Impulse Turbines are bidirectional turbines used in hydro power and ocean power applications. Impulse turbines convert the kinetic energy of moving water, firstly into mechanical energy and secondly into electrical energy using an electrical generator. Impulse turbines use buckets or paddles plus one or more water jets directed at these buckets as they rotate. The water flows over the turbine blades at atmospheric pressure so is generally suited for high head, low flow applications.
Turgo turbine designs are classed as impulse turbines that generates power from a high velocity jet of water. Turbine selection is a critical part of any small scale hydro scheme and there are plenty to choose from. Turgo turbines are well suited to low head run-of-river schemes which have large flow variations. As an impulse turbine, theTurgo design uses jets of water aimed at its runners to deliver the water pressure required for rotation. The efficiency of aTurgo turbine depends on the number of nozzle jets, runner design and effectiveness of water discharge
Cross flow turbines are is the cheapest and easiest hydro turbine available and so are commonly used in small scale hydro schemes were reducing cost is important. One of the major disadvantages of practical cross flow turbines is their lower performance and efficiency compared to other hydro turbine designs such as Pelton and Francis turbines. The turbine is the major component of any hydropower scheme so improving its efficiency in terms of power extraction from the available head and flow of water as well as its cost is clear. Cross flow turbines use stationary nozzles which direct water onto a rotating runner so nozzle design and runner performance are key
Tidal energy generation is electrical power generation from marine tidal currents and flow. The tidal currents flowing around our oceans and seas have long being recognized as a reliable resource which can be used and exploited for the sustainable generation of electric power. The oceans and seas around the earth have long been seen as a vast renewable energy resource. The energy stored in the oceans is partly thermal energy from solar heating, partly kinetic energy from the waves and currents, as well as the range of chemical and biological products present. Numerous technologies and systems for capturing or extracting the tidal energy from the oceans are wide and varied
Efficiency is a critical consideration in the design of hydro turbines so they range from one’s which use curved or flat blades to some which are shaped like small buckets. A hydraulic turbine is the main component of any hydropower system so choosing the right turbine for the job is important. Power generation from hydraulic turbines depends on the availablity of water head, penstock design, water velocity and the number of jet nozzles directing water to the water turbines blades or buckets. Typical water turbine designs have names of Pelton, Francis and Kaplan turbines after their designers.
