A project report on Analysis
of Steam Turbines
Submitted by:
Name - Tridev Pachung
Roll no - 23000724022
Analysis of Steam Turbines
Steam turbines are mechanical devices that
convert thermal energy from steam into
mechanical energy. The basic principle is
based on the expansion of steam through a
series of stages, which causes blades attached
to a rotor to rotate, generating mechanical
power.
Key Components of a Steam Turbine:
Rotor: The rotating shaft connected to the turbine
blades.
Blades: They interact with the steam to transfer
energy to the rotor.
Casing: The outer housing that holds the blades
and rotor.
Nozzles: Used to direct the steam towards the
blades.
Governors: Control the steam flow and regulate
the speed of the turbine.
Types of Steam Turbines:
Impulse Turbine: The steam is expanded in
nozzles, and high-velocity jets strike the
blades, causing them to rotate.
Reaction Turbine: Steam expands as it passes
over blades, generating thrust due to a change
in pressure.
Velocity and Pressure Compounding in Steam
Turbines
In steam turbines, compounding refers to the
process of splitting the expansion process over
multiple stages (or stages of compounding), with
each stage progressively decreasing the steam
pressure. The two main types of compounding
are velocity compounding and pressure
compounding.
1. Velocity Compounding:
In a velocity-compounded turbine, steam undergoes
multiple stages of expansion. The idea is to reduce the
velocity of steam in steps to prevent erosion of the blades
and ensure smooth operation.
The steam enters the turbine with a high velocity, and in
each stage, the velocity is reduced by expanding the steam
through a nozzle and letting it strike the blades.
A velocity-compounded turbine has multiple rows of
blades arranged along the length of the turbine, which
helps slow down the steam, converting its kinetic energy
into mechanical work in a controlled way.
This compounding minimizes the impact of high-speed
steam and allows for better control of the turbine's
operation.
2. Pressure Compounding:
In a pressure-compounded turbine, the steam
undergoes multiple expansions at progressively lower
pressures in different stages.
The steam enters the turbine at high pressure, and as it
expands through each stage, the pressure drops,
converting the thermal energy into mechanical energy.
Each stage has a set of nozzles that release steam,
followed by a series of blades that absorb the energy
from the expanding steam. The turbine might have
multiple stages for this pressure drop, allowing for
more efficient energy extraction.
Pressure compounding reduces the total change in
pressure across each stage, making the turbine more
efficient by improving the steam's energy conversion.
Combined Velocity and Pressure Compounding
(Reaction Turbines)
In modern steam turbines, velocity and pressure
compounding is combined, especially in reaction
turbines, where the blades not only have to handle
the steam's pressure but also the velocity.
In reaction turbines, the rotor blades experience
both velocity and pressure drops as steam passes
through the turbine.
As the steam passes through the blades, the pressure
drops, and the velocity increases.
This combination helps improve the efficiency of the
turbine by extracting more energy from the steam in
multiple stages.
Efficiency Considerations
The efficiency of a steam turbine depends on the
following:
Stage Design: Proper stage compounding ensures
that steam undergoes gradual expansion, which
minimizes losses.
Blades and Nozzles: These should be optimized for
smooth steam flow and energy transfer.
Steam Conditions: Higher steam temperatures and
pressures typically result in higher efficiencies, but
turbine materials must be able to withstand these
conditions.
Heat Losses: Minimizing losses due to radiation,
friction, and other mechanical inefficiencies
increases the overall performance of the turbine.
Conclusion
The combined use of velocity and pressure
compounding in steam turbines helps improve
performance and efficiency by controlling
steam's velocity and pressure drop throughout
the expansion process. By using these methods,
turbines can operate smoothly, minimizing
erosion and mechanical stress while extracting
the maximum possible energy from steam.