PELTON TURBINES
PRESENTED BY GROUP E
Kedi Milton Alex 24/U/ETD/140/GV
Atim Deborah 24/U/ETD/040/GV
Kayanja Grace 24/U/ETE/05879/PD
Kabanyoro Jovia 24/U/ETD/109/GV
Akandwanaho Bright 24/U/ETD/02636/PD
Mulobole Ivan 25/U/ETD/00809/GV
Abstract
• This research represents a review of the Pelton turbine, examining its fundamental operating
principles based on fluid momentum transfer and also its important role in pumped-storage
hydroelectricity.
• Pelton turbines are impulse hydraulic machines designed for High-head, low-flow sites. A free jet
from one or more nozzles strikes double-cup runners transferring jet momentum with minimal
pressure variations across the runner.
• The core components, including the nozzle, spear jet, runner with double - elliptical buckets, and
casing, are detailed alongside the governing mathematical equations for efficiency and power
output.
Key words
• Pelton turbine, momentum transfer, impulse turbine, momentum transfer, high-head, specific
speed, nozzle, bucket design, jet ratio.
INTRODUCTION
• The Pelton Turbine is an impulse-type water turbine invented by American inventor Lester Allan
Pelton in the 1870s. The Pelton wheel extracts energy from the impulse of a velocity water jet.
Pelton machines occur essentially at atmospheric pressure at the runner and energy transfer is
controlled by change in jet momentum.
• . Unlike the earlier turbines, Pelton's paddle geometry was designed so that when the rim ran at
half the speed of the water jet, the water left the wheel with very little speed; thus, his design
extracted almost all of the water's impulse energy—which made it a very efficient turbine.
• The first Pelton Wheel was installed at the Mayflower Mine in Nevada City in 1878. Pelton later
sold the rights to his name and the patents to his invention to the Pelton Water Wheel Company in
San Francisco which manufactured these turbines in large numbers and were shipped around the
world. Currently Pelton turbines are being produced globally by very many producers such as;
• Andritz Hydro (Austria)
• Voith Hydro (Germany)
• GE Renewable Energy (USA/ Global)
• Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions
DESIGN AND OPERATION
• Pelton turbine is in such a way that nozzles direct forceful, high-speed streams of water against a series of
spoon-shaped buckets, also known as impulse blades, which are mounted around the outer rim of a runner. As
the water jet hits the blades, the direction of water velocity is changed to follow the contours of the blades.
The impulse energy of the water jet exerts torque on the bucket-and-wheel system, spinning the runner; the
water jet does a "U-turn" and exits at the outer sides of the bucket, decelerated to a low velocity. In the
process, the water jet's momentum is transferred to the runner and hence to a turbine.
• Thus, kinetic energy from a water jet is transferred to mechanical energy by the turbines and then to electrical
by the generator.
• Applications
• Pelton wheels are the preferred turbine for hydro-power where the available water source has relatively high
hydraulic head at low flow rates.
ASPECTS CONSIDERED
High head, low flow.
• High-head refers to the height difference between the water source and the turbine.
• Pelton turbine excels in locations where there is significant elevation between the water source and
the turbines where the water flow rate is relatively low. This is a common scenario for mountainous
areas.
Efficiency
• Maximum power and efficiency are achieved when the velocity of the water jet is twice the velocity of
the rotating buckets, which, assuming that water jet collides elastically with the bucket, would mean
the water leaves the bucket with zero velocity, thus imparting all kinetic energy to the wheel.
Number of buckets
• The lower number of buckets leads to loss in water jet, this reduces the efficiency of Pelton turbine
drastically, thus appropriate number of buckets ensures that little water is lost. The special shape of the
buckets makes the jet turn almost 180 degrees. This produces maximum impulsive force on the
buckets
VERIFICATION OF THE RESULTS
• The hydraulic efficiency of a Pelton turbine is typically calculated using the following formula:
• Hydraulic Efficiency = Mechanical power /Hydraulic power
• This is also referred to as power coefficient and also expressed as
Ղ = Pt/Pw
• Where ղ is the hydraulic efficiency, Pt is the turbine power output, and Pw is the water head.
• This formula quantifies the efficiency of the turbine in converting the hydraulic power of the incoming
water into mechanical power.
• Pelton turbines yields frequencies in the range of 85% to 90%.
• Also, maximum power is obtained when:
Vbucket = 1/2Vjet
• Power produced; P = Fimpulse * Vbusket
• Pressure in = pressure out
• Also, Pelton turbines purely gain mechanical energy due to change in kinetic energy of jet;
Energy transferred = ∆K. E
CONCLUSION
• Early Pelton turbines were simple, rugged machines with cast-metal runners, basic nozzle
controls, and limited efficiency (around 80 - 85%), mainly suited for high-head operations.
Modern Pelton turbines however use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)optimized bucket
geometry, high grade- alloys and digital control systems. These advances have raised
efficiency of Pelton turbines to over 90%.
References
• "Lester Allan Pelton" ([Link]
pelton). American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
• SimScale ([Link]
• Pelton Wheel Water Turbine
([Link] , Ron Amberger's Pages
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