
Pelton Turbine  113 
The 
peripheral velocity u 
of 
turbine wheel must remain constant as speed 
is 
constant. 
The 
velocity u and speed N are connected by the formula 
nON 
u=--
60 
where 0  is mean diameter 
of 
the wheel. 
u 
It 
is also desirable to run turbine at maximum efficiency and therefore speed ratio 
VI 
must remain same which means the 
jet 
velocity must not change as head available H is 
constant. The only way 
to 
adjust the load is to change hydraulic power input given by 
p= 
yQH 
As 
y, 
specific weight 
of 
water and H are constant, the only variable factor is Q volume 
flow rate 
of 
water entering the turbine. The flow rate Q is 
Q = Area 
of 
nozzle x velocity 
of 
jet 
Thus flow rate will change by changing the area 
of 
the 
jet 
or 
more closely the diameter 
of 
the 
jet. 
This is accomplished by a spear valve and deflector plate shown 
in 
Fig. 5.12. The 
spear alters the cross-sectioned area 
ofthe 
jet. 
The 
position 
of 
spear is controlled 
by 
a servo 
mechanism that senses the load change. For a sudden loss 
of 
load when the turbine is shut 
down, a deflector plate rises 
to 
remove the 
jet 
totally from the buckets and to allow time for 
the spear to move to new position. 
As seen 
in 
Fig. 5.12 for high load the spear valve has moved out, then increasing the area 
of 
the 
jet, 
at low loads the spear has moved in,  decreasing the area 
of 
the 
jet. 
Deflector 
plate in normal position and fully deflected 
jet 
are also seen 
in 
the figures. 
Spear valve 
Flow 
-.-(=. 
--i 
~~:~ 
-_ 
... 
---
-.--
i  V 
High load 
Low load 
Fig 5.12 Load control 
by 
spear valve and deflector plate.