A WATER RESOURCES TECHNICAL PUBLICATION

ENGINEERING MONOGRAPH NO. 39

Estimating Reversible
Pump-TurbineCharacteristics
UNtTED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATlON
MS-230 (l-76)
Bureau of Reclamation
TECHNICAL REiPORT STANDARD TITLE PAG
3. RECIPIENT’S CATALOG NO.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE

Estimating Reversible Pump-Turbine December 1977

Characteristics 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE

7. AUTHOR(S) 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NO.

R. S. Stelzer and R. N. Walters Engineering Monograph 39

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. WORK UNIT NO.

Engineering and Research Center

11. CONTRACT OR GRANT NO.
Bureau of Reclamation
Denver, CO 80225
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD
COVERED
2. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS

Same
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE

5. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

6. ABSTRACT

The monograph presents guidelines for designers who plan or maintain

pump-turbine installations. Data are presented on recent installations
of pump-turbines which include figures showing operating characteristics,
hydraulic performance, and sizing of the unit. Specific speed, impeller/
runner diameter, and the best efficiency head and discharge were aelectei
as the criteria that characterize the unit performance.

7. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS

I. DESCRIPTORS-- / pumped storage/ *pump turbines/ powerplants/ reversible

turbines/ Francis turbines/ pumps/ power head/ turbine efficiency/
specific speed/ cavitation index/ hydraulic machinery/ design criteria
). IDENTIFIERS-- / Flatiron Powerplant, CO/ Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage Power-
plant, CO/ Grand Coulee Pumping Plant, WA/ San Luis Pumping-Generating/
Senator Wash Dam, CA/
:. COSATI Field/Group 13G COWRR:
1307.1
6. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SECURITY CLASS pt. NO. OF PAGI
ITHIS REPORT)
\voiloble from the National Technical Information Service, Operations
UNCLASSIFIED
division, Springfield. Virginia 22151.
20. SECURITY CLASS 22. PRlCE
(THIS PAGE)
A WATER RESOURCES TECHNICAL PUBLICATION
Engineering Monograph No. 39

EstimatingReversible Pump-Turbine
Characteristics

BY
R. S. Stelzer
R. N. Walters

Office of Design and Construction

Engineering and Research Center
Denver, Colorado 80225

United States Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation
 As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the
interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public
lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of
our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, pre-
serving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks
and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through
outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral
resources and works to assure that their development is in the best
interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsi-
bility for American Indian reservation communities and for people
who live in Wand Territories under U.S. administration.

ENGINEERING MONOGRAPHS are published in limited editions for the

technical staff of the Bureau of Reclamation and interested technical circles
in Government and private agencies. Their purpose is to record develop
ments, innovations, and progress in the engineering and scientific techniques
and practices that are employed in the planning, design, construction, and
operation of Reclamation structures and equipment. Copies may be obtained
from the Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado,
and Washington, D.C.

First Printing: 1977

SI METRIC

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 1977

For Sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printin’g Office,

Washington, D.C. 20402, or the Bureau of Reclamation, Attention 922, Engineering and Research Center,
P.O. Box 25007, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225.
Stock Number 024-003-00122-S
Preface
The purpose of this monograph is to devise guidelines for designers
who plan or maintain pump-turbine installations. Data are presented on
units that the Bureau installed in the past as well as on more recent
installations. Figures show operating characteristics and dimensional
expressions. International System of Units (SI) as well as U.S. customary
units are used.

.. .
111
letter Symbols and Quantities
C&Ratio of fluid radial velocity to spouting n=Rotational speed
velocity ns,=Pump best (peak) efficiency specific
D,=Discharge diameter of impeller or en- speed
trance diameter of runner nBt=Turbine best (peak) efficiency specific
Dz=Minimum opening diameter of impeller speed
or runner P,,,=Best efficiency pump power input
Fh=Hydraulic thrust Pd=Turbine full-gate capacity at h,
f =Frequency, Hertz P,=Pump power input
ft=Foot Pt=Turbine capacity
g=Gravitation constant (acceleration) p=Number of poles in generator-motor
gaLGallon Q,,=Pump best efficiency discharge at HBE
I&Head developed (pump) or absorbed Qt=Turbine full-gate discharge at Ha
(turbine) r/min=Revolution per minute
H nzr=Best efficiency head developed (pump) s=Second (time)
H zET=Best efficiency head absorbed (turbine) V=Peripheral velocity of impeller or runner
H,=Atmospheric pressure (head) at D1
Hi=Hydraulic losses in pump suction WEImpeller weight
H,=Static draft head, elevation difference Wpt=Total pump-turbine weight
from D, to minimum tailwater WR2=Product of the weight of revolving parts
H,,=Shutoff head of an impeller or runner and the square of the radius of
H,=Vapor pressure head of water gyration
hd=Turbine design head
hp=Horsepower y=Gamma=Specific weight of water
k=Efficiency factor y=Eta=Hydraulic efficiency
kg=Kilogram ng= Eta,= Generator efficiency
kVA=Kilovolt-ampere capacity of motor- np=Eta,=Pump design efficiency
generator qt=Eta,=Turbine design efficiency
kW=Kilowatt x=pi=3.14159. ..
lb=Pound a=Sigma=Cavitation coefficient
M=Wicket gate height e,,=Sigma begin
MW=Megawatt o,,=Sigma critical
m=Meter +,=Phil=JcnD1/ (60d2gH,,), velocity ratio
NPSH=Pump net positive suction head at D1
iv
Contents
Page
Preface.. .................................................... iii
Letter Symbols and Quantities .................................. iv
Introduction .................................................. 1
UnitSelection ................................................. 3
Speed ....................................................... 3
Effects of Specific Speed on Pump Performance .................... 9
Effects of Wicket Gates on Pump Performance .................... 20
Submergence of Unit .......................................... 20
Sizing the Pump-Turbine ...................................... 22
Performance ................................................. 27
Estimating Turbine Performance ............................... 27
Estimating Runaway Speed .................................... 27
Pump-Turbine Four-Quadrant Diagram .......................... 27
Weight, Inertia, and Hydraulic Downthrust ...................... 34
Hydraulic Similarity .......................................... 34
Bibliography ................................................. 40
vi CONTENTS

FIGURES

Number Page
1 Comparison of pump-turbine impeller and turbine runner
designed for operation at the same head and speed ...... 5
2 Variation of pump-turbine efficiency and turbine output
with speed and head ................................. 7
3 Operating head range vs. specific speed ................... 8
4 Comparison of pump impellers and characteristic
curves with specific speed ............................ 9
Percent pump input vs. specific speed .................... 10
Percent pump head vs. specific speed .................... 11
Percent pump efficiency vs. specific speed ................ 12
Cavitation coefficient (pump sigma) vs. specific speed ...... 13
Critical pump sigma vs. percent of pump best
efficiencyhead ...................................... 14
10 Velocity ratio +1 vs. specific speed ....................... 15
11 Ratio of impeller discharge diameter to throat diameter
vs.specificspeed .................................... 16
12 Ratio of wicket gate height to impeller discharge diameter
vs. specific speed ................................... 1’7
13 Ratio of fluid radial velocity to spouting velocity
vs.specificspeed .................................... 18
14 Ratio of spiral case dimensions to impeller discharge
diameter vs. specific speed ........................... 19
15 Turbine characteristics superimposed on pump
characteristics - n,, = 2,000 .......................... 29
16 Turbine head, discharge, and efficiency superimposed
on pump characteristics - nsp = 2,640 .................. 30
17 Turbine head, discharge, and power superimposed on
pump characteristics - n,, = 2,640 .................... 31
18 Percent reverse runaway speed vs. specific speed .......... 32
19 Pump-turbine four-quadrant diagram ................... 33
20 Impeller weight vs. impeller discharge diameter .......... 35
21 Pump and pump-turbine weight vs. impeller discharge
diameter ........................................... 36
22 Impeller WR2 vs. impeller discharge diameter ............ 37
23 Hydraulic downthrust vs. impeller discharge diameter ..... 38

TABLES
Number
1 Best efficiency pump and turbine specific speeds
for pump-turbines .................................. 4
Permissible operating head range ....................... 5
Operating heads of Bureau of Reclamation pump-turbines ... 6
Comparison of pump and turbine critical sigmas .......... 21
Reversible pump-turbine data ........................... 23
Efficiency factor (k) for the conversion of
velocity head to pressure head ........................ 34
Introduction
Pumped-storage installations provide the
most efficient and practical means for storing
large quantities of energy. Large pump-turbines
such as the lOO-MW units in the Bureau of
Reclamation’s Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage
Powerplant near Leadville, Colo., can have
overall efficiencies of approximately 75 percent.
The overall efficiency includes hydraulic losses
and electrical losses associated with the
generator-motor and transformer.
Although pumped storage does not increase
power system energy supply (unless there is
natural inflow into the upper reservoir), the
large number of pumped-storage systems built
worldwide since the 1950’s attests to their value
in power systems for leveling the peaks and
valleys of a typical electrical utility load curve,
and for providing emergency power [l].l
Pumped storage combined with thermal gen-
erating capacity allows thermal units to operate
at nearly constant output and best (peak)
efficiency (BE).
A thermal plant using pump-turbines for pro-
viding peaking power can have a higher overall
system efficiency than a system that uses gas
turbines, another commonly used method for
providing peaking power. The pumped-storage
efficiency of 75 percent with a baseload plant
thermal efficiency of 40 percent gives an overall
efficiency of 30 percent as compared to a gas
turbine efficiency of 20 percent.
This higher overall efficiency is obtained
either with relatively inexpensive nuclear en-
ergy or coal fuel as opposed to the increasingly
scarce, expensive natural gas or petroleum fuels
1 Numbers in brackets refer to items in the bibliogra-
phy.
used in gas turbine operation. Obviously, gas
turbines have advantages-design and construc-
tion times are considerably less than the 4 to 6
years required to design and build a pumped-
storage facility, the initial capital investment
is small compared to a pumped-storage installa-
tion, and gas turbines are not subject to
geographical site limitations as is a pumped-
storage facility.
A pumped-storage installation provides flexi-
bility in adapting to power outages. During
the pumping cycle the pumping input load is a
large interruptable load that can be readily
removed from the system. When a pump-turbine
is at speed-no-load (spinning reserve) it can
assume full output load in 4 to 10 seconds com-
pared to the half hour required for a steam
plant to achieve maximum output from spin-
ning reserve. Because of its ability to store
energy efficiently, pumped storage could ad-
vance energy development from unconventional
sources, such as solar and wind.
The Bureau’s Flatiron pump-turbine was the
first reversible pump-turbine installed in the
United States. It began operation in 1954.
Presently, the Bureau has 23 reversible units
installed and 6 more under construction. None
of the units is used exclusively for power gen-
eration since all are part of multipurpose water
development projects which provide water
either for irrigation or municipal and indus-
trial use.
Basically, a pump-turbine is a pump that
operates in the reverse to generate power.
Figures included compare various characteris-
tics of the three classes of hydraulic machines;
i.e., pump, turbine, and pump-turbine.
1
Unit Selection
Speed 2. The turbine design specific speed (n,,) is
defined by the equation :
Many characteristics of the pump-turbine,
pump, and turbine are plotted as the ordinate
n(Pd)1/2 or
and specific speed as the abscissa. Any hydraulic nst= (2)
machine will have a range of specific speeds (hd 6/4 hd
where :
for a given rotational speed, depending on the
operating point; however, the specific speed at n=rotational speed, r/min,
the best (peak) efficiency operating point is n,,=turbine design specific speed,
customarily used as an index number for de- h,=turbine design head, ft (m), and
scribing the geometrical configurations of the P,=turbine full-gate capacity (at hd) , hp ;
machine and the shape of the characteristic however, for comparing hydraulic ma-
curves. The specific speed at peak efficiency of chines the following will establish tur-
a hydraulic machine does not change with bine output of a pump-turbine as that
changes in rotational speed. All references of obtained at the gate opening and head
pump-turbine specific speed refer to the specific (H& where best (peak) efficiency is
speed at the best efficiency point (BE). attained.
The units of specific speed are noted to re- It can be shown that equations (1) and (2)
mind the reader which parameters express the have correlation upon substitution of discharge
characteristic speed. For brevity, head and (Q) times head (H) for power (P) into equa-
speed are omitted. Comparable formulas are tion (2).
included in the Hydraulic Similarity section. Stepanoff [2], using the same parameters, Q
1. The pump best efficiency specific speed and H, for both machines, expressed the rela-
(n,,) is defined by the equation : tionship between pump and turbine specific
speeds as:
n (&,,I li2 nst=nsp l q (3)

Ilsp= (HBE) 3/4 (1) where :

where : n,&urbine specific speed,
n=rotational speed, r/min, nxD=pump specific speed, and
nsp=pump best efficiency specific speed, ft- q=hydraulic efficiency, approximately equal
gal/min ( m-m3/s), to the square root of the pump best
H,,=pump best efficiency head, ft (m) , and efficiency.
Q,,=pump best efficiency discharge, gal/min Because pump criteria dominates the selection
(m3/s). of a pump-turbine, the following treatment ap-
3
4 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTE?RISTICS

plies the pump specific speed (n,,) formula to
all three classes of machines. Of particular in-
terest is the comparison of the calculated spe-
cific speeds for a pump-turbine when analyzed
at best efficiency turbine operation and best effi-
ciency pump operation. It is apparent from the
nearly equal values of pump and turbine spe-
cific speeds in table 1 that specific speed does, in
fact, define similar hydraulic flow parameters.
Comparative specific speed formulas are
shown in the Hydraulic Similarity section.
If an impeller/runner was selected only on
the basis of turbine performance and the pump-
turbine operated in the turbine direction, ex-
pected efficiencies could be equal to or greater
than that of a pure turbine [3]. While the tur-
bine best efficiency head is 15 to 30 percent
greater than the pump best efficiency head (fig.
IO), in actual practice when pumping perfor-
mance must be considered, there is a sacrifice
of approximately 1 percent of turbine efficiency
for a pump-turbine as opposed to a pure tur-
bine. The theoretical minimum value of the
ratio of turbine best efficiency head (HBET) to
pump best efficiency head (H,,, ) for a pump-
turbine [4] is:
H 1
BET= (4)
H BEP qP’%
where :
nv=pump hydraulic efficiency, and
qt=turbine hydraulic efficiency.
The value of the ratio of turbine best effi-
ciency head to pump best efficiency head in-
creases as specific speed increases. Using the
headwater and tailwater surface elevations as
reference, there is a further divergence of the
turbine best efficiency head from the pump best
efficiency head caused by penstock losses. Ad-
justment of the turbine best efficiency head to
pump best efficiency head ratio is possible by
varying the rotational speed (n) , such as by
using a two-speed generator-motor.
When either pumping or generating, consid-
eration must be given to avoiding cavitation
damage and vibration that occur at heads
greatly removed from that of the respective

TABLE l.-Best eficiencg pump and turbine specific speeds for pump-turbines
-
Turbine n,, Pump nsp
Unit U.S.
Pump-turbine No. ft-gal/min m-m’/ s ft.-hp m-kW ft-gal/min m-ma/s
San Luis 1-8 1,850 36.8 28.5 108 1,950 37.7
Central Valley
Project, California
Flatiron 3 1,960 37.9 30.2 115 1,960 37.7
Colorado-Big
Thompson Project,
Colorado
Mt. Elbert* P/G 1 2,160 41.8 33.2 127 2,240 43.3
Fryingpan-Arkansas
Project, Colorado
Grand Coulee* P/G 7 2,320 44.9 35.7 136 2,640 61.1
Columbia Basin &8
Project, Washington
Senator Wash l-6 4,300 83.2 66.2 252 4,660 89.9
Colorado River
Front Work and
Levee System,
California
* Model data.
 UNIT SELECTION

“\
3002
IT!- “w/r-’ _
“P
6 to 9 vanes-

-13 to 21 buckets

P”GoRtion --!$j \ ]

I I
PLAN I
TURBINE RUNNER
I I

~7-~~~~~~~~er
Turbine
rototitinJ+I&
ELEVATION

Notes:
PLAN ’
VT , VP= Peripherol velocity Ot DI
PUMP-TURBINE IMPELLER
Vw= Water velocity
Vwh .&b=Relative velocity of water respect to turbine or pump
0, turbine = 0.7 DI pump
DI =Discharge dia. of impeller or entrance dio. of runner
Dp=Mlnimum opening diometer of impeller or runner D2 turbine = 0.83 DI turbinen0.6 D, pump
D, pump = D, turbine nrp= 2,000 gal/mln (38.7 t’t13/S)
nst=30.8 U.S. hp units (117.3 kW units)

FIGURE L-Comparison of pump-turbine impeller and turbine runner designed for operation at the same head and
speed. IO&Dd56.

best efficiency head. A multispeed generator- creased maintenance when operating at the ex-
motor can be used for a pump-turbine operat- treme. The amount of time that a unit is expect-
ing over a wide head range. In the future, solid- ed to operate at the extreme high or low heads
state variable speed control may be practical. is a factor in determining the permissible oper-
The suggested maximum head range relative to ating head range. Refer to “Submergence of
pump best efficiency head for a single-speed Unit” for operating limitations based on cavi-
pump-turbine is shown in table 2. tation.
High specific speed pumps have relatively
TABLE 2.-Permissible operating head range
steep head-discharge curves as shown on figure
(percent of HBEP)
4; thus, they are more able to operate within a
Maximum Minimum
Pump specific speed, n,, wide head range.
head head
Table 3 shows operating heads of the Bu-
ft-gal/min m-m’ / s percent percent reau’s pump-turbine units. The Flatiron pump-
less than 1,500 less than 29 110 95 turbine operates in the turbine mode at 257
1,500 - 2,000 29 - 38.7 115 90 r/min and in the pump mode at 300 r/min. The
2,000 - 3,500 38.7 - 67.7 125 85
3,500 or greater 67.7 or greater 130 70 San Luis pump-turbines can operate either as a
pump or a turbine at either 120 or 150 r/min,
The limitations in table 2 are based on data whichever effects best efficiency for a given
from existing units and should not be consid- head. Flatiron and San Luis, both with two-
ered absolute. Some existing units exceed these speed generator-motors, are the Bureau’s only
limits and a few units with operating ranges reversible pump-turbine installations where a
that fall within the specified range experience turbine best efficiency head falls within maxi-
considerable noise, rough operation, and in- mum and minimum heads.
6 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

TABLE 3.-Operating heads of Bureau of Reclamation pump-turbines

Senator Grand
Flatiron San Luis Wash Coulee Mt. Elbeti
-
257 300 120 150 360 200 180

Turbine Min. Turbine Min. ‘urbine Min Turbine Min. ‘urbine Min.
140 (42.7) 109 (33.2) 27 (8.2) 263 (80.2) 390 (118.9)

Pump Min.
113 (34.4)

Pump Min. Pump BE ‘ump Min. Pump Min. ‘ump Min.

170 (51.8) 178 (54.2) 31 (9.4) 272 (82.9) 420 (128.0)

Pump Max. Pump Min.

200 (61.0) 200 (61.0)

Turbine BE Turbine BE ‘ump BE Pump BE ‘ump BE

218 (66.4) 215 (65.5) 64 (19.5) 287 (87.5) 440 (134.1)

Pump BE Turbine Max. Turbine Min. ‘urbine Mar Turbine Max. Turbine Max.
250 (76.2) 260 (79.2) 260 (79.2) 71 (21.6) 352 (107.3) 475 (144.8)

Pump BE
272 (82.9)

Turbine Max. Turbine Max. kmp Max. Pump Max. ‘ump Max.
290 (88.4) 323 (98.5) 74 (22.6) 365 (111.3) 485 (147.8)

Pump Max.
332 (101.2)

Pump Max.
300 (91.4)
Turbine BE ‘urbine BE Turbine BE Turbine BE
340 (103.6) 80 (24.4) 365+ 525 (160.0)
(111.3+)

* BE = Best efficiency head

The allowable variation of operating head is
narrower for pump-turbines than for real tur-
bines. Monograph No. 20 indicates the permissi-
ble head range to be between 65 and 125 per-
cent of the design head-“. . . the net head at
which peak efficiency is desired.“-for a Francis
turbine [5]. Figure 2 shows pump-turbine char-
acteristics as a function of head and rotational
speed for the Bureau’s Mt. Elbert Unit P/G 1.
This particular pump-turbine is not capable of
generating power at heads below 67 percent of
the pump best efficiency head.
Because a pump-turbine has a larger diam-
eter (D1) compared to a turbine, the shutoff
head is considerably greater for a pump-turbine
rotating in the turbine direction than for a com-
parable turbine operating at the same speed.
It is more likely that the turbine shutoff head
will be in the operating head range for a pump-
turbine than for a turbine, Selection of pump
best efficiency head .or design head near the
lower end of the operating head range favors
turbine operation at the expense of pump opera-
tion. With the pump design head near the mini-
mum head, turbine operation is possible at mini-
mum head and the turbine best efficiency point
is more likely to occur within the operating
head range.
For multispeed operation, if rotational speed
varies with the square root of the head, the effi-
ciency will remain nearly constant regardless
of change in head, and turbine power output
will be possible as the head decreases toward
zero head. See the four-quadrant diagram on
figure 19 for a more detailed description of
changes in pump characteristics with changes
 UNIT SELECTION

Ratio H/H,,,-%
loo
Turbine Efficiency
versus I

40 60 80 la0
Ratio
li
I20
H/H~E~-%
140 160 I.0 200

220 I-Turbinl
ver
e output
SUS
Head Rqtio
I
Constant Speed
200
---

180
,~

I40

I20

io:
100

Speed varied to obtain

maximum efficiency,
-* PI ?t= constant = 9 1.5%,
70% Gate ?peni?g
I@0 100 200
Ratio H/H,&h

FIGURE 2.-Variation of pump-turbine eficiency and turbine output with speed and head. 106-D-357.
8 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

600

500

400

*--Pump best efficient

looo 300
w
900
CL--Denotes undeigrounc
800 - powerhouse
700
200
I . \ I I
600 I .-- .~
\ AShiroyama
.
I I
500 150

400

I-
Loo
L
, _ >Grdnd Coulee P/G 78 8

s
I Flatiron
200

50

40

loo
30

80

70
20
60

I!5

2000 3000 4ooo 5ooo 7000 gal/min

PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED - nrp

FIGURE 3.-Operating head range vs. specific speed. 106-D-358.

 UNIT SELECTION 9

in speed or size as established by pumpturbine
similarity laws.
Figure 1 shows a turbine runner compared
to a pump-turbine impeller having the same
specific speed and selected to operate at the
same head and rotational speed. The pump-
turbine impeller diameter (D1) is 30 percent
greater than that of a turbine runner. Because
the passages are shorter in a turbine runner,
deceleration of water, when the runner is used
as a pump, is too abrupt for efficient diffusion
within the runner. Conversely, water is accel-
erated in the turbine direction ; however, hy-
draulic acceleration is inherently more efficient
than deceleration. The acceleration process does
not cause a significant loss in the efficiency of
the turbine runner.
A turbine runner has two to three times more
blades than a pump-turbine impeller. The direc-
tion of water flow at the outer periphery is
more radial for a turbine runner than for a
pump-turbine impeller. The throat diameter
(Dz) will be nearly equal for either a turbine
runner or pump-turbine impeller operating at
the same head and speed. As indicated on figure
11, the throat diameter (D2) of a pump-turbine
is approximately 10 percent greater than that
of a comparable centrifugal pump for the same
specific speed. The dimensional expressions of
diameters shown on figure 1 were derived from
figures 10 through 13.
Effects of Specific Speed on Pump
Performance
Figure 3 shows the range for operating head
versus pump specific speed of many worldwide

D,= 0.52 DI ,radial D,=O.4 DI ,radiol

nsp= 1,500 (29 mY/s) nsp=4,000 (77mYs) nsp=lO,ooo (193m3/s)

Note: DI expressions are based on the same He~p=O.l8 HsEP, radial HeEP= 0.04 H,,,,rodiol
capocltles and rotational speeds

Efficiency

QP/Q BEP-% QP/QBEP-% QP /QEIEP-%

FIGURE a.-Comparison of pump impellers and characteristic qurves with specific speed. 106-D-859.
10 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

PUMP POWER INPUT- SPECIFIF SPEEI

hoc
a”
‘$
I
2
F II0 % Of best
G efficiency capoci ty
Midono
wz
c3 100 I

/ I , . I

u+off/heod I
-

-
Shutoff head
0
Grand Coulee P/G 7a8
T
(Mt. Elbert P/G I
-

Pumps

rl
20
--mm-

30
Pump- turbines with wicket gates

-..I
40 50 60
, I, , ,
70 80 90 loo
I
T150 i

IO - I I
IO00 2ooo 3ooo 4ooo 5000 7000 g,ol/min

PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED- nsp

FIGURE 5.-Percent pump input vs. specific speed. 106-0360.
 PERCENT OF HEAD AT BEST EFFICIENCY-H/HBEP

Ei 8 8 Ei 3 $8 8 E B
 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

EFFICIENCY - SPECIFIC SPEED

.-------Pump -

IO00 2000 3000 4ooo so00 7000 gal/min

PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED - nap

FI~~JRE 7.-Percent pump eficieney vs. specific speed. 106-0362.
 UNIT SELECTION

I.&-

1.4--

1.2.-

1.0
0.9.-
0.8.-

0.5..

0.4--

from “Centrifugal and

Axial Flow Pumps’? 2

0.2 ,
0.18 -- Mt. Elbert P/G I

Sigma at pump best

efficiency ‘head for:

40
I. 50 60 70 80 90 ioo 150 ma//s
I I
I’
I I I I
1000 2000 3000 5000 7000 gal /min
PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED - nrp
FIGURE 8.-Cavitation coeficient (pump sigma) vs. specific speed. 106-0363.
 \ I CRITICAL PUMP S&IA-PEFICEINT OF PU~~PBEST EF~CIENCY HEAD
I I
P=Pump
P-T = P/G = Pump-turbine
Metric specific speed ( m3/s units:
indicated by parentheses

Snake Creek P, nsp = 5300 (102)

I
l-
Z 0.6
Grand Coulee PI -P6,nsp=
i 850 ( 35.8)
TY 1
1 .
LDos Amigos, Centrifugal P, n,,=
I 3050 (59)
-b-
z 0.4
0 Cnn I .,ic D-T IznI-nm \ tf /
.
1 ,M t. El bert P/G I-n,,=
I/ 2240 (43.3j - -’ 3Y
I

I/ Grand
7 I3 8. n,,.= 2640 (50

Coo Trois Pants P-T,

nsp= 1600 (31 I-----’
1
50 60 70 80 80 100 110 120

PERCENT OF PUMP BEST EFFICIENCY HEAD

FIGURE 9.-Critical pump sigma vs. percent of pump beet e&iency head. 106-D-86.4.
 UNIT SELECTION

qsom Jo~ouaS -
uo+s!mai --

_---
I
I
0 1
- I--_
w
w
- %- DMO6!JOlUO ____ _ __--
.---\
i
gd - Id aalno3 PUDJ~)~-- - -
*I
lasnolyuou-
t
- -0 ’
I
I
!bDJO+D&DyO- a
I 0
ynos umDk--’

I -*
-- -1-d OJ!qC

DJDddDUJnN- \

1
16 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

I
P-H MD-l
I N yaaJ3 ayDuS-”
.---
*

PDaH I#!H yaal!) CIyDUS ---.*

I ‘ON YMDt/Ofl UO+laM--‘-*

1 I I
+DM JO+DUaS-----
.-- --- uo+s!mal

JalpUDl(3 -“---36 S!ADa-‘

i

I
- SO6!lu~ soa
all!1 ,J ,; ----------.

I
9/d aalnog PUDJS---j/

.-----
---
UdJ!,DIj
---9d-Id

.--
‘8 sin’
aalno3

JOhD3
PUDJ~

Ualg
1

!’
-----JaAODH
 UNIT SELECTION

l 0 +

--+-
8 I

1 ‘ON ‘YMOqO~ UO+l(h -

.

4SOM AO(DUaS -- - ,

-- ------A30~1 -43
sq ws3Aio~lj - -- -

UOr(UD3 ualg ---.

 RADIAL VELOCITY RATIO - SPECIFIC SPEED

1 $ I' 8 Turbines operating

ot turbine .best -
6 efficiency head
L
l Pump-turbines
r”
operating at
E pump best best
2
efficiency heod
r” * Pumps operating
I
I at pump best
efficiency heod
n,t are in U.S. hp -
units 1 killowott units)
&
D,= Discharge dia. of impeller or
entrance dia. of runner, ft (m)
H= Best efficiency head, ft (m)
M= Wicket gate height, ft (ml
Q=Dischorge at best efficiency head,
ft3/s (m /s)

0.0396 0 (U.S.)
cr = r 0, M (H1”2

1 0.0718 0 (metric)
DI
-
hr au w Jo W 70 0” Jv I”” mrs
:
I 1 I1 I 2
1000 2000 3000
. 4ooo 5000 gol/min

PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED-nsp

FIGURE 13.-Ratio of fluid radial velocity to spouting velocity vs. specific speed. 106-D-368.
 II ’ I I I
I.7
w RATIO SPIRAL CASE DIMENSIONS TO DIAMETER
1.s I ,A++ A . B &etc.-Denote ooints for
2 Grand Coulee PI-P6,PumpT 1 I
I.6 m
3 1.4 j I!& 1 I_---- -f&~++y+-
I.5 ?
turuines witnout
c I.3 :I ! 2
irl wicket gates 1.4
I.2 k
::
Okutotoragi - - I.3 z
s I.1 . . 0

I etc.-Denote points
pump-turbines
with wicket gates 1.4 4
E
I.3
a
I.2
!!i
ith wicket gates -
I.1
I i
a I I
z I.3
I II
pJ I.2 I 0,
I I
I t-
u) I.1 Without
wicket e-4
,J 1 ’ I I
--

g I.0
3i gotes ‘10 I d/ I
+z
= 0.9
p 8 I
r 0.6 t I
0 I ' Longitudinol t ‘I -
I.1 I I
I 4 I
ii I
3 l.O- I
I 1 I ’
~ 0.9
s Q6
iL For units with
u) 0.7
and without
g 0.6 --
wicket gates
.- F= Constant 20.5
0 0.5 --------0 with and without
wicket gates
I 1
20 30 40 so 60 70 60 90 loo IS0 ma/s

I I 1 I I I
I
1000 2000 3000 4000 SO00 6000 gal/min

PUMP SPECIFIC SPEED-n,p

FIGURE 14.-Ratio of spiral case dimensima to impelk dticharge diameter 218. specific speed. 106-D-369.
20 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE
pump-turbine units. On figure 3, the term
-
ns,dH plots as a straight line of a constant
value. Pump-turbine manufacturers consider
this term a basic design parameter, in addition
to head and size. There is not a theoretical limit
to this parameter. The curves show that the
pump-turbine manufacturers’ present experi-
ence limit is :
n,,,H1/*=70,000 ft-gal/min (U.S. units) (5)
n,,H1/*=750 m-m3/s (metric units)
When deep submergence is prohibitively ex-
pensive, the limiting factor will be a lower
value of the experience limit, n,,dR.
Figure 4 compares impeller geometry and
characteristic curves of three different pumps
with different specific speeds and having like
rotational speeds and capacities. The general
category of centrifugal pumps is:
1. Centrifugal pumps (radial-flow) with
radial discharge having low values of spe-
cific speed-less than 4,000 gal/min (77
m3/s). The hydraulic passages in centrifu-
gal pump impellers are relatively long and
the cross sections relatively small. As the
specific speed decreases, the passages be-
come longer.
2. Diagonal flow (mixed-flow) pumps
having specific speeds in the range of 4,000
to 8,000 gal/min (77 to 155 m3/s). They
have axial and radial components of veloc-
ity at the impeller discharge.
3. Propeller pumps (axial-flow) with
axial discharge having specific speeds
greater than 8,000 gal/min (155 m3/s). The
hydraulic passages through the impeller
are relatively short and larger in cross
section.
Upon comparison of low specific speed pumps
with high specific speed pumps, figure 4 shows
that for a high specific speed pump, the best
efficiency point occurs near zero head and maxi-
mum discharge. The slope of the head versus
discharge curve for a high specific speed pump
will rise relatively steep from the best efficiency
point to shutoff head, and the power input will
increase with increasing head. For a low spe-
cific speed pump, the best efficiency point will
CHARACTERISTICS
occur near the shutoff head. The lower the spe-
cific speed, the less becomes the slope of the
head versus discharge curve from best efficiency
head to shutoff head. The maximum power input
to the pump usually will occur just below best
efficiency head and will decrease with increasing
head.
Generally, the higher the specific speed of the
pump, the smaller the physical dimensions for
a given capacity and head, Pumps that have the
highest attained efficiency are those with spe-
cific speeds approximating 2,500 gal/min (48
m3/s). To prevent cavitation at a given head,
the submergence required for a pump will in-
crease as specific speed increases.
Effects of Wicket Gates on Pump Performance
Although wicket gates are provided on pump-
turbines primarily for controlling turbine load,
the plot of pump characteristics for pump-
turbines versus wicket gates (represented by
dashed lines on figs. 5, 6, and 7), also shows
that wicket gates are beneficial for pump opera-
tion. During pump operation, the position of
the wicket gates is usually set at the point
where the best efficiency can be obtained-at
the given head-with decreasing gate opening
correction for an increasing head. Under cer-
tain conditions, such as pumping at low head,
the gate position is adjusted to decrease the
power input or to reduce capacity for prevent-
ing undue cavitation.
When operating at heads other than best effi-
ciency head, the decrease in pump efficiency for
pump-turbines with wicket gates is less than
the decrease in efficiency of pumps without
wicket gates. Also, at shutoff head the conver-
sion of velocity head to pressure head is more
efficient for a pump-turbine with wicket gates;
thus resulting in a higher shutoff head (gates
closed) and a reduced power input than for a
comparable pump without wicket gates.
Submergence of Unit
To prevent excessive cavitation in pump-
turbines, submergence requirements are more
 UNIT SELECTION 21

demanding for pump operation than for turbine Although critical sigma increases with increas-
operation. The term customarily used for de- ing specific speed, cavitation can be tolerated at
scribing the effects of cavitation on unit per- the lower heads which are usually associated
formance or similarity of cavitation conditions with high specific speed pumps. The destructive
between machines having similar geometry and effects of cavitation increase with the cube of
hydraulic characteristics is defined as the the head [‘7].
Thoma sigma (a) : Figure 9 shows how critical sigma varies with
Q=- NPSH (6)
head for several large pumps and pump-
H turbines. The relationship of critical sigma with
where : specific speed shown by the expressions on fig-
H=head developed (pump) or absorbed ure 8 can be considered a general law, but the
(turbine), ft (m), design of an impeller for a particular specific
NPSH=net positive suction head at some speed can be varied to some extent by varying
location, ft (m) , and the throat diameter and the impeller vane en-
o,,=critical sigma value at which there trance angle to obtain the desired suction per-
is an abrupt decrease in perfor- formance. This variation in design of suction
mance of the hydraulic machine. performance is the reason sigma curves cross
NPSH (net positive suction head) of the each other, as shown on figure 9, for impellers
pump is defined as: of different specific speeds. The interrelations,
nevertheless, can be approximated by the gen-
NPSH=H,+H,-H,--HI (7) eral law of critical sigma versus specific speed.
where : Suction performance can be improved by sacri-
H,=static draft head with reference to tail- ficing pump efficiency [ 161.
water surface above impeller/runner Localized cavitation usually occurs at sigma
centerline, ft (m) , values higher than the critical sigma values. Al-
H,=atmospheric pressure head for altitude though localized cavitation is too limited to
at pump suction supply, ft (m), have an appreciable eff,ect on the pump effi-
H,=vapor pressure head of water for highest ciency, it is of concern since sufficient material
expected temperature, ft (m), and can erode from an impeller to affect the struc-
H,=head loss in the pump suction line and tural integrity of the impeller. The Bureau de-
impeller approach, ft (m) . fines excessive cavitation as the removal of
Table 4 compares critical sigmas at the same 0.00004 pounds of metal per operating hour
head for both pump and turbine operation for per square foot of impeller/runner throat area
three of the Bureau’s reversible units. The (at D2) or:
values were obtained from manufacturers’ Pounds= 4.0 lo-” (hours)
l (area, ft2) (8)
model tests. Kilograms=19.5 10m5(hours)
l (area, m2)
TABLE I.-Comparison of pump and turbine critical The above formula is for aluminum bronze
sigmas and stainless steel. For carbon steel the allow-
Pump BE head able rate of metal removal is four times greater.
Pump-turbine ft Turbine gcr Pump ver
m The conditions at which cavitation is first ob-
Flatiron 250 76.2 0.05 0.10 served in pump model tests, using a transparent
Grand Coulee 287 87.5 .07 .13 suction tube, are defined as sigma begin (ub).
Mt. Elbert 440 134.1 .08 .17 The dashed line on figure 8 represents the
sigma begin values obtained by a hydraulic
The table reveals that substantially more sub- equipment manufacturer [16].
mergence is required for pump operation than As a compromise between the deep setting
for turbine operation. required of pumps for eliminating cavitation
Figure 8 shows critical sigma as a function of and the likelihood of attendant excavation and
specific speed at best efficiency pumping head. structural costs, units under heads of 400 ft
22 ESTIMATING REVER’SIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

(122 m) are designed with the intent that they where :

will be exposed to limited cavitation. Avoiding nxrotational speed, r/min,
cavitation becomes more critical at heads above D1=discharge diameter of impeller or en-
400 ft. Because of the relative compactness of trance diameter of runner, ft (m),
high head hydraulic equipment, it is feasible to and
excavate underground caverns to obtain the re- HB,=best efficiency head developed (pump)
quired submergence. Figure 3 indicates that the or absorbed (turbine), ft (m)
trend is toward underground plants at high The rotational speed (n) of a generator-
heads. motor is given by the equation:
The available submergence at the plant should 60f
be studied over the operating head range to en- n=fl (10)
sure that the plant sigma is greater than critical where :
sigma for the major portion of the operating f =frequency, Hz
schedule. Inadequate submergence usually pre- p=an even integer representing the number
sents problems at the maximum and minimum of poles in the generator-motor. For
of the operating head range. A pump-turbine large machines p should be a multiple
that has adequate submergence for pump opera- of four.
tion usually has sufficient submergence for tur- Hypothetical Case
bine operation. Critical sigma for turbine opera- An example for estimating pump-turbine
tion at maximum head and minimum tailwater characteristics follows :
may be greater than the pump critical sigma for A pump-turbine is planned with design con-
this condition. ditions of:
Cavitation, noise, and vibration will occur re- Output : 100 MW,
gardless of the available submergence when op- Head : 1,000 ft (305 m),
erating under conditions greatly removed from Turbine operating range : 935 to 1,045 ft
the best efficiency point because of the differ- (285 to319m),
ence in orientation between the fluid velocity and
vector and the impeller vane tip at the point Pump operating range : 955 to 1,065 ft
where fluid enters the impeller. (291 to325m).
Assumptions:
Sizing the Pump-Turbine l That 1,000 ft (305 m) is the pump best
(peak) efficiency head,
Figures 10, 11, and 12 show several impeller l That turbine efficiency is 89 percent at
characteristics as a function of specific speed. full gate and design head,
Figure 10, which shows a plot of the ratio of l That pump efficiency is 92 percent at best
peripheral velocity at D, to the water spouting efficiency head, and
velocity as a function of specific speed, is of l That a value of 32 ft (9.75 m) is used for
particular interest. This velocity ratio is com- Ha-H,-Ht (pump mode).
monly represented by the symbol &. The value Notes :
of +1 defines the relationship between the best The assumptions of efficiency values,
efficiency head, rotational speed, and diameter based on figures in table 5, are reasonable
of the impeller in the following expression: for this size unit. The turbine efficiency is
nnD1 (9) at the net head where the full-gate output
‘l= 60 (2g H,,) 1’2 of the turbine produces the generator de-
=6.53*10-lnD1 sign output (not the turbine best efficiency
(H,,) l/Z (u’s’) point, which usually occurs near maximum
head).
Since a pump with a specific speed in the
= ll*~;I1o$ D1 (metric) 2,500 gal/min (48.4 ms/s) range is the
BE
 TABLE L-Reversible pump-turbine data.

Pump best Wc~cncy head unless ROW- **

mdlcotcd Ional nsp
Povlerplonf Head H. Dlschorge. D at HllEp speed
tt (ml 1 ft’/min lm%) r/mm g
Ohira 1635 (Use) llS60 (67.6) wo 13

Coo-Troi6 Pants l65OR (259) Il62OR (46.9) 1300 1 1600hr(30.9) I

Okutataragi 11250 (361) l2600 (73.6)

Gastric 137CUin (265) 3220 (91.2)

Grand Coulee P/G7k61267 (67) (1900 (53.6) (200 12640 (51) 81.6 1 67,:
Mt.Elbert P/G I IWO (1310 13200 (90.7) II60 12240 (‘43.3) 1
Yidono 1240 (73) 12700 (76.6) 1 I50 13GOO
Omoriaa*a 1360 (110) 1390 (II) IWO II960 (37.9) 1 89 16, loo (l3.5)1 ‘J-(z.c
Ludinaton 1305Yin (93) III.IW (314) 1112.5 1366CUax (66.9)1 27.5 (8.575)

Flatiron l 260 (76) 370 (10.6)

.San Luis l5d 272 (63) 17,~ (66.2) 116.0 11930 (37.3) 92.5 1 92 1 so 0.66 15-23
4.6-71 1 II

I I I I I I I

ISmith Mt. 1196 (59.7) (9250 (I

A-C-Al I is Chalmers F-B-Fairbanks Morse

Units rlthout wicket gates. hr= Roted he& BLH-Baldwin Lima if&nil ton ll -Hitachi
l *
6 -bvina M -Mitsubishi
gal/mm anti m’ls ore units representing
US. and metric speclftc speeds. EE -English Electric tl -Nohab
EM -Escher Wyss 1 -Toshiba 106-D-379 @J
24 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

most efficient, this value is assumed for the The rotational (synchronous) speeds close to
first trial. 636 are 600 and 720 r/min. Because ndH value
In the example, limitations of size, speed, of 80,000 gal/min (852 m3/s) (see fig. 3) is
or submergence are not placed on the unit beyond the current experience limit at a specific
selection. speed of 2,500 gal/min (48.4 m3/s), a rotational
The turbine discharge (QJ at full gate is speed of 600 r/min is selected. Also, the num-
calculated from : ber of poles which gives 600 r/min is divisible
by four. To maintain best efficiency head and
P=“W=( QtHyrlt550 (U.S.)
1,341) (11) discharge for the design conditions, pump spe-
cific speed (the required parameter) should be
QtHynt (metric) adjusted by the ratio of rotational speeds:
MW=102 (1,000)
Qt= MW (1,341) 100 (1,341)
0.1134 hd nt = 0.1134 (1,000) 0.89 n,,=2,500 g =2,358 gal/min (45.6 m3/s)
=1,329 ft?/s ( )
MW 100 If a specific speed value of 2,500 gal/min is
= 9.804 - lo3 hd qt = 9.804 * 10-3 (305) 0.89 used at 600 r/min, either pump best efficiency
=37.6 m3/s head or discharge and power will change. On
Referring again to table 5, an assumed ratio figure 10, +l equals 1.04 at a pump specific
of unity is used for turbine output to pump in- speed of 2,358 gal/min.
put at design head. This power ratio (Pt/PBEr) The impeller/runner diameter ( D1) calcula-
can be adjusted, within limits, by the pump- tion is:
turbine design or wicket gate position to obtain
a balance between motor input and generator $1 W)“2 1.04 ww 1’2 -8 3g4 ft
output over the operating range. D1=6.53 lo-3 n =6.53 * lo3 (600)- ’
l

The pump discharge (Q,,) calculation is : 41 W1’2 1.04 (305)1/2

=11.8 - 10-3 n =11.8.10” (600)‘2’558 m

P=MW= QBEH*Ey Figures 11 and 12 are used to estimate the

VP(1,341) 550(uS.) (12) impeller throat diameter (Dz) and the wicket
gate height (M) , respectively :
QB~ HBE ’ (metric)
Mw=qI, (102) 1,000 Wicket gate height:
Q _ MW 1,341 np _ 100 (1,341) 0.92
BE- 0.1134 H,, - (0.1134) 1,000 +0.145
1
X1,088 ft?/s thus :
MW rp -= 100 (0.92)
M=0.145 (8.394) =1.217 ft (0.371 m)
=9.804 l IO3 HBE 9.804 lo3 (305)
l

=30.8 m3/s Impeller throat diameter :

The pump rotational speed (n) is calculated Q

D~1.54 or D’E~=8’3g4 5.451 ft (1.661 m)
from the specific speed formula and, of course, 2

is the same for both customary and metric cal- With reference to figure 14, spiral case dimen-
culations : sions are calculated :
nsp<HBE>S/4 2,500 (1,000)3’4 A~1.3 (8.394) z10.912 ft (3.326 m) radius
n= (&,,I 1/Z =(60 . 7.48 . 1,088) l,~=~~~ r/min B~1.2 (8.394)=10.073 ft (3.070 m) radius
C=l.l (8.394) = 9.233 ft (2.814 m) radius
nspWBE) 2/4 48.4 (305) 314 E=l.O (8.394) = 8.394 ft (2.558 m) radius
=636 r/mm
= (&,,)I/2 = (30.8)“2 G=0.6 (8.394) = 5.036 ft (1.535 m) dia
 UNIT SELECTION 25

hence :
A+C=20.145 ft (6.140 m) dia
B+E=18.467 ft (5.628 m) dia
Therefore, longitudinal and transverse dimen-
sions of the spiral case will be 20 by 18.5 ft (6.1
by 5.7 m) , respectively.
Figure 8 and equations (6) and (7) are used
to calculate the required minimum submergence
(distributor centerline to minimum tailwater at
best efficiency head) :
0~~7.2 l 10-O (n,) 4/3=7.2 1O-G(2,358) 4/3=0.23
l

NPSH=Ho,,=l,OOO (0.23) =230 ft (70.1 m)

Let the sum of H,-H,-H,=32 ft (9.75 m)
The required minimum submergence (H,) at
best efficiency head is:
H,=230-32=198 ft (60.4 m)
By comparing 198 ft to actual submergence
values listed in table 5 for similar pump-tur-
bine installations, it is apparent that the sigma
begin (Q) curve is quite conservative. Fre-
quently, sigma critical rather than sigma begin
is used as a submergence criteria for determin-
ing the pump-turbine setting. Ideally, submer-
gence calculations are based on the elevation at
Da. Because of the uncertainties of the exact
impeller dimensions and sigma curve data,
during preliminary studies, submergence is
frequently based on distributor centerline ele-
vation. for convenience. Consideration must
be given to the number of units operating
(capacity vs. tailwater).
A number of trial solutions may be necessary
to determine the submergence, as a compromise
of interrelated parameters of speed, specific
speed, unit size, and a submergence that is ade-
quate for the conditions. To illustrate, if the
above sample should have a limitation of 100 ft
(30.5 m) maximum submergence, selection of a
specific speed of approximately 1,400 gal/min
(27.1 m3/s) operating at 360 r/min would be
required. To satisfy the same turbine power
output, the lower specific speed unit would be
about 50 percent larger in size.
Performance
Estimating Turbine Performance
Figure 15 has turbine characteristics super-
imposed on pump characteristics for a pump-
turbine without wicket gates and a specific
speed (n,,) of 2,000 gal/min (38.7 ma/s).
Figures 16 and 17 show turbine characteristics
superimposed on pump characteristics for a
pump-turbine with wicket gates and a specific
speed of 2,640 gal/min (51.1 m3/s). Using the
pump best efficiency head, discharge, and power
values calculated in the previous example, pump
and turbine performance can be determined
from the curves at other heads. Note that tur-
bine power output is given in terms of a ratio ;
i.e., turbine output to pump input (P,/P,) at
the same head.
The maximum torque imposed on a pump or
pump-turbine does not occur at a normal operat-
ing point. After a pump power failure, maxi-
mum torque occurs upon flow reversal followed
by speed reversal. Although this torque is
transient and can be reduced for a pump-
turbine with a normally functioning governor
by closure of the wicket gates, this torque
should be considered in the design of the shaft
and couplings.
The figures in this section are intended to aid
in estimating turbine performance over an op-
erating head range. Characteristics for these
units can be applied to units of similar specific
speeds. Also, allowance should be made for
correction of the turbine output to pump input
power ratio at pump best efficiency head, since
the ratio can vary within a range of 90 to 120
percent for pump-turbines (see table 5).
Estimating Runaway Speed
The curves on figure 18 give the ratio of
reverse runaway speed to rotational speed ver-
sus specific speed for hydraulic machines. A
curve is shown for pump power failure while
operating under pump best efficiency head [S].
Reverse runaway speed for a pump is the same
as runaway speed for a pump-turbine resulting
from a turbine load rejection. In accordance
with pump similarity laws, calculation of re-
verse runaway speed (n,) for a unit at a head
other than pump best efficiency head can be
determined as follows :
nr=nBEr (H/H,,) *I2 03)
The overspeed values determined from the
curves on figure 18 represent steady-state over-
speed with wicket gates at best efficiency posi-
tion. An analysis that accounts for the water
conduit and unit characteristics, as well as the
rate of gate closure, is necessary for an accurate
overspeed determination under transient con-
ditions. However, the steady-state estimate is
suitable for a first order approximation since
the transient effects tend to cancel each other.
Pump-Turbine Four-Quadrant Diagram
Figure 19 is a four-quadrant diagram of a
pump-turbine with specific speed of 2,200 gal/
min (42.6 m3/s). The diagram describes the
27
28 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE
relation between discharge, head, speed, and
gate opening in four quadrants or modes of
pump-turbine operation. The diagram includes
all combinations of variables which a pump-
turbine is likely to encounter. Head-discharge
trends may be more readily interpreted from
figures 16 and 17, as both coordinates of the
four-quadrant diagram (fig.19) are shown as
a ratio of two variables.
The quadrants are numbered in the sequence
as direction of flow and sense of rotation en-
countered by the pump or pump-turbine after a
pump power failure. The quadrants do not
necessarily have to be followed in sequence to
arrive at a particular state, as the head and
magnitude and sense of rotational speed define
the state of the system. The quadrants and con-
ditions are described as follows:
I. Normal Pumping
A. Flow in pump direction
B. Rotation in pump sense
II. Energy Dissipation
A. Flow in turbine direction
B. Rotation in pump sense
III. Turbine
A. Flow in turbine direction
B. Rotation in turbine sense
IV. Reverse Pumping
A. Flow in pump direction
B. Rotation in turbine’sense
A pump or pump-turbine will not go into the
fourth quadrant after a power failure because
the region above the zero torque (runaway) line
requires a power input; however, if a vertical
gate characteristic curve occurs in the zero
torque zero flow regime, the machine is unstable
and can operate in either the normal turbine
(III) or reverse pumping (IV) quadrants for a
given head and speed. A pump-turbine with a
vertical gate characteristic curve will be un-
stable for the turbine speed-no-load gate condi-
tion. Since the unit is connected across the line,
it can go into reverse pumping while drawing
power from the system [lo]. The situation
probably occurs when the pump shutoff head
(at small gate openings), with rotation in the
turbine direction, exceeds the static hydraulic
head.
CHARACTERISTICS
Stepanoff [2] expressed the theoretical shut-
off head (H,,) of an impeller as a function of
the diameter and rotational speed, and is inde-
pendent of the specific speed. Shutoff head can
be calculated by the following formula:
(14)
where :
g=gravitational constant (acceleration),
ft/s2 (m/s2),
H,,=shutoff head, ft (m),
V=peripheral velocity of the impeller at D1,
ft/s (m/s), and
k=an efficiency for the conversion of veloc-
ity head to pressure head (about 0.58
for pumps without wicket gates).
For pump-turbines with wicket gates, the
shutoff heads are higher than values calculated
with the above 0.58 efficiency. Presumably, this
higher shutoff head occurs because the wicket
gates restrict the volume in which the water
circulates, resulting in a higher velocity to
pressure conversion efficiency. Furthermore,
the assumption of constant conversion efficiency
regardless of specific speed does not seem strict-
ly to apply to pump-turbines with wicket gates.
The short, broad impeller passages of high spe-
cific speed pump-turbines probably allows more
fluid circulation within the impeller passages at
shutoff than do low specific speed pump-tur-
bines.
The lower velocity to pressure conversion effi-
ciency for high specific speed pump-turbines
(compared to low specific speed pump-tur-
bines), when rotating in the turbine direction,
serves as an advantage for turbine operation
because it permits turbine operation at a lower
head for a given single speed.
In addition to a turbine efficiency improve-
ment resulting from decreased turbine rota-
tional speed as described in the speed section,
figure 19 shows there is an increase in turbine
power output in certain head ranges with a
lower turbine speed. See figure 2, which is
based on the same pump-turbine unit as the
four-quadrant diagram (fig. 19).
The k values for the Bureau’s two pump-
turbine installations with wicket gates are
shown in table 6.
 PERFORMANCE 29

HEAD, POWER, and EFFICIENCY RATIOS - DISCHARGE RATIO

150 I
Pump characteristics with turbine characteristics
6 superimposed for a single speed pump-turbine
140 (San Luis) without wicket gates.
a nsp=2,000 gal/min (38.7 m3/s units)

7)t = Pump and turbine efficiency

0 IO 20 30 40 SO 60 70 60 90 100
PERCENT OF PUMP BEST EFFICIENCY DISCHARGE -O/OBEP

FIGURE 15.-Turbine characteristics superimposed on pump characteristics - n,, = 2,000. 106-D-370.

 30 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

I I 1 I

HEAD and POWER

. . . . RATIOS-DISCHARGE RATIO
--

I
\
I
- IOO-

l
v
z 80 -
W

0
- 70.
Ia.
IL
W

I /l I

“sp = 2,640 gal/min (51.1 m%/S) units

*“I I ! 1 1 1 1
I
/ I H
= Pump or turbine heod
Pump
HBEP= best (peak) efficiency head
%a “t = Head developed (pumplor absorbed (turbine)
= Pump or turbine discharge
opEcp= Pump discharge at best efficiency head
20
QP & Qt = Pump and turbine discharge
PP = Pump input power
IO Peep= Pump input at best efficiency head
= Pump and turbine efficiency
3Pa +%
0 I I I I I
0 IO 20 30 40 50 60 10 60 SO 100 II0 120 130 140 150

PERCENT OF PUMP BEST EFF I C I ENCY D I SCHARGE-Q/QBE

FIGURE 16.-Turbine head, discharge, and eficiency superimposed on pump characteristics - n,, = 2,640.106-0371.
 HEAD ‘and POWER RATIOS -‘OISCHARGE RATIO

140

to pump input at the

&P= Pump best (peak) efficiency head

Heod developed (pump) or absorbed (turbine)
q -
QBEP= Pump discharge at best efficiency head
~~~~~~: 1: 1 Bf : N;;.a$turb$ discharge /

Pump characteristics with turbine c aracteristics PgEP= Pump input at best efficiency head
20 -
superimposed for Grand Coulee P/G 7 a 8 - --- = Turbine output to pump input (at the same heads)-
with wicket gates. -.-.T- p+‘pp
IO
-nsp /
gol/min , I m3&
(51. , ,
) units

0
0 IO 20 30 40 50 60 70 xl 90 100 IlO I20 Is0 140 150 160 170 160

PERCENT OF PUMP BEST EFFICIENCY DISCHARGE- D/oeEp

FIGURE 17.-Turbine head, discharge, and power superimposed on pump characteristics - nsP = 2,640.106-D-372.
32 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

--*

033dS lVN011VlO~ / CJ33dS MMVNrltl 3St13h3tl lN33t13d

 IX. Reverse
Note:

Pumping
Unit P/G I
nip= 2240 gal/min units
=43.3 m/s units
a,, = 33.2 U.S. hp units
= 127 kW units
/I1
I00 Best efflcl---..
/
I. Normal Pumping

\v @i,”
\\ \\ 452
\\
\ \\
J\,,
loo m
Max. output n.Gz Rotation in pumping
c-7
=. -K&F Rotation in “EP direction
’ nEEP turbine
direction

II. Energy Dissipation

Shaft Torque-%0

Mt. Elbwt Pumped-Storopr PaprpM

Fryingpore-ArtwnsoS f’+Ct

PUMP-TURBINE
FOUR-QUADRANT DIAGRAM

llI.Generoting

FIGURE lg.--Pump-turbine four-quadrant d&gram. 106-D-674.

34 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

TABLE 6.-Eflciency factor (k) for the conversion of on the fluid in these chambers.
welocitg head to pressure head
The hydraulic thrust curve shows the maxi-
Mt. Elbert Grand Coulee mum net hydraulic downthrust, but for some
n,,=2,240 ft- n,,=2,240 ft- conditions a net upthrust can occur. This net
gal/min ‘rgal/min
Condition (43.3 m-m*/s) (51.1 m-m8/s) upthrust can be of the same magnitude as the
net downthrust values shown on the curve. De-
Normal pump rota-
tion-zero gate 0.68 0.66
signers attempt to minimize the net upthrust,
Normal pump rota- since the net upthrust can exceed the weight of
tion-100 percent the rotating parts and lift the rotating parts
gate .62 .51 off the thrust bearing [lo].
Turbine rotation- It may be oversimplification to relate these
zero gate .45 .37
characteristics to a single function, D1, but this
Turbine rotation-
100 percent gate .32 .20 term gives as good a correlation as other more
complicated functions which take into account
criteria such as head and specific speed.
Weight, Inertia, and Hydraulic Downthrust
The scatter of points on the figures is prob-
Figures 20 through 23 show impeller weight ably because each manufacturer’s particular
( W) , pump-turbine weight ( W,,) , impeller design and fabrication techniques have as great
moment of inertia (WR2) , and hydraulic thrust an effect on the variables considered as do the
(Fh) as a function of impeller diameter (D1). basic design parameters-head, speed, dis-
All pumps and pump-turbines plotted on the charge, or specific speed. For instance, the de-
curves have spiral cases, with the exception of cision whether to cast or fabricate an impeller
the Snake Creek Unit. The Snake Creek Unit is can make a substantial difference in the final
a vertical column pump having a bowl-type weight.
diffuser.
The values obtained from the respective
Hydraulic Similarity
curves are only rough estimates, but it is de-
sirable to have these figures available in the For geometrically and hydraulically similar
early stages of planning. The generator-motor machines (i.e., equal specific speeds), certain
moment of inertia, in addition to the impeller performance data obtained for a unit of a given
complement, is used in the calculations to de- size and speed can be used to determine the
termine transient pressures during pump power performance for other size units and different
failure or turbine load rejection. The impeller rotational speeds. The following laws give the
and pump-turbine weights are used to obtain relationship of a point on a characteristic curve
cost estimates. The hydraulic thrust affects the for a given rotational speed and diameter with
generator-motor design with respect to the respect to an equivalent point on another curve
thrust bearing and bearing support. with a different rotational speed and/or diam-
The hydraulic thrust shown on figure 23 eter.
depends largely on factors other than the basic
hydraulics. The clearances at the periphery of 1. The affinity laws used for pump-turbine
the impeller and at the wearing rings, the sur- scaling are :
face configuration in the annular chambers be- V2 n2 Dt
tween the head cover and impeller crown and Tq= n, l K

between the impeller suction band and the

suction discharge ring, and the size and ar-
rangement of relief ports for minimizing thrust
caused by these annular chambers all affect the
magnitude of the hydraulic thrust. The surface
configuration of the impeller in the annular
tihambers affects the impeller pumping action
 PERFORMANCE 36

KILOGRAMS YDS

s-4

VERSUS
.-2 IMPELLER DIAMETER

. * Pumps
l Pump- turbines
--IO' Oroville
--9
-8
-7 +Mt. Elbert P/G I
-6
,-5

.-4 ~
1 Grand +$e PI-P6
.-5
w Grand Coulee P/G 7 8 C

3 -2
I
k

3
w
3
-lo*
.-9
E W= 129(DlILA LB.

--5

.-4

--3

.-2

--IO'

--5

I I I I I I I ,I111 I I I I
0.5 I 1.5 2 3 4 5 6 7890 I5 METRES

IMPELLER DIAMETER-D!

FIGURE 2O.-Impeller weight vs. impeller dischargk diameter. 106-D-375.

36 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

;r
KILOGRAMS POI UNOS
I
I! !Ill
PUMP AND PUMP-TURBINE WEIGHT- I
i VERSUS /
IMPELLER DIAMETER I V
/
* Pumps
I I I IIII /I

1 104.
9
i 8
7.
6
-San Luis
5 1
'2 I/ **Grand Coulee PI- P6 1 1
4

3,
DOSjiws~~ I I +

lo'
9 2
#t=-Snake Creek
e
7
6
5
IOJI I 1
.-sC Welton Mohawk .I
4
8 No. I2- /
without wicket gates
7-
3 I

0'

,
2 3 4 5 6 78910 20 30 40 50 FEET

I 1 I I I I I I,,,, I I I ,
0.5 I I.5 2 3 4 5 6 76910 I5 METRES

IMPELLER DIAMETER-D,

FIGURE 21.-Pump and pump-turbine weight vs. impeller discharge diameter. 106-D-676.
 PERFORMANCE

KG*M’ LB l f‘T’
c IO’
9
a
3 7

6
WR’-IMPELLER DIAMETER 1 / LMt: Elb;?rt i&i 1
5
2

- * Pumps
l Pump - turbines
105

I
9
2 _-
6
Grand Coulee’ PI 1 P$ ’
7
Grond Coulee P/G 7 a 8
6

5
IO6 -
4 9 -
6 -.
3 7
Sna 7- !ek
6 -
- *H -Tro&
5 -I-
2
-
I
- I t WR2= [
i3(D,)45 (U.S.)
115(DI)4s (metric)
3ti ron
IO’ r-t--
9
9

IO’
4
9
6
3 7

3- I

IO’ !
I
9
2t
9
Welton Mohawk No. I--r

1 I I I I I I Illll I I I 1
0.1 I I.5 2 3 4 !5 6 7 6 9 IO I5 METRES
IMPELLER DIAMETER-D,

FIGURE 22.-Impeller WR’ vs. impeller discharge dkmeter. 106-D-377.

38 ESTIMATING REVERSIBLE PUMP-TURBINE CHARACTERISTICS

KILOWYS P IJI IDS

8-
.-9
.-8
.-7 VERSUS
.-6

.-5

--4

.-3

s ----___

.-2 I
4

3 * PIJmps c w Grand Coulee P/G 786 I-

l Pump-turbines
40”
--9
.-6
-7
.-6

.-5 .Grond Coulee PI-P6

I
,
.-4
Is- Snake Cree
1
.-3
(
z
I

.-2 F
4

-IO4
2
.-9
,-6
--7
.-6 I ienotor Wash, ( I/) ) 1 )
.-s I VI YIIII
10
,-4 9
6
r-
.-3
6

5
.-2
4
Welton Mohawk No. I
3
II
--Chandler
--IO8
2.

‘CM ti?e
,--- Glendive
.-I
’ 10
i JLC ** II I I I> I,,
2 3 4 5 6 7 0910 IS 20 30 40 50 FEET

1 I I t , I
a5 I I I , I I I 1 (

1.5 2 3 45 7 IO I5 METRES

IMPELLER DIAMETER-D,

FIGURE 23.-Hydraulic downthrust vs. impeller discharge diameter. 106-D-W&

 PERFORMANCE 39

2. The turbine homologous equations are cus- I horsepower (metric) =1.014 horsepower
tomarily written : (U.S.)
1 horsepower (U.S.) =550 foot-pounds per
For constant diameter : For constant head : second
~0.7457 kilowatt
1 gallon (U.S.) ~0.003 785 cubic meter
1 pound (mass) ~2.204 622 kilogram
1 foot=O.3048 meter

where, for different conditions :

VI and V,=fluid velocity or peripheral veloc-
ity,
Q1 and Q,=discharge,
PI and P,=turbine power output or pump
power input,
n, and n,=rotational speed,
D1 and D,=impeller/runner diameter, and
H, and H,=head.
3. Pump (n,,) and turbine (n,,) specific speed
units conversion can be determined using the
following equations :

n (&,,I li2
%= (J3#4

nst=n(Pd)1'2
(hd 6'4

nsp, U.S. customary ft-gal/min unitsz51.7 nsp,

m-m3/s units
n sp, U.S. customary ft-gal/min units=65 nBt,
U.S. customary ft-hp units (approximate)
n,,, m-kW unitsz3.03 nsp, m-m3/s units (ap-
prox.)
n.,, m-hp unitsc4.45 mt, U.S. customary ft-hp
units
nst, m-kW units=331 mt, U.S. customary ft-hp
units
Note :
1 megawatt=l,OOO kilowatts
kilowatts=kilovolt-amperes l

power factor
1 horsepower (metric) =75 meter-kilograms
per second
1 kilowattrl01.971 meter-kilo-
grams per second
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40