Water turbines

Water turbine is an important component of a hydroelectric power plant. There exist different varieties like Pelton turbine, Francis turbine, Propeller and Kaplan turbine and smaller output turbines. Another name of Pelton turbine is Pelton wheel. Pelton turbine has horizontal shafts. It also consists of a nozzle with fine control mechanism, hydraulic brake, casing, buckets and runners. Francis turbine has a vertical shaft. The water flows radially inwards and leaves at the centre axially. Francis turbine has a scroll casing usually made of concrete, cast iron or welded steel plates. Some guide blades are fixed to casing which is termed as vertical guide vanes or wicket gates. An inner ring and a draft tube also required here. Variable pitch blades are used in Kaplan turbine. Kaplan turbines are of single runner vertical shaft type.