Reaction turbines use fluid pressure to spin a rotor and generate electricity. There are three main types: helix, kinetic, and Francis. Kinetic turbines use flowing water to generate electricity and require no additional infrastructure.
A reaction turbine is a rotating engine that harnesses energy from fluids using Newton’s third law of motion, which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The reaction turbine is designed to allow pressurized fluid flows to spin the rotor. Usually, the fluid nozzles are attached to the rotor and face away from the direction of rotation. As the fluid leaves the nozzle, the resulting reaction force spins the rotor. The system takes advantage of the change in water pressure as it flows through the turbine.
Most reaction turbines generate electricity. Many even feed that electricity into the power grid. There are three main types of reaction turbines: helix, kinetic and Francis.
A propeller reaction turbine generally consists of a propeller, with three to six blades, located in a tube. The water flow is controlled by gate valves located upstream of the propeller. Most propeller-driven jet turbine models feature fixed doors, while some models, including the Kaplan jet turbine, feature adjustable doors and rotor blades. The Kaplan turbine is typically used in specialized scenarios that require fine tuning of the blades for efficient power generation.
Other types of propeller-driven reaction turbines include the bulb turbine, which typically consists of a turbine and generator operating in the stream of water. The straflo turbine is similar, except that the generator is placed outside the turbine. A tube turbine has a direct connection to the generator.
The Francis reaction turbine was invented by James B. Francis in 1848. It can be implemented either horizontally or vertically, depending on the application. Typically, there are two wetted stages in the Francis reaction turbine. As water enters the top of the turbine and as water empties out of the bottom of the turbine, energy is transferred, thereby driving the turbine into motion. Generally, a Francis reaction turbine consists of a runner, several guide vanes, a downtube, wicket gates, and draft tube.
Kinetic reaction turbines use kinetic energy in flowing water, rather than potential energy, to generate electricity. Typically, these turbines are placed in rivers, tidal waters, or ocean currents to take advantage of the natural flow of water. They require no additional infrastructure to operate, thus reducing the potential impact on the environment. The speed of the water flow determines the specifications of the kinetic turbine. Periods of floods and droughts typically must be considered before a person implements a kinetic turbine system.
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