Steam Turbine

Neeraj Adhikari
Steam turbine and Hydraulic machine (9 hours)
5.1 Steam Nozzles and Types
5.2 Flow of Steam Through Nozzles;
5.3 Steady flow energy equation, Momentum equation
5.4 Principle of Operation of Steam Turbines
5.5 Types of Steam Turbine and Applications
5.6 Impulse and Reaction Turbine: Components and Their Functions,
Working Principles, Efficiency
5.7 Hydraulic machine Types, Working Principle: Hydraulic Ram, Hydraulic
lift, Hydraulic torque converter
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Layout of a modern steam power plant
1. Coal and ash circuit
2. Air and gas circuit
3. Feed water and steam flow circuit
4. Cooling water circuit
Steam Nozzle
A steam nozzle may be defined as a passage of
varying cross section, through which heat energy
of steam is converted to kinetic energy.
A nozzle is a duct by flowing through which the
velocity of a fluid increases at the expense of
pressure drop.
Its major function is to produce steam jet with high
velocity to drive steam turbines
A diffuser is a device that increases the pressure
of a fluid by slowing it down
A duct which decreases the velocity of a fluid and
causes a corresponding increase in pressure is
called diffuser
Diffusers are used in compressors, combustion
chargers etc.
A same duct may be either a nozzle or a diffuser depending upon the end
conditions across it
If the cross-section of a duct decreases continuously from inlet to exit, the
duct is said to be convergent, and if it increases from inlet to exit, the duct is
said to be divergent
If the cross-section initially decreases and then increases, the duct is called
convergent-divergent
The minimum cross-section of the duct is referred as throat
Steam flow through nozzles
Assumptions
⮚ Steady state
⮚ Adiabatic flow (less time available
for heat transfer due to large
velocities, small area, small
temperature difference)
⮚ Equilibrium states at inlet and outlet
⮚ No shaft work, only work is flow work
⮚ Change in potential energy is
negligible
⮚ The work done is equal to the
adiabatic heat drop which in turn is
equal to Rankine area
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If a nozzle is used to obtain a supersonic
stream starting from low speeds at the inlet,
then the Mach number should increase from
Ma=0 near the inlet to Ma>1 at the exit
It is clear that the nozzle must converse in the
subsonic portion and diverse in the
supersonic portion
Such a nozzle is called a convergent-
divergent nozzle (Da Laval Nozzle)
It is clear that the Mach number must be unity
at the throat, where the area is neither
increasing nor decreasing.
Nozzle Efficiency
When the steam flows through a nozzle the final velocity of steam for a
given pressure drop is reduced due to the following reasons
• The friction between nozzle surface and steam
• The internal friction of steam itself
• The shock losses
Most of the frictional losses occur between the throat and exit in convergent-
divergent nozzle
• The expansion is no more isentropic and enthalpy drop is reduced
• The final dryness friction of steam is increased as the kinetic energy gets
converted into heat due to friction and is absorbed by steam
• The specific volume of steam is increased as the steam becomes more dry
due to this friction reheating
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Steam Turbines
The steam turbine is a prime mover in which the
potential energy of the steam is transferred into
kinetic energy and latter in its turn is transformed
into mechanical energy of rotation of turbine shaft
Steam turbine convert a part of the energy of the
steam evidenced by high temperature and
pressure into mechanical power-in turn electrical
power
The steam from the boiler is expanded in a
nozzle, resulting in the emission of a high velocity
jet. This jet of steam impinges on the moving
vanes or blades, mounted on a shaft. Here it
undergoes a change of direction of motion which
gives rise to change in momentum and therefore
a force
Steam Turbine Classification
According to the action of the steam
• Impulse
• Reaction
According to the number of pressure stages
• Single-stage turbines
• Multi-stage turbines
According to the direction of flow
• Axial turbine
• Radial turbine
Steam Turbine Stage
Simple Impulse turbine
All pressure drops occur in the nozzles and
there is no pressure drop as steam flows
through the passage between two blades
This is obtained by making the blade passage
of constant cross-section area
As a general statement it may be stated that
energy transformation takes place only in
nozzles and moving blades (rotor) only cause
energy transfer
As the steam flows through nozzle its
pressure falls from steam chest pressure
to condenser pressure
Due to this relative higher ratio of
expansion of steam in the nozzles the
steam leaves the nozzle with very high
velocity (1100 m/s)
Since all the kinetic energy is to be
absorbed by a ring of moving blades only,
the velocity of wheel is too high (25,000-
30,000)
The example of this type of turbine is the
de- Laval Turbine
Reaction Turbine
In this type of turbine there is gradual pressure
drop which takes place continuously over the
fixed and moving blades
Blades rotate due to both the impulse effect of
the jets and the reaction force of the exiting jets
As the volume of steam increases at lower
pressures therefore, the diameter of the turbine
must increase after each group of blade rings
Pressure drop per stage is small, therefore the
number of stages required is much higher than
an impulse turbine of the same capacity
Also called impulse-reaction turbines and
Parsons Turbine
Reaction turbine
In passing through the first row of fixed
blades, the steam undergoes a small drop
in pressure and hence its velocity
somewhat increases
After this it then enters the first row of
moving blades and just as in the impulse
turbine, it suffers a change in direction
and therefore in momentum
This momentum gives rise to an impulse
on the blades
Impulse – Reaction turbine Comparison
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Difference between Impulse and Reaction Turbine

Particulars Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine

Pressure Drop Only in nozzles and not in moving In fixed blades (nozzles) as well
blades as in moving blades
Area of blade channels Constant Varying (Converging Type)
Blades Profile type Airfoil type
Power Not much power can be Much power can be developed
developed
Efficiency Low High
Space Requires less space for same Requires more space for same
power power
Blade manufacture Not difficult Difficult
Suitability Suitable for small power Suitable for medium and higher
requirements power requirements
Steam velocity at the inlet Very high Moderate or low
Compounding of steam turbines
One row of nozzles followed by one row of blades is called a stage of a
turbine
If steam is allowed to expand from boiler condition down to condenser
vacuum in a single row of nozzles, doe to a large enthalpy drop, the velocity
at exit from nozzles is very high
Thus single-stage impulse turbine have inherently very high rotational speed
which cannot be properly utilized and entails large friction losses
To obviate these difficulties the turbines are compounded or staged, where
steam instead of expanding in a single stage is made to expand in a number
of stages
Different method of compounding
Velocity Compounding
Pressure Compounding
Pressure Velocity Compounding
Pressure compounded impulse turbine
In this type of turbine, the compounding is done
for pressure of steam only
This turbine consists of several stages
The exhaust from each row of moving blades
enters the succeeding set of nozzles
This arrangement is nothing but splitting up the
whole pressure drop from the steam chest
pressure to the condenser pressure into a series
of smaller pressure drop across several stages of
Impulse turbine
This turbine is called, pressure-compound impulse
turbine
The nozzles are fitted into a diaphragm which is
locked in the casing
All rotors are mounted on the same shaft and
the blades are attached on the rotor
The expansion of steam only takes place in the
nozzles while pressure remains constant in the
moving blades because each stage is a simple
impulse turbine
Since the drop in pressure of steam per stage is
reduced, so the steam velocity leaving the
nozzles and entering the moving blades is
reduced which reduces the blade velocity
Velocity compounded impulse turbine
In this type of turbine, the compounding is done for velocity of steam only
Drop in velocity is arranged in many small drops through many moving rows
of blades instead of a single row of moving blades
It consists of a nozzle or a set of nozzles and rows of moving blades
attached to the rotor or wheel and rows of fixed blades attached to casing
The fixed blades are guide blades which guide the steam to succeeding
rows of moving blades, suitably arranged between the moving blades and
set in a reversed manner
The whole expansion of steam from the steam chest pressure to the
exhaust pressure takes place in the nozzles only. There is no drop in either
in the moving blades or the fixed i.e. the pressure remains constant in the
blades as in the simple impulse turbine
The steam velocity from the exit of the nozzle is
very high as in the simple impulse turbine
Steam with this high velocity enters the first row of
moving blades and on passing through these
blades, the Velocity slightly reduces i.e. the steam
gives up a part of its kinetic energy and reissues
from this row of blades with a fairly high velocity
It then enters the first row of guide blades which
directs the steam to the second row of moving
blades
This arrangement is nothing but splitting up the
velocity gained from the exit of the nozzles into
many drops through several rows of moving blades
and hence the name velocity compounded
Pressure and Velocity Compounded Impulse Turbine
This type of turbine is a combination of pressure and velocity compounding
There are two wheels or rotors and on each, only two rows of moving blades
are attached cause two-row wheel are more efficient than three-row wheel
In each wheel or rotor, velocity drops i.e. drop in velocity is achieved by
many rows of moving blades hence it is velocity compounded
There are two sets of nozzles in which whole pressure drop takes place i.e.
whole pressure drop has been divided in small drops, hence it is pressure-
compounded.
In the first set of nozzles, there is some decrease in pressure which gives
some kinetic energy to the steam and there is no drop in pressure in the two
rows of moving blades of the first wheel and in the first row of fixed blades
Only, there is a velocity drop in moving blades though there is also a slight
drop in velocity due to friction in the fixed blades
In second set of nozzles, the remaining pressure drop takes place but the
velocity here increases and the drop in velocity takes place in the moving
blades of the second wheel or rotor
Compared to the pressure-com-pounded impulse turbine this arrangement
was more popular due to its simple construction
It is, however, very rarely used now due to its low efficiency
Steam Turbine Capacity
The capacities of small turbines and coupled generators vary from 500 to
7500 kW whereas large turbo alternators have capacity varying from 10 to
90 mW. Very large size units have capacities up to 500 mW
Generating units of 200 mW capacity are becoming quite common
The steam consumption of large steam turbines is about 3.5 to 5 kg per kWh
Analysis on Single Stage
Impulse Turbine
Steam jet after leaving nozzle
impinges on one end of
blade.

Glides over the inside

surface of the blade and
finally leaves from the other
edge.

Jet enters and leave the

blades tangentially and
shock less.
Note: Vr=Vr1
Velocity Triangles
The three velocity vectors namely, blade speed, absolute velocity and
relative velocity in relation to the rotor are used to form a triangle called
velocity triangle
Velocity triangles are used to illustrate the flow in the blading of
turbomachinery
Changes in the flow direction and velocity are easy to understand with the
help of the velocity triangles
Note that the velocity triangles are drawn for the inlet and outlet of the rotor
at certain radii
Velocity triangles

Inlet Velocity Triangle outlet Velocity Triangles

Combined Velocity Triangles
Power Produced
Mass of Steam flowing through Turbine =m kg/s

Change in velocity of whirl= (Vw1+Vw2)

Force in the direction of motion, Fx= m(Vw1+Vw2)

Work done in the direction of motion, Wx= m(Vw1+Vw2)u

Power produced by Turbine, P= m(Vw1+Vw2)u

Axial thrust on the wheel, Fy=m(Vf1+Vf2)

Efficiency = [m(Vw1+Vw2)u] / [0.5 mV12] = [2(Vw1+Vw2)u] / V12

A single stage Impulse turbine has a diameter of 1.5 m. and running at 3000
rpm .The nozzle angle is 20 . Speed ratio is 0.45. Ratio of relative velocity at the
outlet to that at inlet is 0.9. The outlet angle of the blade is 3 less than inlet angle.
Steam flow rate is 6 kg/s. Draw the velocity diagrams and find the following.
(i) Velocity of whirl
(ii) Axial thrust
(iii) Blade angles
(iv) Power developed.
Steam flows through the nozzle with a velocity of 450 m/s at a direction which is
inclined at an angle of 16 to the wheel tangent. Steam comes out of the moving
blades with a velocity of 100 m/s in the direction of 110 with the direction of blade
motion. The blades are equiangular and the steam flow rate is10 kg/s. Find:
(i) Power developed,
(ii) The power loss due to friction
(iii) Axial thrust
(iv) Blade efficiency and
(v) Blade coefficient.
Hydraulic Machines
There are several hydraulic machines which are employed for either storing
the hydraulic energy and then transmitting it when required or magnifying
the hydraulic energy (mostly the pressure energy)
Most of these devices are based on the principle of fluid statics and fluid
kinematics
1. Hydraulic Accumulator 2. Hydraulic Intensifier
3. Hydraulic Press 4. Hydraulic Crane
5. Hydraulic lift 6. Hydraulic Ram
7. Hydraulic Jack 8. Fluid Coupling
9. Torque Converter
Hydraulic Ram
Hydraulic ram is type of pump
in which the energy of large
quantity of water falling through
small height is utilized to lift a
small quantity of this water to
greater height
No external power is required
to operate this pump
It works on the principle of
water hammer
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A hydraulic ram is being supplied water at the rate of 0.05 m3/s from a
height of 5 m, and raises 0.005 m3/s to a height of 35 m from the ram. The
length and diameter of the pipe are 120 m and 70 mm respectively. If the co-
efficient of friction is 0.009, calculate D’ Aubuisson’s and Rankine’s
Efficiency.
(77.5% and 75%)
Hydraulic Lift
Hydraulic lift is a device which is
used for carrying the goods as well
as the person from one floor to
another in a multi-storeyed building

They are of two types

i) Direct acting Hydraulic lift
ii) Suspended Hydraulic lift
Direct acting hydraulic lift
It consists of a ram sliding in a cylinder
At the top of the ram a platform or a
cage is fitted on which goods may be
placed or person may stand
The liquid under pressure flows into the
fixed cylinder which exerts force on the
sliding ram causing it to move up
The cage moves in the downward
direction when the liquid from the fixed
cylinder is removed
Suspended hydraulic lift
It consists of a cage which is
suspended from a wire rope
A jigger, consisting of a fixed
cylinder, a sliding ram and a set of
two pulley blocks, is provided at the
foot of the hole of the cage
One of the pulley block is moveable
and the other is a fixed one
Fluid Coupling
It is a device used for transmitting power from driving shaft to driven shaft
with the help of fluid
There is no mechanical connection between the two shafts
It consists of a radial pump impeller mounted on a driving shaft and radial
flow reaction turbine mounted on the driven shaft
Both the impeller and runners are identical in shape and they together form a
casing which is completely enclosed and filled with oil
The speed of driven shaft is always less than the speed of the driving shaft
Hydraulic Torque Converter
The hydraulic torque converter is a device used for transmitting increased
torque at the driven shaft
The torque transmitted at the driven shaft may be more or less than the
torque available at the driving shaft
The torque at the driven shaft may be increased about five times the torque
available at the driving shaft with an efficiency of about 90%