The Francis Turbine is a type of reaction turbine developed by Sir J.B. Francis, an American engineer originally from England. In this turbine, water enters the runner from the outer edge in a radial direction and exits in an axial direction, which is why it’s called a mixed flow turbine. As water flows through the runner, some of its pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy, and the water remains under pressure throughout its passage. The runner is fully enclosed in a water filled, airtight casing.

In the current setup, a centrifugal pump supplies water to the turbine, which flows radially into the runner. The runner is attached to one end of a stainless-steel shaft, while the other end is connected to a brake system. A transparent acrylic window is built into the turbine casing, allowing users to observe how water flows over the runner. The runner assembly is mounted on a sturdy cast iron base for support. A brake system applies load to the turbine, allowing its efficiency to be measured. A draught tube is connected at the turbine's outlet, and the setup includes a guide mechanism. Pressure and vacuum gauges are installed at the inlet and outlet to measure the total head supplied to the turbine.

Experimental Objective

·        Study the construction and operation of the Francis Turbine.

·        Determine the constant head characteristics curve.

·        Determine the constant speed characteristics curve.

·        Determine the constant efficiency curve.

 Water Supply and Drain.

 Electricity 15 kW, 440V Ac, Three Phase

Specifications