Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

3. THEORY
Hydraulic machines are defined as those machines which convert either hydraulic energy (energy
possessed by water) into mechanical energy or mechanical energy into hydraulic energy.
Turbines are defined as hydraulic machines which convert hydraulic energy into mechanical
energy .Hydraulic turbines are of different types according to specification and axial flow
impulse turbine is one of the types of hydraulic turbines.
There are two basic types of turbines:
The axial flow type
The radial or centrifugal flow type
The axial flow type has been used exclusively in aircraft gas turbine engines. Axial flow turbines
are also normally employed in industrial and shipboard applications.
In axial flow turbine, fluid flows parallel to the machine axis. Axial flow machines give high
flow at low head. For high head series of impellers (blades) are mounted in series. Guide or static
vanes are used in-between to guide the flow for optimum efficiency. Its impellers are designed to
give constant axial velocity at all radius but varying head.
Axial flow turbine allow large flow rate and therefore work with low velocity or low head

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

Determining the volumetric flow

To determine the volumetric flow V, time the time t required to fill the volumetric tank of the
hydraulic bench from 20 to 30 liters.

Determining the rotational speed

To determine the rotational speed n, a non-contact hand-held tachometer is required, which displays the
speed by means of a reflection marker (1).
The reflection marker is affixed to the belt pulley (2). The hand-held tachometer must then be aligned
with its photoelectric reflex switch perpendicular to the mark.

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

Determining the fall height

The fall height H of the water column corresponds to the pump pressure applied upstream of the turbine.
The fall height is read from the manometer in bar.

H =
.G

= 1000 kg/m3
g = 9.81 m/s2

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

Determining the torque

To determine the torque a load must be produced with the braking device.
A torque can be determined in this way using the spring balances (1) and the diameter of the belt pulley
(2).

T = F .r with r=D/2 = 25 cm

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

With the handwheel (3), swing the traverse (4) upwards until both spring balances display a value. Read
off the forces F1 and F2 in grams and form the difference. Make a note of the value F in N .

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

EXPERIMENT
AIM: To determine the mechanical power produced by the turbine.
PROCEDURE:
Connect the apparatus with the hydraulic bench.
Switch on the hydraulic bench pump.
Open the valve slowly so that water begin to flow through the turbine.
Adjust the flow rate in turbine by valve of hydraulic bench.
Number of active nozzles can be varied using valves V1,V2,V3,V4
Load the turbine by turning the adjustment breaking device.
Note down the speed of turbine in rpm with the help of tachometer. Note down the breaking power F.
Now the torque can be calculated by
T= F.r
r : radius of pulley = 25 mm
9.

The mechanical power produced by the turbine can be calculated by

PM = 2nT / 60
n : speed of the turbine in rpm.
Hydraulic power Phyd:
The hydraulic power is a function of volumetric flow and fall height
Phyd = f (V , H)
Hydraulic Power
Phyd = V . H . p . g.
The measured fall height can be applied directly in the following formula in bar:
Phyd = V . p

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

Efficiency :
Efficiency = shaft power / hyd. Power
=

P P
out

hyd

Turbine characteristic curves

For the plotting turbine characteristic curves the nozzle is fully open, the fall height is kept at a constant
0.2 bar. Increase the load on the braking device in desired increments of. The volumetric flow V is almost
constant over the entire measurement series.

Axial flow impulse Turbine

ME-FM-16114

6. OBSERVATION SHEET
Date
Experiment-Nr.
Number of Nozzles:

Rotational
Braking
Moment
Power on
Hyd. Power
Efficiency
speed n in
force F in N
on the
the shaft
Phyd in W
in %
rpm
shaft in Nm
Pout in W

7. ASSIGNMENT
Graphical Representation
Draw following Graphs between
Moment and rotational speed
Power and rotational speed
Efficiency and rotational speed