The Jonval turbine is a water turbine design invented in France in 1837 and introduced to the United States around 1850. It is a mixed-flow, horizontal turbine in which fixed curved guide vanes direct incoming water sideways onto curved vanes fixed to the runner, converting the flow's energy into rotation. Named for its inventor, Feu Jonval, the design suited the low-head sites common across America's eastern industrial districts, and its compact size, higher operating speed, greater power output, lower cost and ability to keep working through fluctuating water levels made it a popular replacement for the traditional vertical waterwheel in powering industrial machinery.
Facts
Technology TypeA horizontal mixed-flow water turbine that directs water through fixed curved guide vanes onto a curved-vane runner. 2 Invented Year Classification
MaturityTRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1 Sources
1. Jonval turbine - Wikipedia
Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25Quote, Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25
The Jonval turbine is a water turbine design invented in France in 1837 and introduced to the United States around 1850 and were widely used.
2. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Jonval turbine, opening paragraph
The Jonval turbine is a water turbine design invented in France in 1837
Wikipedia: Jonval turbine, mechanism paragraph
The water descends through fixed curved guide vanes which direct the flow sideways onto curved vanes on the runner.
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