ABSTRACT
Hydraulic turbines convert the energy in falling and moving water, its potential and kinetic energy, to rotational mechanical power. In the example of a simplified hydropower system, as depicted in Figure 9.1, the forebay tank provides water to the inclined penstock pipe, which carries it down to a nozzle where it comes out as a jet. The nozzle transforms the potential energy of the column of water in the penstock pipe to kinetic energy conveyed by the high-velocity jet. This energy is transferred to the turbine runner when the jet of water hits its buckets and loses its kinetic energy in the process.
