CHAPTER-05
FRANCIS TURBINE
SUB: FLUIDS MECHANICS &
MACHINERY
Prepared By:
Ms. Yewale A.N
Program :
Mechanical Engineering
Course:
Fluid Mechanics & Machinery
CO-Select various types of turbine under specified
condition.
Introduction
A turbine is a rotary mechanical device that
extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into
useful work.
Turbines are used in boat propulsion systems,
hydroelectric power generators, and jet aircraft
engines.
Basic Types of Turbine
Steam Turbine
Water Turbine
Wind Turbine
Types Based Energy Used
Impulse turbine : Only kinetic energy of water is
used to drive turbine.
Eg.Pelton Turbine
Reaction turbine : Kinetic energy as well as
Pressure energy of water is used to drive turbine.
Eg.Francis Turbine
Introduction
Francis turbines are the most common water
turbine in use today.
They operate in a water head from 10 to 650
meters (33 to 2,133 feet).
They are primarily used for electrical power
production.
The turbine powered generator power output
generally ranges from 10 to 750 megawatts
Sir James B. France
This turbine was invented by Sir James B.
France in Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Studying the Boyden turbine ,Francis was
able to redesign it to increase efficiency.
Boyden Turbine could achieve a 65 percent
efficiency.
So, James France redesigned this turbine
and new turbine with 88% efficiency was
invented.
This was known as ‘Francis turbine’.
The Boyden Turbine
Francis Turbine
It is an inward flow reaction turbine of
mixed flow type , in which ,water enters the
runner radially at its outer peripheri and
leaves axially at its centre.
The Francis Runner
Traditional runner X blade runner
The Francis Turbine
Working
Penstock: It is a large size conduit which conveys water from the upstream to the
dam/reservoir to the turbine runner.
Spiral Casing: It constitutes a closed passage whose cross-sectional area gradually
decreases along the flow direction; area is maximum at inlet and nearly zero at exit.
Guide Vanes: These vanes direct the water on to the runner at an angle appropriate to the
design, the motion of them is given by means of hand wheel or by a governor.
Governing Mechanism: It changes the position of the guide blades/vanes to affect a
variation in water flow rate, when the load conditions on the turbine change.
Runner and Runner Blades: The driving force on the runner is both due to impulse and
reaction effect. The number of runner blades usually varies between 16 to 24.
Draft Tube: It is gradually expanding tube which discharges water, passing through the
runner to the tail race.
Hydraulic efficiency varies between 85-90%.
Francis Turbine Power Plant : A Continuous Hydraulic System
Parts of A Francis Turbine
Water particle
Water from
spiral casing
R a d i a l v i e w
R guide
runner a d ivanes
a l v i stay
and e wvanes
runner guide vanes and stay vanes
Runner inlet
(Φ 0.870m)
Guide vane outlet for designα)
(Φ 0.913m)
Closed
Max. Opening
Position
Guide vanes
Operation of Guide Vanes
.
Guide vane at Design Guide vane at closed position
Position = 12.21°
Guide vane at Max. open
Position = 18°
Hydraulic efficiency of Francis Hydraulic System
V12 V32
h1 h3 hydraulic Losses
2g 2g
hydraulic
V12 V32
h1 h3
2g 2g
Advantages
It is a most widely used turbine in world (about 70-
80%).
Effective use of water pressure as well as velocity.
It is American standard turbine.
Very good efficiency(80-94%).
Disadvantages
Cost is High.
Due to its complex design and large number of
moving parts, maintenance and repair is difficult and
costly.
It is applicable to flow of medium head only.
Recent Advancements:
New types of designs are developed to reduce cost and
complexity of mechanism.
Modified turbine include Inline Linkless Francis
Turbine, Cross-flow Turbine,etc.
These new turbine require less space, simplified
designs, less moving parts, etc.
Thank You
