The effect of nozzle angle on erosion and the performance of turgo impulse turbines

Turgo impulse turbines are designed for medium to high head hydro plants. Work has been carried out to study the effect of nozzle angle on erosion, as well as on the performance of a turgo impulse turbine in actual flow conditions. In this study, details of the design and dimensions of a turgo runner and blades for 1.2 kW power output are discussed. A sample of silt was collected from the Beas river, near the Pandoh dam, India. Silt particles passing through turbine components cause erosion to the surfaces which they come into contact with. Silt size, concentration, flow velocity, properties of materials and operating hours of the turbine play a significant role in the damage to components. This study showed that the nozzle angle affects the performance of turgo turbines as well as increasing the rate of wear.