Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Pelton turbine
References
Britannica AI Icon

Pelton turbine

Also known as: Pelton wheel
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

The Pelton turbine is a type of impulse turbine designed for high heads of water and low flow rates. Patented in 1889, its design features a jet of water striking curved buckets on the turbine's runner. Each bucket divides the water flow, directing it to leave the runner on both sides.1

Pelton wheels are efficient, with efficiencies exceeding 91 percent under optimal conditions. To increase power, multiple jets can be used, and flow rate is controlled by a spear or needle within the nozzle. To avoid destructive pressure surges when load decreases, deflectors can divert the jet temporarily while the needle closes slowly.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. turbine - Impulse turbines
  2. turbine - History of water turbine technology
  3. turbine - Cavitation
  4. turbine - Axial-flow machines

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.