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tomos sobre las ruedas hidraulicas. Las ruedas
hidraulicas que 61 describi6 se apartaban de las con-
vencionales debido a que tenian un eje vertical de
rotaci6n y a estar encerradas en una larga camara
cilindrica de un metro de digmetro, aproximada-
mente. Se administraban grandes contidades de agua
desde una esclusa ahusada tangente a la camara. El
agua entraba con una velocidad de rotaci6n con-
siderable. Esta rota&n previa, junta con el peso de1
agua encima de la rueda, era la fuerza impulsora. La
rueda original de cubes tenia unit eficiencia de ~610
15 a 20 por ciento.
El desarrollo de las turbinas hidraulicas prosiguid
en varios frenles durante el petiodo de 1750 a 1850.
La rueda hidraulica clasica de eje horizontal fue me-
jorada por ingenieros tales coma John Smeaton, de
Inglaterra (1724-92), que tambien desempefi6 un
papel importante en el desarrollo de 10s molinos de
viento, y el ingeniero franc& J.V. Poncelet
(1788-1867). Esto result6 en ruedas hidrauiicas que
tenian eficiencias de 60 a 70 por ciento. Al propio
tiempo, varios investigadores estaban considerando el
uso de turbinas de reacci6n (algo parecidas a 10s
modernos aspersores de jardm). El gran matematico
suizo, Leonhard Euler (1707-83), investig6 la teotia
de la operaci6n de esto dispositivos. En 1807, Man-
noury de Ectot (1777-1822) introdujo en Francis una
aplicaci6n practica de1 concepto. SW maquinas wan,
en efecto, un aparaio de flujo radial hacia el exterior.
Los analisis te6ricos de Burdin (1790-1893), profesor
franc& de ingenieria de minas, contribuyeron
grandemente a aumentar nuestra comprensi6n de 10s
principios de la operaci6n de las turbinas jr
subrayaron 10s requisitos principales de entrada y
salida libre de choques con una velocidad minima
coma necesidad fundamental para una elevada efi-
ciencia. Un discipulo de Burdin, Benoit Foureyron,
fue responsable de llevar la teoria de su maestro a la
practica. Su labor condujo al desarrollo de turbinas
de alta velocidad con eficiencias superiores a 80 por
ciento. Los trabajos iniciales de Fourneyron
resultaron en varias aplicaciones practicas y en el
otorgamiento de1 codiciado premio de 6000 francos
en 1833. Despues de casi un siglo de desarrollo, la
rueda de cubes de Belidor habia sido mejorada
oficialmente.
Fourneyron emple6 10s aiios restantes de su vida
desarrollando unas 100 turbinas en Fran& y
Europa. Algunas turbinas llegaron incluso a E&ados
Unidos, la primera de ellas alrededor de 1843, Las
turbinas Fourneyron e&ban concebidas para toda
una serie de condiciones; caidas de hasta 114 met, OS
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and being enclosed in a long cylindrical chamber
approximately one meter in diameter. Large
quantities of water were supplied from a tapered
sluice at a tangent to the chamber. The water
entered with considerable rotationat velocity.
This pre-swirl, combined with the weight of water
above the wheel, was the driving force. The
original tub wheel had an efficiency of only 15
percent to 20 percent.
Water turbine development proceeded on
several fronts during the period 1750 to 1850. The
classical horizontal axis water wheel was im-
proved by such engineers as John Smeaton of
England (1724-92), who also played an important
role in windmill development, and the French
engineer J. V. Poncelet (1788-1867). This resulted
in water wheels having efficiencies in the range
of 60 percent to 70 percent. At the same time,
reaction turbines (somewhat akin to the modern
lawn sprinkler) were being considered by several
workers. The great Swiss mathematician,
L.eonhard Euler (1707-$3), inestigated the theory
of operation of these devices. A practical appiica-
tion of the concept was introduced in France in
1807 by Mannoury de Ectot (1777-1822). His
machines were- in effect, a radial outward flow
machine. The theoretical analyses of Burdin
(1790-1893), a French professor of mining
engineering, contributed much to our understan-
ding of the principles of turbine operation and
underscored the principle requirements of shock
free entry and exit with minimum velocity as the
basic requirements for high efficiency. A student
of Burdin, Benoit Foureyron, was responsible for
putting his teacher’s theory to practical use. His
work led to the development of high-speed tur-
bines with efficiencies in excess of 80 percent.
The early work of Fourneyron resulted in several
practical applications and the winning of the
coveted 6,000 franc prize in 1833. After nearly a
century of development, Belidor’s tub wheel had
been officially improved.
Fourneyron spent the remaining years of his
life developing some 100 turbines in France and
Europe. Some turbines even found their way to
the U.S.; the first in about 1843. The Fourneyron
turbines were designed for a wide range of condi-
tions; heads as high as 114 maters and speeds
as high as 2300 rpm. Very low head turbines were
also designed and built.
As successfui as the Fourneyron turbines
were, they lacked flexibility and were only effi-