typesPelton

The Pelton turbine, or Pelton wheel, is an impulse hydraulic turbine used to convert the energy of high-velocity water jets into mechanical power. It is well suited to high-head, low-flow applications, where the jet’s momentum is transferred to buckets mounted around a wheel with minimal change in fluid pressure.

Types by jet configuration: Single-jet Pelton uses one nozzle to drive the runner, while multi-jet Pelton employs several nozzles arranged around the wheel to increase power and provide operation across a range of heads. Multi-jet designs allow more compact layouts for large installations and can improve control of flow and efficiency.

Bucket geometry and energy capture: The buckets (cups) on the Pelton wheel are typically double-curved to split and deflect the incoming jet nearly backward. Variants include standard Pelton buckets and splitter or multi-pocket designs, which are optimized to reduce flow pulsations, improve energy capture at varying loads, and withstand wear from high-velocity water.

Mounting and operation: Pelton turbines are commonly built with vertical shafts, though horizontal configurations exist for smaller or specialized plants. They operate as impulse machines with flow controlled by valves and wicket gates, often guided by a governor. Efficiency can be high when operated near design head and flow, commonly approaching or exceeding 90% under favorable conditions.

Scale and materials: Ranging from micro-turbines for distributed generation to large utility-scale units, Pelton runners are typically made of alloy steel, bronze, or stainless steel to balance strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. The technology remains favored for very high-head sites where other turbine types are less practical.