Kaplan Turbine : Introduction,Application,Parts and its working.

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Kaplan Turbine 

kaplan turbine is a type of water turbine. it is a propeller type of turbine which blades are adjustable. It was developed by the Austrian professor Viktor Kaplan in 1913.  The Viktor Kaplan developed this turbine so it is known as Kaplan turbine. Kaplan turbine is an evolution of the Francis turbine. It is invented for efficient power production in low head application which was not possible in Francis turbine . The head range from 10 to 70 meter and the output range from 5 to 200 MW. Runner diameter are of this turbine is between 2 to 11 meters. This turbine is rotates at a constant rate, which varies from facility to facility. That the range from as low as 54.5 to 450 rpm.

Kaplan turbine works on the principal of axial flow reaction. In axial flow turbines, the water flow turbines , the water flows through the runner along the direction parallel to the axis of the rotation of the runner. the water was the inlet of the turbine possesses both kinetic as well as pressure energy for effective rotation the blades in a hydro power rotation.

Application 

  • The Kaplan turbine is used in power generation mostly electricity produced , where the water is available at low head and at higher flow rates.
  • Inexpensive micro turbine on the kaplan turbine model are manufactured for individual power production design from 3 m of head which can work with a little as 0.3 m head at a highly reduce performance provided sufficient water flow.
  • Large kaplan turbine are individually design for each site to operate at the highest possible efficiency upto 90%.

Parts of Kaplan Turbine

The main parts of kaplan turbine are as follows -
1. Scroll Casing:
It is a spiral type of casing that has decreasing cross section area.The water from the pen stock enter the scroll casing and moves according to the guide vanes, where the water turns through 90 degree and flows through the runner. 

2. Guide Vanes: 
It is the controlling parts of the whole turbine, which opens the closed depending upon the demand of the power requirement . In case of more power of requirement , it opens more wider to allow more water and when required low power output it closed itself to cease the flow of the water. If guide vanes is absent than the turbine can not work efficiently and its efficiency decreases.

3. Draft tube:
It is gradually expanding tube which discharge the water passing through the runner to the tailrace.
The water at exit can not be directly discharged to the tailrace. A tube or pipe is gradually is increasing area is used for discharging water from the exit of turbine to the tailrace. this tube of increasing is called draft tube. One end of draft tube is connected at outlet of the runner and the another end is submerged below the level of water in the tailrace.

4. Runner Blade:
The heart of the component in kaplan turbine are its runner blades. It is a rotating parts which helps in production of electricity.Its shaft is connected to the shaft of generator. the runner of this turbine has a large boss on which its blades are connected and the blade of the runner is adjustable to an optimum angle of attack for maximum power output.

Working of Kaplan Turbine

The water from the pen stock enter into the scroll casing. The water moves into the scroll casing and the guide vanes directs the water from the casing to the blade of the runner. the vanes are adjustable and can adjust itself according to the requirement of the flow rates.


When the water moves on the blades it starts rotating due to reaction forces of water. the blades of the kaplan turbine is also adjustable. from the runner blades , the water enter into the draft tube where its pressure and kinetic energy decreases. hence here the kinetic energy is gets converted into pressure energy results in increased pressure of the water.
Finally the water discharged to the tailrace. the rotation of the turbine is used to rotate the shaft of the generator for electricity production and some for mechanical works.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Kaplan Turbine:

Here the following some of advantages and disadvantage are as follows:
Advantages:
  • Kaplan turbine work more efficiently at low water head and high flow rates as compared with other types of turbines.
  • It is similar in size and easy to construct .
  • Kaplan turbine are widely used throughout the world for electric power generation.
  • The efficiency of kaplan turbine is very high as compare with other hydraulic turbines.
Disadvantages:
  • The main disadvantages of this turbine is Cavitation. Cavitation occurs due to pressure drop in the draft tube. Use of draft tube and proper material generally stainless steel for the runner blades may reduce the cavitation problem to a greater extent.
















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