Francis turbines, sized from the duty point up

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What head range does a Francis turbine cover?

Francis runners work across roughly 20 to 700 m of net head, which makes them the default choice for most medium-head small hydro sites. Below about 25 m a Kaplan or bulb unit usually gives better efficiency, and above 400 m a Pelton often becomes more economical to build and maintain.

When is a double-runner Francis arrangement used?

Two runners mounted back to back on one shaft double the swallowing capacity without increasing runner diameter. That keeps rotational speed high enough for direct generator coupling and holds the powerhouse compact. It suits sites where flow is generous relative to head, as at Barra do Rio Chapéu.

Horizontal or vertical shaft?

Vertical units use less floor area and suit higher powers, so they dominate above roughly 5 MW per unit. Horizontal units put the runner, bearings and generator at floor level, which cuts civil cost and makes inspection far easier. For most units under 3 MW the horizontal layout wins.

What is supplied besides the turbine?

HACKER delivers the complete electromechanical package: runner, spiral case, distributor and draft tube, plus bearings, butterfly inlet valve, hydraulic power unit, speed governor and the generator through its KWM brand. Supplying one interface for the whole unit removes the coordination risk of splitting scopes.