2014

DIPARTIMENTO DI INGEGNERIA INDUSTRIALE

Pavesi Giorgio

The Cross-Flow
Banki Water Turbine
Banki Mitchell
NOTES FOR STUDENTS
1. Summary
1. SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ I
1 NOMENCLATURE................................................................................................................. II
1.1 SUBSCRIPT .......................................................................................................................... II
1.2 SUPERSCRIPT ...................................................................................................................... II
2 LIST ......................................................................................................................................... III
2.1 FIGURES ............................................................................................................................ III
2.2 NOMENCLATURE ............................................................................................................ - 1 -
2.3 ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................... - 2 -
3 DESCRIPTION OF TURBINE. .......................................................................................... - 3 -
4 PATH OF JET THROUGH TURBINE. ............................................................................ - 5 -
5 EFFICIENCY........................................................................................................................ - 8 -
6 CONSTRUCTION PROPORTIONS. .............................................................................. - 12 -
6.1 BLADE ANGLE .............................................................................................................. - 12 -
6.2 RADIAL RIM WIDTH ...................................................................................................... - 13 -
6.3 WHEEL DIAMETER AND AXIAL WHEEL BREADTH .......................................................... - 19 -
6.4 CURVATURE OF THE BLADE .......................................................................................... - 20 -
6.5 CENTRAL ANGLE .......................................................................................................... - 21 -
7 TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................... - 22 -
8 THE TURBINE NOZZLE ................................................................................................. - 25 -

| Nomenclature Pavesi i
1 Nomenclature
a radial rim width
C Absolute velocity
D diameter
g gravity
H head at the point
L breadth of the wheel
Q flow rate
t blade spacing
U pheriferical velocity
y thickness of the jet
W relative velocity
 absolute flow angle
 relative flow angle
 density or blade curvature
u coefficient dependent upon the nozzle
 loss coefficient

1.1 Subscript
1 at the outside diameter of the wheel
2 at the inside diameter of the wheel

1.2 Superscript
‘ at the inside diameter of the wheel

| Nomenclature Pavesi ii
2 List
2.1 Figures
Figure 4.0. 1 Banki-Mitchel Turbine ................................................................................................. - 3 -
Figure 4.0. 2 Banki-Mitchel Runner .................................................................................................. - 4 -
Figure 5.0. 1 Path of water through turbine. ..................................................................................... - 6 -
Figure 5.0. 2 Interference of filaments of flow through wheel. .......................................................... - 7 -
Figure 6.0. 1 Velocity diagram .......................................................................................................... - 8 -
Figure 6.0. 2 Blade spacing. ............................................................................................................ - 11 -
Figure 7.1. 1 Composite velocity diagram. ...................................................................................... - 12 -
Figure 7.1. 2 Velocity diagrams. ...................................................................................................... - 13 -
Figure 7.2. 1 Path of the jet inside the wheel ................................................................................... - 17 -
Figure 7.4. 1 Curvature of blades. ................................................................................................... - 20 -
Figure 8.0. 1 Power curves for Banki turbine under 16-ft head. ..................................................... - 22 -
Figure 8.0. 2 Efficiency curves for Banki turbine under 16-ft head. ............................................... - 23 -
Figure 8.0. 3 Characteristic curves for Banki turbine under 16-ft head. ........................................ - 24 -
Figure 9.0. 1 Banki water turbine built in Oregon State College Hydraulics Laboratory. ............. - 25 -
Figure 9.0. 2 German design of a Banki turbine and nozzle. .......................................................... - 26 -
Figure 9.0. 3 Alternate German design of Banki turbine and nozzle............................................... - 26 -

| List Pavesi iii

2.2 Nomenclature

| List Pavesi -1-

2.3 Acronyms

| List Pavesi -2-

3 Description of turbine.
The Banki turbine consists of two parts, a nozzle and a turbine runner. The runner is built up of
two parallel circular disks joined together at the rim with a series of curved blades. The nozzle, whose
cross-sectional area is rectangular, discharges the jet the full width of the wheel and enters the wheel at
an angle of  degrees to the tangent of the periphery of the wheel. The shape of the jet is rectangular,
wide, and not very deep.
The water strikes the blades on the rim of the wheel, flows over the blade, leaving it, passing
through the empty space between the inner rims, enters a blade on the inner side of the rim, and
discharges at .the outer rim. The wheel is therefore an inward jet wheel and because the flow is
essentially radial, the diameter of the wheel is practically independent of the amount of water impact,
and the desired wheel breadth can be given independent of the quantity of water.

Figure 4.0. 1 Banki-Mitchel Turbine

| Description of turbine. Pavesi -3-

Figure 4.0. 2 Banki-Mitchel Runner

| Description of turbine. Pavesi -4-

4 Path of jet through turbine.
Assuming that the centre of the jet enters the runner at point A (

Figure 5.0. 1) at an angle of  with the tangent to the periphery, the velocity of the water before
entering would be

C1  u 2gH (1.1.1)

The relative velocity of the water at entrance, W1, can be found if U1, the peripheral velocity of the
wheel at that point, is known.  would be the angle between the forward directions of the two latter
velocities. For maximum efficiency, the angle of the blade 1b should be equal to 1. If AB represents
the blade, the relative velocity at exit, W2' , forms '2 with the peripheral velocity of the wheel at that
point.

| Path of jet through turbine. Pavesi -5-

 The absolute velocity of the water at exit to the blade, C'2 , can be determined by means of W2' ,
'2b , and U2. The angle between this absolute velocity and the velocity of the wheel at this point is  '2 .
The absolute path of the water while flowing over the blade AB can be determined as well as the actual
point at which the water leaves the blade. Assuming no change in absolute velocity C'2 , the point C,
C1  '
W1 becomes C1 and the absolute path
where the water again enters the rim, can be found. C'2 at this point
of the water over the blade CD from pointUC to point D at discharge can be ascertained.
Accordingly
1 A
B1   2
' '

1'  '2
'U  W
'
1U' '
22
C2' 1  2
9 '
8' U'2

C
' '
D C'1
W1 '
 W2
C2
U'1

 U2

Figure 5.0. 1 Path of water through turbine.

| Path of jet through turbine. Pavesi -6-

 U1  U 2
since they are corresponding angles of the same blade.
It is apparent that the whole jet cannot follow these paths, since the paths of some particles of
water tend to cross inside the wheel, as shown in Figure 5.0. 2. The deflection angles  and  will be a
maximum at the outer edge of each jet. Figure 5.0. 2 shows the approximate condition.

1765
h


18°


Figure 5.0. 2 Interference of filaments of flow through wheel. 18°

| Path of jet through turbine. Pavesi -7-

5 Efficiency.
The following equation for brake horsepower is true :

P  Q  C1 cos 1  C2 cos  2  U1 (1.1.2)

Part of the formula (1.1.2) can be reduced by plotting all the velocity triangles as shown in Figure
6.0. 1.

1
10°



29°
C1
 C2
16°

W2
W1
  U2
29°

U1

Figure 6.0. 1 Velocity diagram

C2 cos 2  W2 cos 2  U2
(1.1.3)
 W2 cos 2  U1

Neglecting the increase in velocity of water due to the fall h2 (

| Efficiency. Pavesi -8-

 Figure 5.0. 1)

W2  W1 (1.1.4)

which is small in most cases, where  is an empirical coefficient less than unity (about 0.98).
From the velocity diagram Figure 6.0. 1,

W1 
 C1 cos 1  U1  (1.1.5)
cos 1

Substituting equations (1.1.3), (1.1.4), and (1.1.5) in the power equation (1.1.2)

 cos 2 
P  Q  C1 cos 1  U1  U1 1    (1.1.6)
 cos 1 

The hydraulic power input due to the head H1

C12 1
P  QgH  Q (1.1.7)
22 2

The efficiency, , is equal to the ratio of the output and input power,

 U  cos 2  U1 
   22u 1 1    cos 1   (1.1.8)
 C1  cos 1  C1 

| Efficiency. Pavesi -9-

when

 2 =  1,

then efficiency

 U   U 
   22u 1  1     cos 1  1  (1.1.9)
 C1   C1 

Considering all variables as-constant except efficiency and U1/C1 and differentiating and equating
to zero, then

U1 cos 1
 (1.1.10)
C1 2

and for maximum efficiency

1
Max  2u 1    cos 2 1 (1.1.11)
2

1
It is noticeable (see Figure 6.0. 1) that the direction of C2 when U1  C1 cos 1 does not become
2
radial. The outflow would be radial with

  
U1   u  C1 cos 1 (1.1.12)
 1  

only when  and u are unity, that is, assuming no loss of head due to friction in nozzle or on the
blades. To obtain the highest mechanical efficiency, the entrance angle l should be as small as
possible, and an angle of 16° can be obtained for , without difficulty. For this value cosl = 0.96,
cos 2 1  0.92 .
Substituting in equation (1.1.11), u = 0.98 and  = 0.98, the maximum efficiency would be 87.8
per cent. Since the efficiency of the nozzle varies as the square of the coefficient, the greatest care
should be taken to avoid loss here. There are hydraulic losses due to water striking the outer and inner
periphery. The latter loss is small, for according to computations to be made later, the original
thickness of the jet s0, Figure 6.0. 2, increases to 1.90, which means that about 72 per cent of the whole
energy was given up by the water striking the blade from the outside and 28 per cent was left in the
water prior to striking the inside periphery. If the number of blades is correct and they are as thin and
smooth as possible the coefficient  may be obtained as high as 0.98.

| Efficiency. Pavesi - 10 -
 313
t
S1

20
W1
S0

11,54
C1


30
000
W2
r1
90° 
R1
R 660
r2

2S00
2

Figure 6.0. 2 Blade spacing.

| Efficiency. Pavesi - 11 -
6 Construction proportions.
6.1 Blade angle
The blade angle 1b can be determined from 1, C1, and U1 in Figure 6.0. 1 and Figure 6.1. 1.
If

1
U1  C1 cos 1 (1.1.13)
2

then

tan 1b  2 tan 1 (1.1.14)

assuming l = 16° then 1b = 29° 50' or 30° approx.

The angle between the blade on the inner periphery and the tangent to the inner periphery 2 can be
determined by drawing the two inner velocity triangles together by moving both blades together so that
point C falls on point B and the tangents coincide. Assuming that the inner absolute exit and entrance
velocities are equal and because 2'= 1' the triangles are congruent and W2' and W1' fall in the same

C1 

39°
W1 
23°
U1

 '
68°
68°

C2
90  C'
W2 W'1 1  '
°
°
90

U2 U'1

' W'2
32°

C'2

 ' U'2
90°

Figure 6.1. 1 Composite velocity diagram.

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 12 -

  '  '

66°
66°
68°

73°
C2 C2
C'1 W2 W' C'1 '
90  W2 W'1 ' 
96 
°

°
1


84°
°

84
U2 U'1 U2 U'1

Figure 6.1. 2 Velocity diagrams.

direction.
Assuming no shock loss at entrance at point C then '2  90 , that is, the inner tip of the blade
must be radial. On account of the difference in elevation between points B and C (exit and entrance to
the inner periphery) C1' might differ from C'2 if there were no losses between these points.

C1'  2gh 2   C'2  

2 0.5
(1.1.15)
 

Assuming '2  90 (Figure 6.1. 2a) W1' would not coincide with the blade angle and therefore a
shock loss would be experienced. In order to avoid this 2 must be greater than 90°. The difference in
C'2 and C1' however is usually small because h2 is small, so 2 might be 90° in all cases.

6.2 Radial rim width

Neglecting the blade thickness, the thickness (s1) Figure 6.0. 2, of the jet entrance, measured at
right angles to the relative velocity, is given by the blade spacing ( t ) .

s1  t sin 1 (1.1.16)

Assuming 2 = 90° the inner exit blade spacing is known for every radial rim width. (a),

r2
s2  t (1.1.17)
r1

As long as (a) is small the space between the blades will not be filled by the jet. As ( a ) increases
s2 decreases so ( a ) will be limited by

W1
s2  s1 (1.1.18)
W2'

It is not advisable to increase the rim width (a) over this limit because the amount of water striking
it could not flow through so small a cross-section and back pressure would result. Moreover, a rim
width which would be under this limit would be inefficient since separated jets would flow out of the

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 13 -

spacing between the blades at the inner periphery.
In order to determine the width (a) it is necessary to know the velocity W2' , which is affected by
the centrifugal force (see Figure 7.2. 1) ,

 W1    W2'    U1    U'2 
2 2 2 2
(1.1.19)

or

W   U   U   W 
' 2
2
' 2
2 1
2
1
2

but

s1 r
W2'  W1  W1 1 sin 1 (1.1.20)
s2 r2

and

r2
U'2  U1
r1

Calling x   r2 r1 
2

  W 2   W1 
2

x  1  
2 1
  x   sin 1  0
2
(1.1.21)
  U1    U1 

1
If the ideal velocity of wheel U1  C1 cos 1 then
2

W1 1
 (1.1.22)
U1 cos 1

Assumine 1=16°, 1=30° then

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 14 -

 W1 1

U1 0.866
2
 W1 
   1.33
 U1 
2
W 
1   1   0.33
 U1 
1
sin 2 1 
4
Then equation (1.1.21) becomes.

x 2  0.33x  0.332  0
x  0.435
r
x 0.5  2  0.66
r1

Therefore

a =0.17D1 = radial rim width. (1.1.23)

This value of ( a ) , the radial rim width, was graphically ascertained from the intersection of the
two curves (Figure 6.0. 2).
2
r 
W ' 2
2   2  U12  W12  U12 (1.1.19)
 r1 

and

r1
W2'  W1 sin 1 (1.1.20)
r2

The central angle bOC, Figure 7.2. 1, can be determined from equation (1.1.19) and

ˆ
bOC
 '2 
2
U1 U1
W1  
cos 1 0.866
r2
 0.66
r1

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 15 -

 W2'  U1  O.662  1.33  1
0.5
(1.1.24)

W2'
tan  '
'
2
U2
 1.326 (1.1.25)
  53
'
2

ˆ  106
bOC (1.1.26)

The thickness of the jet ( y ) in the inner part of the wheel can be computed from the continuity
equation of flow (Figure 7.2. 1) ,

C1s0  C'2 y (1.1.27)

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 16 -

 Figure 7.2. 1 Path of the jet inside the wheel
C'2 cos '2  U'2
r2
 U1
r1
r2 C1
 cos 1
r1 2

therefore,

s0
y  2cos '2 cos 1 (1.1.28)
r2
r1

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 17 -

 y  1.89s 0 (1.1.29)

The distance between the inside edge of the inside jet as it passes through the wheel and the shaft
of the wheel, y1 (Figure 7.2. 1) ,

y1  r2 sin  90  '2   1.89

s0 d
 (1.1.30)
2 2

since s1 = kD1 then

d
y1   0.1986  0.945k  D1  (1.1.31)
2

In a similar manner the distance y2, the distance between the outer edge of the jet and the inner
periphery, can be determined.

y2   0.1986  0.945k  D1 (1.1.32)

For the case where the shaft does not extend through the wheel, the only limit will be y2.
For most cases k = 0.075 to 0.10 then y1 + d./2 =(0.128 to 0.1040)D1, y2 = (0.0606 to 0.0369)D1

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 18 -

6.3 Wheel diameter and axial wheel breadth
The wheel diameter can be determined from the following equation,

D1N
U1  (1.1.33)
60

1 D1N
C1 cos 1 
2 60
1 D1N
U  2gH  cos 1 
0.5

2 60

cos 1
D1  30U  2gH 
0.5
(1.1.34)
N

Where Dl is the diameter of the wheel and 1= 16°, u = 0.98

H0.5
D1  39.84
N

The thickness so of the jet in the nozzle is dependent upon a compromise of two conditions. A
large value for so would be advantageous because the loss caused by the filling and emptying of the
wheel would be small. However, it would not be satisfactory because the angle of attack of the outer
filaments of the jet would vary considerably from 1 = 16°, thereby increasing these losses as the
thickness increased. The thickness should be determined by experiment.
In finding the breadth of the wheel ( L ) , the following equations are true:

Q  u s0 L  2gH 
0.5

(1.1.35)
 u kD1L  2gH 
0.5

Q
D1 
u kL  2gH 
0.5

(1.1.36)
39.84 0.5
 H
N

QN
L
39.84H 0.5u k  2gH 
0.5

(1.1.37)
0.0578QN 0.0771QN
 to
H H

where k = 0.075 and 0.10 respectively.

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 19 -

6.4 Curvature of the blade
The curve of the blade can be chosen from a circle whose center lies at the intersection of two
perpendiculars, one to the direction of relative velocity W1 at ( A ) and the other to the tangent to the
inner periphery intersecting at (B) (Figure 7.4. 1).
From triangles AOC and BOC, OC is common, then

 OB   BC   AO   AC

2 2 2 2
 2AOACcos 1

but

AO  r1
OB  r2
AC  BC  

r12  r22

2r1 cos 1

Figure 7.4. 1 Curvature of blades.

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 20 -

6.5 Central angle

 1 
sin 180   
r1
  2 
r2  1 
sin 90     1  
 2 
(1.1.38)
1 
sin   
 2 
1 
sin    1 
2 

1 cos 1
tan   (1.1.39)
2 r
sin 1  2
r1

| Construction proportions. Pavesi - 21 -

7 Turbine Characteristics
According to the power-speed, Figure 8.0. 1, and efficiency-speed, Figure 8.0. 2, curves, the speed
for maximum power for all gate openings from one-eighth to full under constant head is practically
constant.
The maximum .power obtained is practically in proportion to the gate openings. Power developed
under variable at the optimum speeds is in direct proportion to the three halves power of the heads
involved.
The efficiency decreases with the decrease in gate opening. The efficiency of the turbine is
maintained over a wide range of speeds. The maximum efficiency is practically constant at full gate
openings for all the heads.
A curve of efficiency-power would present a fairly high range of efficiencies over a large range in

Figure 8.0. 1 Power curves for Banki turbine under 16-ft head.

| Turbine Characteristics Pavesi - 22 -

 Figure 8.0. 2 Efficiency curves for Banki turbine under 16-ft head.
power. This range is relatively wider than those generally obtained from tangential, reaction, or
propeller turbines.
The characteristic curves of the turbines, Figure 8.0. 1, show that the specific speed varies from 2
to 16. The specific speed at maximum efficiency is 14, The turbine could be operated efficiently over a
range of 6 to 16 specific speed, a range which fills the gap between the tangential and mixed-flow
turbines.

| Turbine Characteristics Pavesi - 23 -

Figure 8.0. 3 Characteristic curves for Banki turbine under 16-ft head.

| Turbine Characteristics Pavesi - 24 -

8 The Turbine Nozzle
A simple nozzle is shown in Figure 9.0. 1. This nozzle is so arranged that the width of the jet
remained constant. This had the same effect as reducing the effective length of the turbine runner as the
demand for power became less. This necessitated the use of a pinion gear to actuate the mechanism to
reduce or increase the width of the jet, and this of necessity reduced the speed with which such action
could take place.
Instead ,of increasing or reducing the width of the jet for change in power requirements, the thickness
of the jet could be changed. This method has been used with German patents, as shown in Figure 9.0. 2

Figure 9.0. 1 Banki water turbine.

| The Turbine Nozzle Pavesi - 25 -

Figure 9.0. 2 German design of a Banki turbine and nozzle.

Figure 9.0. 3, a lever is attached to the gate A and actuated by the turbine governor. At C the water
is forced to enter the turbine blades at the required angle for best operating efficiency, regardless of the
flow of water. In Figure 9.0. 2, the thickness of the jet may be changed by a slightly different patented
device. The effect is the same as before.

| The Turbine Nozzle Pavesi - 26 -

 Figure 9.0. 3 Alternate German design of Banki turbine and nozzle.

| Pavesi - 27 -