GENERAL ANALYSIS OF TURBOMACHINES
Axial flow compressors and pumps
Axial flow compressors and pumps are power absorbing turbomachines. These machines
absorb external power and thereby increase the enthalpy of the flowing fluid. Axial flow
turbomachines use large quantity of fluid compared to mixed and centrifugal type of turbomachines.
However, the pressure rise per stage is lower in case of axial flow turbomachines than mixed and
centrifugal flow turbomachines. Axial flow compressors are used in aircraft engines, stand alone
power generationunits, marine engines etc.
Design of axial flow compressors is more critical than the design of turbines(power
generating turbomachines). The reason is that, in compressors the flowmoves in the direction of
increasing pressure (adverse pressure gradient). If theflow is pressurized by supplying more power,
the boundary layers attached to theblades and casing get detached and reverse flow starts which lead
to flowinstability leading to possible failure of the machine. However, in turbines the fluidmoves in
the decreasing pressure (favorable pressure gradient). To transfer agiven amount of energy more
number of stages is required in compressors than inturbines. Generally, the fluid turning angles are
limited to 20˚ in compressors andare 150˚ to 165˚ in case of turbines. Thus the pressure rise per stage
is limited incase of compressors. Fluid flows in direction of increasing pressure, this increasesthe
density of the fluid, and thus the height of the blade decreases from the entranceto the exit. Axial flow
compressors have inlet guide vanes at the entrance anddiffuser at the exit.
Figure 1 shows the flow through the compressor and fig. 2 shows thecorresponding inlet and
exit velocity triangles. Generally for a compressor theangles are defined with respect to axial direction
(known as air angles). It can beseen that the fluid turning angle is low in case of compressors. Figure
3 shows theflow through the turbine blade and fig. 4 the corresponding inlet and exit velocitytriangles
for a turbine.
Fig. 1 Flow across a compressor blade
Fig. 2 Inlet and exit velocity triangles
Fig. 3 Flow across a turbine blade
Fig. 4 Inlet and exit velocity triangles for turbine
Expression for degree of reaction for axial flow compressor
Degree of reaction is defined as ameasure of static enthalpy rise that occurs in the rotor expressed as
a percentage of the total static enthalpy across the rotor.
Assumptions:
The analysis is for 2-dimensional flow. The flow is assumed to take peripheral
velocities at inlet and outlet are same and there is no flow in the radial direction
It is common to express blade angles w.r.t. axial direction in case of axial flow compressor
(air angles)
Axial velocity is assumed to remain constant
Figure 2 shows the inlet and exit velocity triangles for axial flow compressors. The
work done on the compressor = change in stagnation enthalpy
For an axial flows TM, from inlet velocity triangle
Similar from the exit velocity triangle
Equating equ. 2 and equ 3 and simplifying
Substuting eq. 6 and eq.7 in eq. 5
Velocity triangles for different values of degree of reaction
Velocity triangles are drawn for axial flow turbo machines in which
=
(1) When R<0
R becomes negative when 1> 2
E or WD can be positive
(2) When R=0; 1 > 2; impulse TM; No static pressure change across rotor
(3) When R=0.5; 1 = 2 2 = 1; Impulse TM; 50% by impulse and 50% by reaction,
Symmetrical velocity triangle; 1 = 2; 2 = 1
(4) When R=1; 1 = 2; purely reaction TM; energy transformation occurs purely due to change in
relative K.E of fluid
(5) When > 1.0; 2 > 1;energy transformation can be negative or positive
Turbines- Utilization factor
1. Utilization factor is defined only for PGTM- Turbines
2. Adiabatic efficiency is the quantity of interest in turbines
3. Overall efficiency is product of adiabatic efficiency and Mechanical efficiency
4. Mechanical efficiency of majority of TM’s is nearly 100%
5. Therefore, overall efficiency is almost equal to adiabatic efficiency
6. However, adiabatic efficiency is product of utilization factor (diagram energy that can be
obtained from a turbineefficiency) and efficiency associated with various losses
7. Utilization factor deals with what is maximumobtained from a turbine without considering the
losses in the turbine
8. Utilization factor is the ratio of ideal workfor conversion to work
9. Under ideal conditions it should be possible to utilize all the K.E. at inlet and increase the
K.E. due to reaction effect
10. The ideal energy available for conversion into work
11. The work output given by Euler’s Turbine Equation is
12. Utilization factor is given by
13. Utilization factor for modern TM’s is between 90% to 95%
Relation between utilization factor and degree of reaction
Utilization factor is given by
The degree of reaction is given by
Substituting the value of X in the expression for utilization factor andsimplifying
The above equation is valid for single rotor under the conditions where Euler’s turbine equations are
valid. The above equation is invalid when R = 1. The above equation is valid in the following range of
R = 0 ≤ R < 1.
Maximum Utilization factor
Utilization factor is given by
Utilization factor maximum if the exit absolute velocity is minimum. This ispossible when the exit
absolute velocity is in axial direction
Maximum utilization factor is given by
Maximum Utilization factor for impulse turbine
For an impulse turbine R = 0,thus = 2 × 1
From the velocity triangles OAB and OBD aresimilar.
Thus AB = U
1is made as small as possible(150 200)
Maximum Utilization factor for 50% reaction turbines
50% reaction turbines have; 1 = 2 2 = 1; 1 = 2; 2 = 1and for maximum utilization 2 must be in axial
direction. The corresponding velocity triangles are
Comparison between Impulse and 50%reaction turbinemaximum utilization
(a) When both have same blade speed
Let UI and UR be the blade speeds of impulse and 50% reaction turbines. The velocity triangles for
maximum utilization are
Comparing eq. 1 and 2, it is clear that impulse turbine of energy per unit mass than 50% reaction
turbine utilization is maximum.
However, 50% reaction turbines are more efficient than impulse turbines
But 50% reaction turbines transfer half the en turbines.
If only 50% reaction turbines are used more stages are required or if only impulse turbines are
used stages are less but efficiency is low
In steam turbines where large pressure ratio is available it is common to use one or two
impulse stages followed by reaction stages