What is Francis turbine?

A Francis turbine is a reaction-type turbine. It combines radial and axial flow principles to extract energy from water. The turbine's primary use is in hydropower generation, where water flows through the turbine blades, causing them to spin. This spinning motion drives a generator, producing electricity.

A Francis turbine efficiently converts water flow into mechanical energy, commonly used in hydroelectric power plants. Similarly, Bajaj Finserv’s electricity bill payment platform, Bajaj Pay, streamlines the management of your energy usage, ensuring that paying for your power is as efficient as harnessing it, with a simple and hassle-free way to keep your electricity costs under control.

The Francis turbine has two main parts: the runner (the rotating component with blades) and the casing (which directs water flow). Water enters the turbine, spins the runner blades, and exits through the draft tube. This process ensures minimal energy loss.

The versatility of Francis turbines allows them to work in various water flow conditions, making them a favourite choice for electricity generation in India.

Construction of Francis turbine

The Francis turbine has a sturdy construction to handle varying water pressures effectively:

• Runner: the core part with blades, converting water energy to rotational energy.
• Spiral casing: guides water efficiently towards the runner.
• Guide vanes: control water flow to maintain optimal efficiency.
• Draft tube: expels water and maintains pressure balance.

Each part ensures smooth energy conversion, making this turbine effective for electricity production.

Working principle of Francis turbine

The Francis turbine works using water's kinetic and potential energy. Here's how:

• Water entry: water flows into the spiral casing.
• Guide vanes action: the vanes direct water to the runner blades.
• Energy conversion: the water's energy spins the blades, driving the generator.
• Water exit: water exits through the draft tube with reduced energy.

This efficient process maximises energy output while minimising wastage.

Design and components of Francis turbine

Component	Function
Spiral casing	Distributes water evenly
Runner blades	Converts water energy to mechanical power
Guide vanes	Direct and control water flow
Draft tube	Ensures smooth water exit

Types of Francis turbine

• Horizontal Francis turbine: best for small-scale applications.
• Vertical Francis turbine: common in large-scale hydropower projects.
• Open-flume Francis turbine: used for low-head power plants.

Efficiency of Francis turbine

Francis turbines achieve high efficiency, ranging from 90-95%. Their design ensures maximum energy extraction. Proper maintenance and optimised water flow further enhance performance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• High efficiency at variable water heads.
• Compact design, requiring less space.
• Reliable for large-scale power generation.

Disadvantages:

• High initial cost.
• Requires skilled maintenance.

Applications of Francis turbine

• Hydropower plants.
• Industrial power supply.
• Pump storage systems.

Francis turbine vs Kaplan turbine

Feature	Francis turbine	Kaplan turbine
Flow type	Radial and axial	Axial
Efficiency	90-95%	85-90%
Water head range	Medium to high	Low to medium
Application	Large-scale hydropower	Small-scale hydropower

Key terminologies related to Francis turbine

• Runner blades: moving blades converting water energy.
• Guide vanes: direct water flow into the runner.
• Draft tube: allows smooth water exit.
• Water head: height difference affecting energy output.

Conclusion

The Francis turbine is a cornerstone of energy production, driving power generation across the globe. Its efficient design and adaptability make it a top choice for hydropower plants. Using services like bajaj pay ensures seamless electricity bill management.