Impulse Style Turbine Wheel: Pelton, Turgo & Crossflow Water

Depending on their water supply, hydropower power plants can choose between two categories of water turbines, an impulse or a reaction turbine. Impulse turbines are designed to operate under certain water properties, they achieve optimum efficiency operating under the conditions of a high head combined with a low quantity water flow Impulse turbines consists of curved cups or blades arranged lenghtwise and welded around a runner connected to a central hub. Nozzles are arranged at various locations around the circumference of the runner and these inject water onto the blades. The nozzles convert the potential energy of the water to kinetic energy, the water striking the cups or blades, causing an impulse which rotates the turbine.