Francis turbine
Turbina Francis
- Date
- 1848 · confidence high
- Place
- Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
- Credited to
- James B. Francis
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
As chief engineer of the Locks and Canals company, Francis applied mathematical and graphical methods to redesign existing water turbines for much higher efficiency, tailoring the design to each site's flow and head. His mixed-flow turbine became the most widely used type for generating hydroelectric power.
The name "Francis turbine" became widespread around 1920, decades after its original development.
What it led to
- Standardization of water turbine design
- Large-scale hydroelectric power plants