Efficiency Evaluation and Vibration Analysis of Small Pelton Turbines

The paper presents the experimental analysis of the operating parameters for four 4 MW units of a high head hydro power plant equipped with Pelton turbines. For the efficiency analysis, the discharge Q, the head H and the electrical power output P
_G
are measured. The vibrations in the shaft bearings and in the casing of the units during normal regime are also presented. The measurements are carried out for each turbine in single operation. The different operational regimes of the hydro unit are obtained by varying the power output, P
_G
. The experimental results are presented as relative efficiency curves corresponding to one value of the turbine net head considered as reference value, for each turbine. Using the vibration measurements time-domain and frequency domain analyses are carried out.