Sizing of Pelton turbines

Two approaches:
Approach A:
Giving required dimensions to a local manufacturer
who already has some standard buckets
Approach B :
Pelton runner of specific diameter, complete with
buckets are available. Choose the best runner for a
particular site.
 Approach A
1. Optimize the penstock diameter to calculate net head
2. Use nomogram to find whether pelton is a suitable option. If
yes, find ideal runner diameter using RPM equation as follows:
Dideal=(38XH)/(Pelton RPM)
Or, Dideal=(38XHXG)/(Generator RPM)
Where, G is the required gear ratio.
3. Draw a table of the form:
njet 1 2 3 4 5 6
djet mm 82 58 47 41 36
D=6Xdjet mm 492 348 282 246
D=20Xdjet mm 164 116 940 820
0 0
Notch width>djet+5 mm 87 63 52 46
<djet+20 mm 102 78 67 61
 Approach A :Contd:
The table in (3) allows a choice to be made of runner
diameter, gear ratio and number of jets. It also shows that
runner diameter can range from 6 to 20 times the d jet
The diameter of the jet is given by:
djet=(0.54xQ)/(Hnet0.25xnjet) : nozzle equation

4. The notch width found in the table is compared with the

available bucket size and appropriate bucket is selected.
5. Consider also the part flow requirement and speed
regulation requirement to choose the number of jets
 Example: Approach A
The site under consideration for a pelton
turbine has the following characteristics:
Gross head :75 meter
Turbine flow : from 70-190 l/s during a year
Alternator speed :1500 rpm
Assuming friction loss in penstock to be 11% of
the gross head, work out for the appropriate
bucket size and the number of jets.
 Approach B
(choosing best runner for a given site)
1. Find the turbine speed using:
Pelton rpm=(38xHnet)/Drunner : rpm equation

2. Calculate the gear ratio G using:

G=Generator rpm/turbine rpm
3. Consider whether the net head can be altered to achieve a
desirable turbine speed
4. Consider whether the load can operate at a revised speed.
5. Calculate the flow drawn by the turbine and choose the number of
jets which best gives the desired flow:
Q=3.43Xdjet2xHnetxnjet
6. Consider practical modifications of nozzle size and number of jets
in order to achieve the desired flow.
 Example: Approach B
A pelton with two 13 mm jets and a 15 cm
runner is available. A site with net head of 17
m and flow range of 5-14 l/s is under
consideration. Pulleys which give ratios of 1.4
or 1.6 are at hand to drive an induction
generator. Find the appropriate nozzle size and
the number of jets that would achieve the
desired flow. (See example 5.3.2 in the book)
 Solutions
38 H net 38 17
1. pelton rpm 1044 rpm
Drunner 0.15
1575
2. Gear ratio 1.5 because a 4 pole induction motor runs at 1575 rpm at 50 Hz
1044
Option 1
3. To use given gear ratios , consider altering head from following equation :
2
D generator rpm
H net runner
38 G
20 m for G 1.4
15 m for G 1.6
Option 2
4. Operating induction generator at over frquency
38 H net G
load or generator rpm
Drunner
1462 rpm for G 1.4
1670 rpm for G 1.6
1670 rpm means 55 hz which is acceptable for isolated induction generator
Accommodating available flow:
Flow drawn by two jet pelton is given by:
2
Q 3.43 d jet H net n jet
3.43 0.0132 17 2
4 .8 l / s
Increasing the nozzle aperture to 15 mm instead of 13 mm,
we get Q=6.4 l/s which is not much difference.
Adding 2 more jets and increasing the nozzle aperture to 16
mm will absorb a flow of 14 l/s.