Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines

Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
1
Unit Quantities
In the studies of comparison of the performances of turbines of different
output, speeds and different heads, it is convenient t o determine the
output, the speed and the discharge, when t he head on the turbine is
reduced to unit y, i. e. 1 m. The conditions of the turbine under unit head
are such that t he efficiency of the t urbine remains unaffect ed. Thus the
velocit y t riangles under working conditions and under unit head are
geomet rically similar.
Given a turbine every velocit y vect or (V
1
, U
1
, Vw
1
, V
f 1
) is a
function of H where H is the head on the turbine. With this basic concept ,
we can det ermine the speed, discharge and power under unit head.
Unit Speed (N
u
):
This is t he speed of a t urbine working under a unit head
Let N be the speed of turbine, H be t he head on the turbine and u be the
peripheral velocit y.
We know that t he peripheral velocit yu is given by
60
N D
u

where D is t he mean diameter of the runner which is treat ed as
constant andN is t he speed of t he runner,
Henceu N
But H K u
u
2 and hence H u
Hence H N
i. e. H K N
1
, where K
1
is the proportionalit y const ant .
From definition of Unit speed, it is the speed of a t urbine when working
under unit head. Hence at H=1, N=N
u
. Substitut ing, we get
1
1
K N
u

H Nu N or
H
N
Nu -------------------------------- ------------------------------ (01)
Unit Discharge (Q
u
):
This is t he discharge through t he turbine working under a unit head
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
2
Consider t he Q as the discharge through a turbine. From discharge
continuit y equat ion, Q = a x V, where a is the cross-sectional area of flow
andV is t he mean flow velocit y.
For a given turbine, the cross-sectional area is const ant and hence Q V
But H g C V
v
2 and hence H V and hence H Q
i. e. , H K Q
2
whereK
2
is the proportionalit y const ant .
From definition of Unit discharge, it is the discharge through t he turbine
when working under unit head. Hence at H=1, Q=Q
u
. Substituting, we get
1
2
K Q
u

H Qu Q or
H
Q
Qu -------------------------------- ------------------------------- (02)
Unit Power (P
u
):
This is t he Power developed by t he turbine working under a unit head
Consider t he P as the power developed by the t urbine.
We know that t he efficiency of turbine is given by
H Q
P

Where is t he weight densit y of t he fluid/wat er passing through t he
turbine, Q is t he discharge through t he t urbine and H is t he head under
which the turbine is working. But efficiency of a turbine and weight
densit y of wat er are constants and hence, we can write
P Q H
From discharge continuit y equation, Q = a x V, where a is the cross-
sectional area of flow andV is t he mean flow velocit y.
For a given turbine, the cross-sectional area is const ant and henceQ V
But H g C V
v
2 and hence H V and hence H Q
Substit uting, we get
H H P or H H K P
3

whereK
3
is t he proportionalit y const ant.
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
3
From definition of Unit Power, it is the power developed by the turbine
when working under unit head. Hence at H=1, P=P
u
. Subst ituting, we get
1 1
3
K P
u

H H Pu P or
2
3
H
P
H H
P
Pu -------------------------------- ------------------- (03)
Unit Speed, Unit di scharge and Unit Power is definite charact eristics of a
turbine.
If for a given t urbine under heads H
1
, H
2
, H
3
, . t he corresponding speeds
are N
1
, N
2
, N
3
, , t he corresponding discharges are Q
1
, Q
2
, Q
3
, . and the
powers developed areP
1
, P
2
, P
3
, . Then
Unit speed =
3
3
2
2
1
1
H
N
H
N
H
N
N
u

Unit Discharge =
3
3
2
2
1
1
H
Q
H
Q
H
Q
Q
u

Unit Power =
2
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
1
or
H
P
H
P
H
P
P
H H
P
H H
P
H H
P
P
u u

Thus if speed, discharge and power developed by a turbine under a certain
head are known, the corresponding quantities for any other head can be
det ermined.
Specific Speed of a Turbine (N
s
)
The specific speed of a turbine is the speed at which the turbine will run
when developing unit power under a unit head. This is the t ype
charact eristics of a t urbine. For a set of geomet rically similar turbines the
specific speed will have t he same value.
Consider t heP as the power developed by the t urbine.
We know that t he efficiency of turbine is given by
H Q
P

Where is t he weight densit y of t he fluid/wat er passing through t he
turbine, Q is t he discharge through t he t urbine and H is t he head under
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
4
which the turbine is working. But efficiency of a turbine and weight
densit y of wat er are constants and hence, we can write
P Q H
Discharge is given by t he product of cross sect ional area of flow and t he
flow velocit y. Cross sectional area is d b and hence
Q = D b V
f
But H g C V
v
2 and hence H V
And H K u
u
2 and hence H u
Further, the peripheral velocit y is given by
60
N D
u

whereD is t he mean diamet er of t he runner.
From the above two equations of u, we can writ e t hat
b
D
b
D
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
5
H DN
or
N
H
D
But in turbines the width of flow area b is proportional t o the diamet er D.
HenceD b, with which
N
H
b
Hence H
N
H
N
H
P
or
2
2
5
N
H
P
or
P
H
K
P
H
N
2
5
2
5
2

Simplifying further
P
H
K N
4
5

But from the definition of specific speed, it is the speed of a turbine when
it is working under unit head developing unit power. Hence when H = 1
andP = 1. N = N
s
. Hence
s s
N K K N and
1
1
4
5
Substit uting we get
P
H
N N
s
4
5

or
4
5
H
P N
N
s

Examination questions
Dec/Jan 07
Define unit power, unit speed, unit discharge and specific speed wit h
reference t o hydraulic t urbines. Derive expressions for these t erms. (06)
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
6
July 06
Derive expressions for specific speed of a t urbine (06)
A turbine is to operate under a head of 25 m at 200 rpm. The discharge is
9 m
3
/s. If t he efficiency is 90 %, det ermine :
i) Power generat ed ii) Speed and Power at a head of 20 m. (07)
Jan 06
What is specific speed of a t urbine and explain its significance (04)
Jan 05
Define and derive an expression for specific speed of a t urbine, indicating
its significance. (08)
Define the terms unit power, unit speed and unit discharge with reference
to a hydraulic turbine. Also give the expressions for these t erms (06)
July 04
Define specific speed of a hydraulic t urbine. Derive an equation for
specific speed in terms of operating speed, power and head (08)
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
7
Dec/Jan 07
Suggest a suitable t ype of a t urbine to develop 7000 kW power under a
head of 20 m, while operating at 220 rpm. What are the considerations for
your suggestion? (04)
Soluti on:
P = 7000 kW; H = 20 m; N = 220 rpm.
We know that specific speed of a t urbine is given by
4
5
H
P N
N
s

Substit uting, we get
rpm 435
20
7000 220
4
5

s
N
As the specific speed is bet ween 300 and 1000, Kaplan turbine can be
suggest ed.
Jan 06
A turbine is to operate under a head of 25 m at 200 rpm. The discharge is
9 m
3
/s. If t he efficiency is 90%, det ermine t he performance of t he t urbine
under a head of 20 m (08)
Soluti on:
H
1
= 25 m; N
1
= 200 rpm; Q = 9 m
3
/s; = 0. 90, H
2
= 20 m; N
2
= ?; Q
2
= ?
P
1
= ?, P
2
= ?
We know that
H Q
P

25 9 1000 10
9 . 0

P
P
1
= 2025 kW
Further unit quantit ies are given by
Unit speed =
2
2
1
1
H
N
H
N
N
u

Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
8
Unit Discharge =
2
2
1
1
H
Q
H
Q
Q
u

Unit Power =
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
1
H
P
H
P
P
u

40
20 25
200
2

N
N
u
N
2
= 178. 9 rpm(Ans)
8 . 1
20 25
9
2

Q
Q
u
Q
2
= 8. 05 m
3
/s (Ans)
2 . 16
20 25
2025
2
3
2
2
3

P
P
u
P
2
= 1449 kW (Ans)
July 04
Suggest a suit able t ype of t urbine to develop 7500 kW of power under a
head of 25 m, while operating at 220 rpm. If the same turbine has t o work
under a head of 10 m, what power would develop? What would be t he new
speed? (12)
Soluti on:
P
1
= 7500 kW; H
1
= 25 m; N
1
= 220 rpm; H
2
= 10 ; P
2
= ? ; N
2
= ?
We know that specific speed of a t urbine is given by
4
5
H
P N
N
s

Substit uting, we get
rpm 8 . 340
25
7500 220
4
5

s
N
As the specific speed is bet ween 300 and 1000, Kaplan turbine can be
suggest ed.
Further unit quantit ies are given by
Hydraulics and Hydraulic Machines
Dr. M. N. Shesha Prakash, Prof essor, J. N. N. Col l ege of Engi neeri ng, Shi moga
9
Unit speed =
2
2
1
1
H
N
H
N
N
u

Unit Power =
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
1
H
P
H
P
P
u

44
10 25
220
2

N
N
u
N
2
= 139. 14 (Ans)
60
10 25
7500
2
3
2
2
3

P
P
u
P
2
= 1897. 4 kW (Ans)