Turbines
Fluid Mechanics · FE Reference Handbook section
Handbook notes for this section
Definitions and conditions exactly as the handbook states them.
- Turbines produce power by extracting energy from a working fluid. The energy loss shows up as a decrease in fluid
- For an ideal gas with constant specific heats:
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
turbines in a hydroelectric powerhouse fed by a penstock Given turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.7000; specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,765 N/m^3; flow rate (Q) = 18.6000 m^3/s; net head (H) = 74.0000 m, determine the power output (P) in W.
Given
Find
power output (P), in W
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Turbines (hydraulic power output).
- Everything except P is given, so isolate P symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Turbines extract power from flowing water passing through a penstock under a net head.
Figure 1 — schematic for Turbines (hydraulic power output) — solve for power output — Turbines
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that P stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.7000, specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,765 N/m^3, flow rate (Q) = 18.6000 m^3/s, net head (H) = 74.0000 m.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning P = 9,408,382 W to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 18,816,764 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 4,704,191 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 10,349,220 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
a Kaplan turbine on a river diversion Given turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.7100; water density (\rho) = 998.0 kg/m^3; gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2; discharge (Q) = 40.0000 m^3/s; net head (H) = 38.5000 m, determine the power output (P) in W.
Given
Find
power output (P), in W
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Hydraulic turbine power output.
- Everything except P is given, so isolate P symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- A reaction turbine extracts power from flow under a net head at a dam outlet works.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for P:
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.7100, water density (\rho) = 998.0 kg/m^3, gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2, discharge (Q) = 40.0000 m^3/s, net head (H) = 38.5000 m.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning P = 10,704,801 W to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 21,409,603 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 5,352,401 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 11,775,282 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
turbines extracting energy from a dam's reservoir head Given turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.8000; specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,760 N/m^3; net head (H) = 83.0000 m; power output (P) = 435,300 W, determine the flow rate (Q) in m^3/s.
Given
Find
flow rate (Q), in m^3/s
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Turbines (hydraulic power output).
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Turbines extract power from flowing water passing through a penstock under a net head.
Figure 3 — schematic for Turbines (hydraulic power output) — solve for flow rate — Turbines (3)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.8000, specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,760 N/m^3, net head (H) = 83.0000 m, power output (P) = 435,300 W.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 0.6717\ \text{m^3/s}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 0.6717 m^3/s to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1.3434 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.3358 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 0.7389 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
a Pelton wheel fed by a penstock Given power output (P) = 2,881,508 W; turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.9100; water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3; gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2; net head (H) = 78.5000 m, determine the discharge (Q) in m^3/s.
Given
Find
discharge (Q), in m^3/s
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Hydraulic turbine power output.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- A reaction turbine extracts power from flow under a net head at a dam outlet works.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q:
Step 3 — List the givens: power output (P) = 2,881,508 W, turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.9100, water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3, gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2, net head (H) = 78.5000 m.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 4.1160\ \text{m^3/s}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 4.1160 m^3/s to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 8.2320 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 2.0580 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 4.5276 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
turbines used in a small run-of-river hydro plant Given turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.8000; specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,760 N/m^3; flow rate (Q) = 12.8000 m^3/s; power output (P) = 3,319,600 W, determine the net head (H) in m.
Given
Find
net head (H), in m
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Turbines (hydraulic power output).
- Everything except H is given, so isolate H symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Turbines extract power from flowing water passing through a penstock under a net head.
Figure 5 — schematic for Turbines (hydraulic power output) — solve for net head — Turbines (5)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that H stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.8000, specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,760 N/m^3, flow rate (Q) = 12.8000 m^3/s, power output (P) = 3,319,600 W.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning H = 33.2151 m to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 66.4303 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 16.6076 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 36.5366 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
a Francis turbine at a low-head dam Given power output (P) = 210,762 W; turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.8900; water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3; gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2; discharge (Q) = 24.5000 m^3/s, determine the net head (H) in m.
Given
Find
net head (H), in m
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Hydraulic turbine power output.
- Everything except H is given, so isolate H symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- A reaction turbine extracts power from flow under a net head at a dam outlet works.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for H:
Step 3 — List the givens: power output (P) = 210,762 W, turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.8900, water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3, gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2, discharge (Q) = 24.5000 m^3/s.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning H = 0.9863 m to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1.9726 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.4931 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1.0849 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
turbines in a hydroelectric powerhouse fed by a penstock Given turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.7400; specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,730 N/m^3; flow rate (Q) = 15.7000 m^3/s; net head (H) = 77.0000 m, determine the power output (P) in W.
Given
Find
power output (P), in W
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Turbines (hydraulic power output).
- Everything except P is given, so isolate P symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Turbines extract power from flowing water passing through a penstock under a net head.
Figure 7 — schematic for Turbines (hydraulic power output) — solve for power output (case 2) — Turbines (7)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that P stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.7400, specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,730 N/m^3, flow rate (Q) = 15.7000 m^3/s, net head (H) = 77.0000 m.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning P = 8,704,322 W to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 17,408,644 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 4,352,161 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 9,574,754 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
a Kaplan turbine on a river diversion Given turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.7800; water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3; gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2; discharge (Q) = 33.3000 m^3/s; net head (H) = 42.0000 m, determine the power output (P) in W.
Given
Find
power output (P), in W
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Hydraulic turbine power output.
- Everything except P is given, so isolate P symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- A reaction turbine extracts power from flow under a net head at a dam outlet works.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for P:
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.7800, water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3, gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2, discharge (Q) = 33.3000 m^3/s, net head (H) = 42.0000 m.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning P = 10,691,106 W to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 21,382,211 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 5,345,553 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 11,760,216 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
turbines extracting energy from a dam's reservoir head Given turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.7100; specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,775 N/m^3; net head (H) = 97.0000 m; power output (P) = 4,890,300 W, determine the flow rate (Q) in m^3/s.
Given
Find
flow rate (Q), in m^3/s
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Turbines (hydraulic power output).
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- Turbines extract power from flowing water passing through a penstock under a net head.
Figure 9 — schematic for Turbines (hydraulic power output) — solve for flow rate (case 2) — Turbines (9)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange the relation so that Q stands alone on the left-hand side.
Step 3 — List the givens: turbine efficiency (eta) = 0.7100, specific weight of water (gamma) = 9,775 N/m^3, net head (H) = 97.0000 m, power output (P) = 4,890,300 W.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values into the rearranged relation.
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 7.2642\ \text{m^3/s}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 7.2642 m^3/s to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 14.5284 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 3.6321 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 7.9906 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines
a Pelton wheel fed by a penstock Given power output (P) = 2,089,642 W; turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.7600; water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3; gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2; net head (H) = 86.0000 m, determine the discharge (Q) in m^3/s.
Given
Find
discharge (Q), in m^3/s
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Hydraulic turbine power output.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- A reaction turbine extracts power from flow under a net head at a dam outlet works.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q:
Step 3 — List the givens: power output (P) = 2,089,642 W, turbine efficiency (\eta) = 0.7600, water density (\rho) = 999.0 kg/m^3, gravitational acceleration (g) = 9.8100 m/s^2, net head (H) = 86.0000 m.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 3.2623\ \text{m^3/s}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 3.2623 m^3/s to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 6.5246 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 1.6312 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 3.5885 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Turbines