--- title: "Grüß Gott, we're Erlach & Erlach. We proudly present the first ever up to Six Jets Horizontal Pelton Turbine." author: "Erlach & Erlach GmbH" event: "Viennahydro 2012 (Vienna Hydro Conference), first public presentation" presented: 2012-11-22 language: en original_pdf: https://www.erlach-erlach.com/downloads/2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf original_pages: 4 document_type: transcription transcription_checked: 2026-09-29 --- # Grüß Gott, we're Erlach & Erlach – leaflet for Viennahydro 2012 **Erlach & Erlach GmbH**, leaflet (four pages, A4) handed out at the first public presentation of the six-jet horizontal Pelton turbine, Vienna Hydro Conference, 22 November 2012. - Original PDF (4 pages): [2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf](2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf) - Full paper of the same presentation: [New Pelton Concept, full paper, Markdown](2012_Viennahydro_Erlach_New-Pelton-Concept_Full-Paper.md) - Context page: [Pelton turbine: System Erlach](/en/pelton-turbine/) > **About this file.** This is a transcription of the original PDF, not a summary. Wording and spelling follow the original. The leaflet has no printed page numbers; the markers **[PDF page N]** give the page index of the PDF file and link to that page (`#page=N`). Headings of the leaflet are set on yellow bars in the original. Parts of pages 1 and 4 are not stored as text in the PDF and were transcribed from the page image. Text in blocks marked **Editorial figure description** is added by Erlach & Erlach in 2026 and is not part of the original. The authoritative version is the PDF. --- **[[PDF page 1]](2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf#page=1)** **Grüß Gott, we′re Erlach & Erlach. We proudly present the first ever up to Six Jets Horizontal Pelton Turbine.** *First Public Presentation* *Vienna Hydro Conference* *November 22, 2012* **[[PDF page 2]](2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf#page=2)** ## Introducing the New Horizontal Pelton Design The new concept allows us for the first time to combine not only the advantages of a vertical turbine with those of a horizontal one, but also to incorporate further effects discovered and validated during testing: The new design offers: - Increase of power density by the factor of the number of additional nozzles - Cost reduction due to these factors: - \+ At given data (Q, H) a higher rotation speed can be selected; therefore, cost intensive components like the runner and generator can be reduced - \+ The general size of the unit can be reduced - \+ The construction of the building and cavern can be reduced - Higher performance, especially at full load - Flat turbine characteristic, therefore better annual year production **Fig. 1:** Configuration with conventional distributer (six jet nozzles) > **Editorial figure description (not part of the original):** Left: side view of a narrow housing on its foundation with the generator on the right. Right: front view; the inflow comes from the left through a valve and runs as a spiral pipe around the round housing. ## So, if the New Pelton Design is the solution, what was the problem in the first place? Spray water! **State of the art** Pelton turbines fit the nozzles in such a way that the main splash water outflow is directed downwards to the channel. Outflow from the buckets of the runner in upwards direction can reflect on the housing and partially hit the runner, causing a strong decrease of power output. To give enough time to dewater the buckets, the needed angle of the gap must be at least 60, or better 70–90 degrees. Turbines with one and two nozzles do meet these requirements. Machines with three nozzles already make unfavorable compromises between the hydraulic demand – the angle of the gap – and the configuration of the housing to avoid spray water interferences. More than three nozzles are currently not possible! **New concept:** This problem is solved with spray water rings, which are now strongly guiding the complete outflow. These rings are designed to prevent foam and residual splash water to hit the runner and reduce the power output. Now, the nozzles can be fitted in any desired gap angle, only following the optimal hydraulic demand of the runner. A three-nozzle turbine for example can have a gap angle of 120 instead of a less favorable 70 degrees, hence upgrading the efficiency. Horizontal turbines with up to six nozzles can now be realized. A conventional Pelton turbine in vertical or horizontal configuration needs a good aeration to support the runner and spray water ventilation. The new housing is now a closed system; therefore, the required air is greatly reduced, the complete spray water outflow is now visibly reduced in foam. With this closed system, we can even create a suction effect towards the outlet of the housing. **Fig. 2:** Cross-section of the New Pelton Design Labels in the figure (original): new housing · nozzle · jet · runner (buckets) · inner spray water ring · outer spray water ring > **Editorial figure description (not part of the original):** Vertical section through the housing with the horizontal shaft. A nozzle at the top directs the jet onto the runner buckets. Yellow circles highlight the new housing at the top right and the inner and outer spray water rings at the bottom left; dashed lines show the water being led between the rings and down along the housing walls. **[[PDF page 3]](2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf#page=3)** ## Taking horizontal a step further: Back to simplicity. Subsequently to being able to handle the spray water, another idea presented itself: To build an axial and standardized distributer with hydraulic identical nozzle feeding pipes. So the basic concept can be used with the conventional distributer, see Fig. 1, as well as with an axial distributer, see Fig. 3. **Fig. 3:** Configuration with axial distributer with up to six nozzles Label in the figure (original): gap angle 60° > **Editorial figure description (not part of the original):** Left: side view; the inflow comes from the left through a valve and a cone, curved pipes lead above and below the axis to the injectors at the housing, the generator stands on the right. Right: front view with six injectors around the runner; the angle between two neighbouring injectors is marked as gap angle 60°. ## When using the option of an axial distributer, we have these additional benefits: - Standard components can be used for the complete inflow arrangement – from the main closing device to the injectors - Weight reduction of about 20 % and welding reduction up to 50 %, compared to a six jet conventional distributer - Good for standardization and parametric design, easy to adapt to different runner diameters - The housing concept is created in such a way, that for all nozzle combinations (2 to 6), the basic configuration is the same - All nozzle inflow conditions are nearly equal; therefore, we have the same efficiency condition, independent of the active nozzle combination - Easier extension of the gap angle between the nozzles ## Now, who did all this? Josef Martin Erlach is the inventor of the new Pelton Design. He simply set out to make things simpler. He also filed all four patents that now have been granted. The hard work of reaching market maturity was executed by him, our company, many senior experts and our research development partner Voith Hydro. Full homologue tests on a certified test rig were successfully performed at the University of Luzern under surveillance of Professor Staubli. Voith Hydro has been the first to acquire a licence for the spray water ring as well as for the axial distributer. Many thanks go out to all of them for making this possible! *Dankeschön!* *And yes, we′re interested in finding new partners to take this project further. If you think about acquiring a patent license, give our Frankfurt office a call: +49(0)69-25492454* > **Editorial note:** Telephone number as printed in 2012. Current contact: hello@erlach-erlach.com. **[[PDF page 4]](2012_Viennahydro_Erlach-und-Erlach_Faltblatt.pdf#page=4)** ## 'This is it!' *Professor Eberhard Göde* Erlach & Erlach GmbH Frankfurt | Ravensburg