Cogeneration

It is the simultaneous production of both heat and electricity from the same fuel source. Example: bagasse conversion to steam and electricity. Steam turbines for cogeneration are designed for extraction of steam at lower pressures after it has passed through a number of turbine stages, or they may be designed for final exhaust at back pressure (noncondensing), or both.

Types of steam turbines

Steam turbines are classified by the conditions of the exhaust steam Back pressure turbine (or Non-condensing turbine) Condensing extracting steam turbine Straight condensing turbine

Backpressure turbines
Operate with the exhaust steam at or above atmospheric pressure. Utilize inlet steam at saturation pressure and temperature resulting in a mixture of steam and condensate at the exhaust.

Condensing turbines The condensing turbines take high pressure steam (superheated inlet steam), expand it in turbine nozzles and blades, and exhaust it to a condenser at lower than atmospheric pressure. It is principally used when power must be generated with minimum steam consumption. Focus is on the production of electricity. Steam is extracted in between various stages of the turbine. More efficient than back pressure turbines

The back pressure turbine may also have bleed points (uncontrolled extractions) to satisfy steam demands at intermediate pressures. This provision is applicable when the bleed (medium pressure) steam volume demand is low and pressure variations can be tolerated.

Condensing extracting steam turbine

The condensing extraction turbines are used when a constant pressure steam flow has to be extracted for process purposes. The constructional characteristics of these turbines are very similar to condensing turbines. From the second admission valve chest it is possible to inject low pressure steam, available in the plant to supply the power required by the plant. These turbines are typically used for co-generation where the turbine meets both the power and steam demand of the process plant. In these types of turbines the power generated can be maintained more or less at a steady level despite variation in process steam demands.