Design of Pelton

turbines
When to use a Pelton
turbine
 Energy conversion in a
Pelton turbine

Outlet Outlet of Inlet of Outlet of Inlet of

the runner the runner the needle the needle

c2
2
Main dimensions for the
Pelton runner
 The ideal Pelton runner
Absolute velocity from nozzle:
c1
c1  2  g  H n c1  1
2  g  Hn

Circumferential speed:

c1u 1
u1    2  g  Hn u 1  0.5
2 2
Euler`s turbine equation:

h  2(u1  c1u  u 2  c 2 u )

c1u  1 cu 2  0

 h  2  (u1  c1u  u 2  c 2u )  2  (0,5 1.0  0,5  0)  1

 The real Pelton runner
 For a real Pelton runner there will always be losses.
We will therefore set the hydraulic efficiency to:

h  0.96

The absolute velocity from the nozzle will be:

0.99  c1u  0.995

C1u can be set to 1,0 when dimensioning the turbine.
This gives us:

h  2(u1  c1u  u 2  c 2 u )


n 0,96
u1    0,48
2  c1u 2 1,0
From continuity equation:

d 2
Q  z  c1u
s
4

4Q
ds 
z    c1u

Where:
Z = number of nozzles
Q = flow rate
C1u = 2  g  Hn
The size of the bucket
and number of nozzles
B
3.1   3.4
ds
Rules of thumb:
B = 3,1 · ds 1 nozzle
B = 3,2 · ds 2 nozzles
B = 3,3 · ds 4-5 nozzles
B > 3,3 · ds 6 nozzles
Number of buckets
z  17 empirical
Number of buckets
 Runner diameter
Rules of thumb:
D = 10 · ds Hn < 500 m
D = 15 · ds Hn = 1300 m

D < 9,5 · ds must be avoided because water

will be lost
D > 15 · ds is for very high head Pelton
 Speed number
   Qz
c1u  1,0
  d s2   d s2
Q  c1u  u1  0,5
4 4
 2  u1 2  g  Hn 1
   
2  g  Hn D  2  g  Hn D  2  g  Hn D

1   d s2  z
   Q  z  
D 4

ds z

D 4
For the diameter: D = 10 · ds
and one nozzle: z=1

ds   z 1  1
   0,09
D 4 10 4
The maximum speed number for a Pelton
turbine with one nozzle is  = 0,09

For the diameter: D = 10 · ds

and six nozzle: z=6

ds z 1 6
   0,22
D 4 10 4
The maximum speed number for a Pelton
turbine today is  = 0,22
 Dimensioning of a
Pelton turbine
1. The flow rate and head are given
*H = 1130 m
*Q = 28,5 m3/s
*P = 288 MW

2. Choose reduced values

c1u = 1  c1u = 149 m/s
u1 = 0,48  u1 = 71 m/s

3. Choose the number of nozzles

z=5

4. Calculate ds from continuity for one nozzle

4Q
ds   0,22 m
z    c1u
5. Choose the bucket width
B = 3,3 · ds= 0,73 m
6. Find the diameter by interpolation

D
 0,005  H n  8  13,65
ds

D  13,65  d s  3,0 m

D/ds
15

10

400 1400 Hn [m]

7. Calculate the speed:
D 2 n D
u1     
2 60 2

u1  60
n  452 rpm
D

8. Choose the number of poles on the generator:

The speed of the runner is given by the generator and

the net frequency:
3000
n [rpm]
Zp

where Zp=number of poles on the generator

The number of poles will be:

3000
Zp   6,64  7
n
9. Recalculate the speed:

3000
n  428,6 [rpm]
Zp

10. Recalculate the diameter:

D 2 n D u1  60
u1       D  3,16 m
2 60 2 n

11. Choose the number of buckets

z = 22
12. Diameter of the turbine housing (for vertical turbines)
D Hou sin g  D  K  B  9,4 m
K
9

1 4 6 z

13. Calculate the height from the runner to the water level
at the outlet (for vertical turbines)
Height  3.5  B  D  3,1 m
 GE Hydro
Jostedal, Sogn og Fjordane
 GE Hydro
Jostedal, Sogn og Fjordane
 Example
Khimti Power Plant
1. The flow rate and head are given
*H = 660 m
*Q = 2,15 m3/s
*P = 12 MW

2. Choose reduced values

c1u = 1  c1u = 114 m/s
u1 = 0,48  u1 = 54,6 m/s

3. Choose the number of nozzles

z=1
 Example
Khimti Power Plant
4. Calculate ds from continuity for
one nozzle

4Q
ds   0,15 m
z    c1u

5. Choose the bucket width

B = 3,2 · ds= 0, 5 m
6. Find the diameter by interpolation
D
 0,005  H n  8  11,3
ds

D  11,3  d s  1,7 m
D/ds
15

10

400 1400 Hn [m]

7. Calculate the speed:
D 2 n D
u1     
2 60 2

u1  60
n  613 rpm
D

8. Choose the number of poles on the

generator:
The speed of the runner is given by
the generator and the net frequency:
3000
n [rpm]
Zp

where Zp=number of poles on the

generator

The number of poles will be:

3000
Zp   4,9  5
n
9. Recalculate the speed:

3000
n  600 [rpm]
Zp
10. Recalculate the diameter:

D 2 n D u1  60
u1       D  1,74 m
2 60 2 n

11. Choose the number of buckets

z = 22