EFFECT OF RUNNER SOLIDITY ON LOSSES IN MIXED FLOW HYDRAULIC TURBINE

The flow through the turbine components is associated with energy losses and hence energy output from turbine is always less than the input energy. The global performance of turbine is characterized by its overall efficiency. The casing has spiral shape and hence has swirling flow and flow is subjected to frictional and vortex losses. The passage in stay ring and distributor has solid vanes and flow passes through the ducts between the vanes is subjected mostly frictional losses. Since runner is the most important component of mix ed flow turbine and its design i.e. the blade profile, number of blades plays vital role in overall performance of turbine at all operating regimes.