Determination of Performance of Kaplan Turbine

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BACKGROUND

Kaplan reaction turbine is the axial flow turbine which was developed by Austrian professor Victor Kaplan in 1913. Kaplan turbine is used for the low head application, which was not possible with the Francis turbine. All the Kaplan type are hydraulic turbine in which the runner blades and the wicket gates are positioned in such a way that it becomes adjustable for the changing load.

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These are high discharge turbines in which the water rotates perpendicularly to the guide vanes and runner. However, the water in the turbine flows parallel to the shaft. This turbine can provide high efficiency of about 94% under no load condition and up to 15-20% in the overload condition.¹

A Kaplan turbine consists of the penstock, a spiral or scroll casing, guide mechanism, runner and draft tube. The runner of this turbine has four blades which can rotate about its axis to adjust the angle of inclination during the motion of the turbine.²

However, the experimental set-up differs from the actual set-up, and its main parts are centrifugal pump set e unit, sump tank, and a notch. These all parts are arranged together to make the whole unit work on re-circulating water systems.

The main objective of this experiment is to study the performance of the Kaplan turbine.

REQUIREMENTS

Apparatus:

Kaplan Turbine Test Rig

Ammeter

Voltmeter

PROCEDURE

First of all, connect the panel to an electrical source, and set the direction of the pump in the clockwise direction from the shaft end. The direction can be fixed by momentarily giving a start to the pump. Now, fill the sump tank with filtered clear water, and discharge it up to the flow channel level.

Ensure to keep the butterfly valve of a pump in partially closed and the runner blade in a fully open position. Now, start the pump by gradually opening the valve to achieve a voltage of 220 V, and wait for the turbine speed and the generated voltage to be constant. After this, open all the manometer’s valve to the fully, and partially open the orifice meter’s valve. This action will release the trapped air, and hence, you can observe the water readings.

Also, read the manometer’s mercury level difference to obtain discharge by closing both the air vent simultaneously. With turning ‘ON’ both the electric load switches, maintain the turbine’s speed in respect to 220 V on the panel voltmeter. Increase the load by consecutively switching ON the load switches step by step such that the turbine’s voltage remains constant to 220 V.

After this, note down the voltmeter, ammeter, pressure gauge and manometer readings in every single step. By turning ‘OFF’ the load switches in every step, bring the turbine to no load condition. After this, change the turbine runner position and repeat the whole procedure for this position. Now, tabulate all the readings and calculate the desired output after bringing the turbine to no load condition and stopping the pump.

Determination of Performance of Kaplan Turbine

CONCLUSION

The study of the performance of Kaplan turbine for different turbine loads has been discussed. For this experiment, ensure to install the equipment close to a 3 phase 440 volts, 50 Hz, 20 Amp. Power source.

REFERENCES

O. Y. Y. M. A. H. S. A.H. Elbatran, “Operation, performance and economic analysis of low head micro-hydropower turbines for rural and remote areas: A review,” Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 40-50, 2015.
T. J. C. G. R. P. M. C. R. Zhiqun Deng, “Evaluation of blade-strike models for estimating the biological performance of Kaplan turbines,” Ecological Modelling, vol. 208, no. 2-4, pp. 165-176, 2007.

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