STEAM TURBINE

INTRODUCTION:

Rotodynamic Machinery

• A rotodynamic machine is the one in which the fluid flows freely through an impeller/rotor.
• The transfer of energy between fluid and rotor is continuous and the change of angular momentum of the
fluid is the result of “torque” on the rotor.
• When the energy is transferred from the fluid to rotor, then it is known as “turbine”.
• On the other hand, if the energy is transferred to the fluid from the rotor, then the machine is known as
“fan / compressor / pump”.
• A rotodynamic turbine is classified by the direction flow of fluid relative to rotor through which the rate of
change of angular momentum of fluid is achieved.
• The flow of fluid can be either in the direction parallel to the axis of the rotor, in the radial direction or in a
mixed mode.
• A rotodynamic turbine is mainly classified in two ways- by the direction flow of fluid relative to rotor i.e.
axial flow and radial flow machines.
• In an axial-flow machine, the fluid maintains a significant axial-flow directions component from inlet to
outlet of the rotor. For a radial flow machine, the flow across the blade involves a substantial radial-flow
component at rotor inlet, exit or both. The mixed flow machines may have significant velocity components
both in radial and axial directions.
• Most commonly steam turbines are axial flow machines, centrifugal compressors are radial machines and
mixed mode concepts are employed for pumps.

CLASSIFICATION OF STEAM TURBINES

According to direction of flow:

(a) Axial flow turbine
(b) Radial flow turbine
Most high-capacity steam turbines are of axial flow type.

On the basis of method of compounding: (i) Velocity compounded turbine, (ii) Pressure compounded
turbine, and (iii) Pressure-velocity compounded turbine.

On the basis of number of stages: (i) Single-stage turbine, and (ii) Multistage turbine.

On the basis of position of shaft: (i) Horizontal shaft turbine, and (ii) Vertical shaft turbine.

According to steam pressure at inlet of Turbine:

(a) Low pressure turbine
(b) Medium pressure turbine.
(c) High pressure turbine
(d) Super critical pressure turbine.

Based on Steam supply and exhaust conditions:

These types include condensing, noncondensing, reheat, extraction and induction.

Noncondensing or backpressure turbines are most widely used for process steam applications. The exhaust
pressure is controlled by a regulating valve to suit the needs of the process steam pressure. These are
commonly found at refineries, district heating units, pulp and paper plants, and desalination facilities where
large amounts of low-pressure process steam are available.

Condensing turbines are most commonly found in electrical power plants. These turbines exhaust steam in a
partially condensed state, typically of a quality near 90%, at a pressure well below atmospheric to a
condenser.

Reheat turbines are also used almost exclusively in electrical power plants. In a reheat turbine, steam flow
exits from a high-pressure section of the turbine and is returned to the boiler where additional superheat is
added. The steam then goes back into an intermediate pressure section of the turbine and continues its
expansion.

Extracting type turbines or Pass out turbines are common in all applications. In an extracting type turbine,
steam is released from various stages of the turbine, and used for industrial process needs or sent to boiler
feedwater heaters to improve overall cycle efficiency. Extraction flows may be controlled with a valve, or
left uncontrolled.
Induction turbines introduce low pressure steam at an intermediate stage to produce additional power.

Based on Casing or shaft arrangements:

These arrangements include single casing, tandem compound and cross compound turbines.

Single casing units are the most basic style where a single casing and shaft are coupled to a generator.

Tandem compound is used where two or more casings are directly coupled together to drive a single
generator.
A cross compound turbine arrangement features two or more shafts not in line driving two or more
generators that often operate at different speeds. A cross compound turbine is typically used for many large
applications.

Based on Blading Design:

Impulse turbine
Steam energy is transferred to the rotor entirely by the steam jets striking the moving blades.

Reaction turbine
Steam expands in both the stationary & moving blades. Moving blades also act as nozzles. High axial thrust
is produced.

IMPULSE TURBINE

• The most basic turbine that takes high-pressure, high-enthalpy fluid and expands it in the fixed nozzle is
the impulse turbine.
• This machine uses the rate of change of angular momentum of the fluid in a rotating passage to provide
torque on the rotor.
• Initially, the fluid enters the wheel in tangential direction with absolute velocity. The fluid flows through
the wheel at a fixed mean radius and the change of linear momentum tangential to the wheel gives a
tangential force causing the wheel to rotate. Finally, the fluid leaves through wheel passage in tangential
direction.
• The impulse turbines are recognized by their shape. They are usually symmetrical with entrance & exit
angles at around 20.
• The impulse turbines are employed in the entrance of high-pressure stages of steam turbine when the
specific volume of steam is low (superheated regions).
• These turbines require smaller flow areas as compared to low-pressure stage conditions of the steam.
• The blades of an impulse turbines are short and have constant cross-section.
• The characteristics features of the impulse turbines is recognized by the fact that most/all of the enthalpy
(and hence pressure of the steam) drop occurs in the nozzles (i.e. fixed blade passages that act as nozzle
action).
• The impulse turbines or turbine stages are simplest configurations. It can be single rotor or multi-rotor
turbine arrangements to which impulse blades are attached.
• In steam power plant terminology, the single-stage impulse turbines are commonly known as, de Laval
turbine after its invention of Sweden scientist.
• It consists of a single rotor to which impulse blades are attached. The steam is fed through one or several
convergent divergent nozzles which do not extend completely around the circumference of the rotor so that
only part of the blades are impinged upon by the steam at any point of time.
• The pressure drop occurs mainly in the nozzles (not in blades). The kinetic energy of steam occurs at
nozzle exit and deceases from Vs1 to Vs2 in the blades.
The schematic view and the flow of steam through a simple impulse turbine are shown in below figure in
which the pressure and velocity variation have also been illustrated.
 Impulse Blade

Velocity Diagram for Impulse Turbine

• In order to evaluate the work on the blade, which is in the direction of motion, one needs to
construct a “velocity vector diagram” for a single blade. The extended diagram is considered by
removing the blade shape.
• The work on the blade can be obtained from impulse-momentum principle which states that the
force in the direction of the blade is equal to the change in momentum of the fluid in the direction of
motion.
• The component of stream velocity in the direction of blade motion is called as “velocity of whirl”.

The velocity diagram for a single-stage impulse has been shown in below figure.

The following notations are used for the velocity diagrams:

u = Tangential or circumferential velocity of blades which remains constant at inlet and outlet of
moving blades because of small blades height, i.e., u1 = u2 = u
V1 and V2 = Absolute velocity of steam at the inlet and outlet respectively

Vw1 and Vw2 = Velocity of whirl at the inlet and outlet respectively, (i.e., tangential component of V1)

Vf1 and Vf2 = Velocity of flow at the inlet and outlet respectively, (i.e., axial component of V 1and V2
respectively)
Optimum Value of Blade Speed Ratio:

K = blade velocity coefficient or velocity friction factor and

B=
For symmetrical blading and no friction,

Note: Optimum speed ratio for ‘n’ number of stages,

𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝜌=
2𝑛
In a simple impulse turbine, the nozzles are inclined at 200 to the direction of motion of moving blades. The
steam leaves the nozzle at 375 m/s. The blade speed is 165 m/s. Find the inlet & outlet angles for blades in
order that axial thrust is zero. The relative velocity of steam as it flows over the blade is reduced by 15% by
friction. Determine also the power developed for steam flow rate of 10Kg/s & diagram efficiency.
Steam at 350 m/s is supplied to the single stage impulse turbine through a nozzle. The nozzle angle is 25°.
The mean diameter of the blade rotor is 1.0 m and it has a speed of 2000 rpm. Find the blade angles if there
is no axial thrust. If the steam flow rate is 5 kg/s and the blade coefficient is 0.85 then determine the power
developed. Also determine the blade efficiency and energy lost in the blade friction.