Water moves under pressure and pressure generates energy in a reaction water turbine

 

Water Turbine Market

A water turbine is a rotating machine that converts water's kinetic and potential energy into mechanical work. Prior to the development of electrical grids, water turbines were widely used for industrial power. They are now mostly used to generate electricity. Water turbines are commonly found in dams to generate electricity from the potential energy of water.

According to the Coherent Market Insights the Water Turbine Market Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2018-2026

For hundreds of years, water wheels have been used to generate industrial power. Their main disadvantage is their small size, which limits the flow rate and head that can be harnessed. The transition from water wheels to modern turbines took about a century. During the Industrial Revolution, scientific principles and methods were used to drive development. A water turbine is a device that converts the energy contained in water, either potential or kinetic energy, into mechanical or electrical energy.The reaction water turbine and the impulse water turbine are the two types of water turbines.

The combined action of pressure and moving water generates power in reaction water turbines. The turbine changes the pressure, velocity, and direction of the water as it flows through it. The flow of water creates pressure between the front and back of the blades, creating a reverse reaction force on the runner and thus forming rotation torque to rotate the runner. The energy contained in piped water is then converted into mechanical or electrical energy by these actions. To contain the water pressure, the reaction turbine must be completely enclosed, and the turbine must be fully submerged in the water flow. Reaction turbines are typically used for lower head and higher flow applications than impulse turbines. Reaction turbines are classified into four types: mixed flow, axial flow, oblique flow, and flow through. At the exit of the reaction turbine is an expansion section (the draught tube). The draught tube's function is to recover the kinetic energy of the flow at the runner's exit and convert it into pressure to recover it. The kinetic energy recovery of the draught tube has a significant impact on the turbine's efficiency.

The impulse turbine uses only kinetic energy from water. The velocity of a high-pressure water jet is altered by impulse turbines. Nozzles are used to convert the potential energy of high pressure water into kinetic energy before it reaches the turbine blades. There is no pressure change at the turbine blades, and the turbine does not require housing to operate. The turbine blades are pushed by the high-pressure water jet. The flow's direction is altered. The resulting change in momentum exerts a force on the turbine blades, causing the turbine to spin. Water is not required to fill the turbine chamber in impulse turbines. Water flows through the impulse turbine, losing all of its pressure.