Hydraulic Turbines, with a Chapter on Centrifugal Pumps

The design of hydraulic turbines is a highly specialized industry, requiring considerable empirical knowledge which can be learned only through experience; but it is a subject in which comparatively few men are interested as a relatively small number are called upon to design turbines. But with the increasing use of waterpower many men will find it necessary to be familiar with the construction of turbines, understand their characteristics, and be able to make an intelligent selection of a type and size of turbine for any given set of conditions. To this latter class this book is largely directed. However, a clear understanding of the theory, as here presented, ought to be of interest to many designers, as it is desirable that American designs be based more upon a mathematical analysis, as in Europe, and less upon the old cut and try methods. The broad problem of the development of waterpower is treated in a very general way so that the reader may understand the conditions that bear upon the choice of a turbine. Thus, the very important items of stream gauging and rating, rainfall and runoff, storage, etc., are treated very briefly, the detailed study of these topics being left for other works. The purpose of the text is to give the following: a general idea of waterpower development and conditions affecting the turbine operation, a knowledge of the principal features of construction of modem turbines, an outline of the theory and the characteristics of the principal types, commercial constants, means of selection of type and size of turbine, cost of turbines and water power and comparison with cost of steam power. A chapter is also added on centrifugal pumps. It is hoped that the book may prove of value both to the student as a text and to the practicing engineer as a reference.