A Hydraulic turbine converts the Potential energy of water into Mechanical energy which is used to run an electric generator to produce electric energy. The various Hydraulic turbines are as follows
Impulse turbine: The energy transfer occurs due to purely impulse action. Equally spaced double hemispherical buckets are mounted at the periphery of a rotor. Water from nozzle strikes the buckets at very high speed thus converting the potential energy into kinetic energy before the jet strikes the buckets. The jet hits the splitter so that it is equally distributed into two halves of bucket. Example of this type of turbine is Pelton wheel.
Reaction turbine: The rotor of turbine consists of Rotor blades (stationary) and guide blades (moveable or adjustable) mounted on it. When the water flows through stationary parts of the turbine the pressure energy is not completely transferred to kinetic energy. When the water flows through the moving parts, both the pressure and velocity of water get changed. The runner of turbine utilizes both potential and kinetic energy. Examples – Francis turbine and Kaplan turbine.