Our Products - Francis Turbines
Pictured Above: Francis turbine installed at Silent Valley
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Francis turbines are the most common turbines in use around the world today. They can range in power from 1KW to 820MW or 820000KW. Developed by James B. Francis in 1848, the Francis turbine is an evolution of earlier inward flow vortex designs.
Francis machines are generally considered to be medium head turbines 10-350m. The Francis is a reaction turbine which has an inward radial flow. The turbine consists of an inlet tube connected to a spiral casing. In the spiral casing water is directed through adjustable wicket gates onto the Francis runner blades causing it to spin. The whirl component of the motion of the water, therefore, imparts torque on the shaft of the machine. As water passes over the blades of the machine swirl is reduced. It then exits with virtually no swirl through the turbine draft tube. The draftube has a unique curved horn like shape which helps slow the water.