How does a turgo turbine differ from a Pelton turbine?

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Rows of white wind turbines with spinning blades stand on a dry, grassy landscape at a wind farm near Tehachapi, California. — turbine Wind turbines near Tehachapi, California.

The Turgo turbine and the Pelton turbine are both types of impulse turbines, but they differ primarily in how the water jet interacts with the runner.1

Jet Angle and Flow: In a Pelton turbine, the water jet strikes the buckets tangentially. Each bucket features a high center ridge that splits the flow, causing it to exit the runner from both sides. In contrast, a Turgo turbine’s jet impinges on the runner at an oblique angle from one side, and the water continues in a single path, discharging out the other side.1
Operating Conditions: Pelton wheels are specifically designed for high-head applications, typically those exceeding 450 meters, with relatively low water flow rates. The Turgo turbine is generally utilized for medium-sized units operating under moderately high heads.1

Both designs rely on converting the potential energy of water into kinetic energy via a nozzle to drive the turbine runner.1