3. Introduction
WHY WE NEED TO
TALK ABOUT PELTON WHEEL
MEGHANA'
The Pelton wheel turbine is one
impulse turbine
utilized for high heads of water
(greater than 300 meters)
Invented by an American Engineer,
Lester Allan Pelton.
In 2012, hydroelectric power plants
were responsible for producing about
16% of the total electricity around the
world.
5. WORKING OF
PELTON
WHEEL
The water stored at a high head is made to flow
through the penstock and reaches the nozzle of
the Pelton turbine.
The nozzle increases the K.E. of the water and
directs the water in the form of a jet.
The jet of water from the nozzle strikes the
buckets (vanes) of the runner. This made the
runner rotate at a very high speed.
The quantity of water striking the vanes or
buckets is controlled by the needle valve present
inside the nozzle.
The generator is attached to the shaft of the
runner which converts the mechanical energy of
the runner into electrical energy.
6. ADVANTAGES
It has a simple construction
It is easy to maintain
Intake and exhaust of water take place
at atmospheric pressure hence no draft
tube is required
No cavitation problem
Its overall efficiency is high
It can be both axial and radial flow
It can work on low discharge
DISAVANTAGES
It requires a high head for operation
Turbine size is generally large
Its efficiency decreases quickly with time
Due to the high head, it is very difficult to
control variations in the operating head
