Effect of the Bucket and Nozzle Dimension on the Performance of a Pelton Water Turbine

Pelton turbine is an engine that facilitates continuous power as a wheel or a rotor continually turns due to the pressure of fast moving water through the bucket, where a bucket receives water from the surging nozzle. The objective of this research is to investigate the highest efficiency among different types of Pelton turbine through the modification of bucket volume, bucket angle attack, nozzle needle seat ring, and nozzle needle tip. The experiment was conducted at Energy Conversion Laboratory of Sebelas Maret University. The comparative study among the different parameters shows that the value of maximum efficiency was 21.65%, which was obtained at 90° needle seat ring and 45° needle tip, and +15% bucket size and 92° angle of attack. It was gained likely due to the lightness of the +15% bucket compared to the standard bucket and the collision produced by the jet water in the middle of the bucket, in which the water loading occupied the large area on the surface of the bucket and promoted the increasing speed. It is expected that the result on the appropriate size and angle attack of bucket at specific nozzle seat ring and nozzle tip of this experiment can be manufactured commercially in the future for achieving maximum Pelton turbine efficiency.Â