What is Pelton turbine?

What is Pelton turbine?

A Pelton turbine or Pelton wheel is a type of hydro turbine (specifically an impulse turbine) used frequently in hydroelectric plants. Unlike other types of turbines which are reaction turbines, the Pelton turbine is known as an impulse turbine.

What are Pelton turbines used for?

Pelton turbines are used for electricity generation in hydraulic power plants. They are suitable for operation when water energy is available at high head and low flow rate. In a Pelton turbine, the energy extracted from the kinetic energy of the water is used for the rotation of the impeller.

How does a Pelton turbine work?

Pelton Turbine is a Tangential flow impulse turbine in which the pressure energy of water is converted into kinetic energy to form high speed water jet and this jet strikes the wheel tangentially to make it rotate. It is also called as Pelton Wheel.

How efficient is a Pelton turbine?

Pelton turbines can reach up to 95% efficiency, and even on ‘micro’ scale systems 90% peak efficiency is achievable. Also the efficiency is maintained at a high level even for part-flow rates, mainly because of the low-loss design of the spear-jet.

Where does Pelton wheel turbine are installed?

Pelton wheels are the preferred turbine for hydro-power where the available water source has relatively high hydraulic head at low flow rates. Pelton wheels are made in all sizes. There exist multi-ton Pelton wheels mounted on vertical oil pad bearings in hydroelectric plants.

What is nozzle in Pelton turbine?

A nozzle is a gradually converging short tube which is fitted at the outlet and of the penstock for the purpose of converting the total energy of the flowing water into kinetic energy. In impulse turbines, it is required to convert whole of hydraulic energy into kinetic energy.

Is Pelton axial or radial?

Pelton wheel (radial flow) flow meters use a turbine with broad flat blades.

What is the difference between Pelton and Francis turbine?

Pelton wheel is an impulse turbine where static pressure head of water is converted into mechanical energy. On the other hand, Francis and Kaplan’s turbines are reaction turbines where dynamic pressure head of water is converted into mechanical energy.

What does a waterwheel do?

waterwheel, mechanical device for tapping the energy of running or falling water by means of a set of paddles mounted around a wheel. The force of the moving water is exerted against the paddles, and the consequent rotation of the wheel is transmitted to machinery via the shaft of the wheel.

How much power can a Pelton wheel produce?

The maximum electrical power generated is 16.89 watts by using operational parameters of 4.6 m water head and 9 mm nozzle diameter. The larger nozzle diameter will drain more fluid and create higher flow rate which rotates the Pelton turbine. This higher rotation in the generator will produce higher electric power.

Is Pelton wheel axial flow turbine?

Tangential flow turbines: In this type of turbines, the water strikes the runner in the direction of the tangent to the wheel. Example: Pelton wheel turbine. Inward flow turbine: The flow is inward from periphery to the centre (centripetal type); Example: old Francis turbine.

How does the energy of a Pelton turbine work?

Pelton Turbine is a Tangential flow impulse turbine in which the pressure energy of water is converted into kinetic energy to form high speed water jet and this jet strikes the wheel tangentially to make it rotate.

Why was the Pelton turbine named after Lester Pelton?

The Pelton turbine is an impulse turbine named after an American engineer, Lester a. Pelton. Pelton turbines are suitable for energy extraction when water energy is available at a high head and low flow rate. In this type of turbine, the water potential and pressure energy are converted into kinetic energy.

Who is the inventor of the Pelton wheel?

The Pelton wheel turbine is one kind of an impulse turbine utilized for high heads of water (greater than 300 meters) and was invented by an American Engineer, Lester Allan Pelton. The energy available at the turbine inlet is only kinetic. The pressure is atmospheric at the inlet and outlet of the turbine.

Why is the Pelton wheel used for hydropower?

There are some challenges in controlling the operating head because of the high heads. The Pelton wheel is the preferred turbine for hydropower when the accessible water source has a comparatively high hydraulic head at low flow rates. The head is from 150 meters to 2000 meters in hydroelectric powerplants.