Development of Water Turbines

Development of Water Turbines
Points : Development of Water Turbines, Definition The hydro power was available mostly in rural and mountainous regions. As a result of this, the mills directly run by water wheels, had to be installed near the power stations. The prime movers had to run round the clock, even if some of the machines in the mills may remain idle. It was also observed that the slow moving water wheels were not suitable for all types of purposes. Lot of research was conducted by numerous scientists and engineers all over the world, to improve the working of water wheels in the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result of this research, water turbines were designed, which can operate under high head (highest head 1765 meters in Austria) and can run at higher speeds.

After the first world war, there came the evolution in the use of the electric power. The use of electricity, for driving machines in industry, being very convenient to handle became very common. Side by side, with the mammoth research in electric power, high speed machines were designed. Due to rapid increase in the use of electric power, the transmission of electricity, from remote hydropower to the far off places, was considered necessary. Due to the above mentioned reasons, the water turbines occupied an important position among prime movers. Today, the water turbines are taken to be the backbone of electricity, which is considered to be one of the important factors for the prosperity of a nation.