value of Rpm the efficiency starts to
decline. And the rpm has a direct relation with the Torque. To obtain the at max efficiency we
have to operate the turbine at that Operated value of rpm.
Precautions:
Carefully measure the flow rate of the turbine, by taking the mean value
Check the connection of pipes. They should be tightly clamped
Carefully handle the main AC supply
Check that the tachometer is perpendicular to the shining surface to get the The least error in rpm
To reduce the error, take at least two readings at same conditions.

To Study and Draw The Characteristics Curve of Francis Turbine Objectives

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Lab # 06

To study and draw the Characteristics Curve of Francis Turbine

Parts of a Francis Turbine:

Applications of Francis Turbine

Graph of RPM vs Torque

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