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Mechanics of Fluids

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Substituting for �vw from eqn 13.1 and putting R1 = v1 − u gives<br />

ηw = 2u(v1 − u)(1 − k cos θ)<br />

v 2 1<br />

(13.2)<br />

which, if k is assumed constant, is a maximum when u/v1 = 1<br />

2 .<br />

The wheel efficiency represents the effectiveness <strong>of</strong> the wheel in converting<br />

the kinetic energy <strong>of</strong> the jet into mechanical energy <strong>of</strong> rotation. Not<br />

all this energy <strong>of</strong> rotation is available at the output shaft <strong>of</strong> the machine,<br />

because some is consumed in overcoming friction in the bearings and some<br />

in overcoming the windage, that is the friction between the wheel and the<br />

atmosphere in which it rotates. In addition to these losses there is a loss<br />

in the nozzle (which is why Cv is less than unity). The overall efficiency<br />

is therefore less than the wheel efficiency. Even so, an overall efficiency <strong>of</strong><br />

85–90% may usually be achieved in large machines. Moreover, as the losses<br />

due to bearing friction and windage increase rapidly with speed, the peak <strong>of</strong><br />

overall efficiency occurs when the ratio u/v1 (<strong>of</strong>ten termed the speed ratio)<br />

is slightly less than the value <strong>of</strong> 0.5; the figure usually obtained in practice is<br />

about 0.46.<br />

Equation 13.2 indicates that a graph <strong>of</strong> efficiency against bucket velocity<br />

is parabolic in form, as illustrated in Fig. 13.11.<br />

The foregoing analysis has been idealized in many respects. The behaviour<br />

<strong>of</strong> the fluid is not strictly steady since, as the buckets successively come into<br />

the jet, conditions on any one bucket are varying with time. Also there<br />

is <strong>of</strong>ten considerable scattering and splashing <strong>of</strong> the fluid on leaving the<br />

buckets. This simplified analysis, however, does show the essential features<br />

<strong>of</strong> the functioning <strong>of</strong> this type <strong>of</strong> turbine.<br />

A Pelton wheel is almost invariably used to drive an electrical generator<br />

mounted on the same shaft. It is designed to operate at the conditions <strong>of</strong><br />

maximum efficiency, and the governing <strong>of</strong> the machine must be such as<br />

to allow the efficiency to be maintained even when the power demand at<br />

the shaft varies. No variation <strong>of</strong> the angular velocity, and hence <strong>of</strong> bucket<br />

Fig. 13.11<br />

Turbines 603

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