A hydraulic turbine is a machine which converts the hydraulic energy into mechanical energy. The hydraulic turbines are also known as water turbines. Following two types of hydraulic turbines are important.

1.     Impulse turbine

2.     Reaction turbine

In an impulse turbine, the total energy at the inlet of a turbine is only kinetic energy. The pressure of water both at entering and leaving the vanes is atmospheric. It is used for high head of water. A Pelton wheel is a tangential flow impulse turbine.

In a reaction turbine, the total energy at the inlet of a turbine is kinetic energy as well as pressure energy. It is used for low head of water. The Francis and Kaplan turbines are inward flow and axial flow reaction turbines respectively.