UNIVERSTY OF DAR ES SALAAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION
ENGINEERING

WR 211
PRACTICAL NO. 2 IMPACT OF A JET
PRACTICAL DATE: 20TH NOV 2014
STUDENT NAME : GOHAR, IMRAN
REG# NUMBER : 2013-04-02176
YEAR OF STUDY :
DEPARTMENT
ENGINEERING

2014/2015

: WATER RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION
Water turbines are widely used throughout the world to generate
power. In the type of water turbines referred to as a Pelton wheel, one
or more water jets are directed tangentially on to vanes or buckets that
are fastened to the rims of the turbine disc. The impact of the water on
the vanes generates a torque on the wheel, causing it to rotate and to
develop power. Although the concept is essentially simple, such
turbines can generate considerable output at high efficiency. Powers in
excess of 100 MW, and hydraulic efficiencies greater than 95% are not
uncommon. It may be noted that the Pelton wheel is best suited to
conditions where the available head of water is greater and the rate is
comparative small. For example, with a head of 100m and a flow rate
of 1m3/s, a Pelton wheel running at some 250rev/min could be used to
develop about 900kW. The same water power would be available if the
head were 10m3/s, but a different type of turbine would then be
needed.
To predict the amount Pelton wheel, and to determine its optimum
rotational speed, we need to understand how the deflection of the jet
generates a force on the bucket and how the force is related to the
rate of momentum flow in the jet. In this experiment, we measure the
force generated by the jet of water striking a flat plate and a
hemispherical cup, and compare the results with the computed
momentum flow rate in the jet.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment was to measure force exerted by a jet
of water which impinges on a flat plate and curved cup with the value
of that deduced from momentum theory.
PROCEDURES
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

The apparatus was leveled and the level arm adjusted to the
balanced position with the jockey weight at its zero position.
The pump was switched on and the flow rate adjusted to
maximum value.
The jockey weight position was adjusted on the level arm.
The discharge, Q was measured using a volumetric tank.
Steps (iii) and (iv) were repeated for a number of reducing flow
rates.

vi.

The experiment was repeated with the hemispherical cup

installed in the apparatus.

APPARATUS
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Flat plate
Curved cup
Water jockey
Water tank
Stop watch

DATA ANALYSIS
Data Sheet
Nozzle diameter, d = 10mm = 0.01m

Nozzle area, A = 7.85 10-5 m2

Height of impact point above nozzle tip, s = 35mm
Movable mass, M = 0.6kg
Distance from pivot to jet centre line, L = 150mm
Flat plate
Volume, (L)

Time (sec)

Discharge, Q
(m3/sec)*10-3

Jockey weight
distance, y (m)

11.95

0.418

0.075

11.60

0.431

0.067

12.72

0.393

0.055

13.72

0.364

0.049

17.13

0.

0.029

292
5

27.13

0.184

0.009

68.14

0.073

0.001

From Continuity equation;

Hemispherical cup
Volume, (L)

Time (sec)

Discharge, Q
(m3/sec)*10-3

10.
5

68
5

Jockey weight
distance, y (m)
0.139

.468
11.85

0.132
0.422

0.127
11.48

0.436
13.49

0.086
0.371

15.54

0.322

0.069

26.07

0.192

0.049

25.90

0.193

0.031

32.62

0.153

0.018

From Continuity equation;

Table of results

Flat Plate

Discharge, Q
(m3/s)
0.000418
0.000431
0.000393
0.000364
0.000292
0.000184
0.000073

Exit
velocity,
u = Q/A
(m/s)

Impact velocity,
(Newtons)

Fx
Theoretically
= Qv
(Newtons)

2.94
2.63
2.16
1.9
1.14
0.353
0.039

2.199
2.336
1.94
1.66
1.06
0.403
0.0307

(m/s)
5.32
5.49
5.01
4.64
3.72
2.34
0.93

5.26
5.42
4.94
4.57
3.63
2.19
0.42

Hemispherical Cup

Discharge, Q
(m3/s)
0.000468
0.000422
0.000436
0.000371
0.000322
0.000192
0.000193
0.000153

Exit
velocit
y, u =
Q/A
(m/s)

Impact
velocity,

Fx
Theoretically
= 2Qv
(Newtons)

(Newtons)

(m/s)
5.96
5.38
5.5
4.73
4.10
2.44
2.45
1.94

5.90
5.32
5.44
4.66
4.02
2.29
2.31
1.75

5.45
5.18
4.98
3.37
2.71
1.92
1.22
0.71

From the above table, the values of force determined theoretically differ from
those obtained from the experiment for both the flat plate and hemispherical
cup. This may be due to the so many assumptions utilized when working the
theoretical value and also due to accuracy while carrying the experiment.

5.52
4.49
4.74
3.46
2.59
0.88
0.89
0.54

THE GRAPH OF FORCE EXPERIMENTALLY TO FORCE THEORETICALLY

FOR FLAT PLATE

THE GRAPH OF FORCE EXPERIMENTALLY TO FORCE THEORETICALLY

FOR A HEMISPHERICAL CUP

SOURCES OF ERRORS

i.
ii.
iii.

Errors due to parallax

Errors due to starting and stopping the stopwatch.
Vibration of the surge tank when closing and opening valves causing
variation of levels.

RECOMMENDATIONS
i.
ii.

The number of students per one setup should not exceed 8 for
effective carrying out of the experiment.
The apparatus should be regularly checked for better results.