The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of the West Indies

St. Augustine

Report On:
Steam Turbine Power Plant

Submitted by:
Kevon Johnson
ID#: 806002345

Date submitted: 1st March 2007

 Summary

Still to do
 The main components of the Steam Turbine Power Plant (STPP) are:
 Boiler  Condenser
 Turbine  Pump

The Boiler.
The boiler facilitates the conversion of the working fluid, i.e. water, to a
form that can be utilized by the turbine to cause production of electrical energy
i.e. steam. It does this by allowing a heat transfer from the heat source to the
water to cause it to vaporize. Heat is obtained through the combustion of
liquefied petroleum gas in the boiler. The amount of heat energy being supplied
to the water can be varied by using controls present on the STPP to vary the fuel
reaching the boiler for combustion.

The Turbine
The turbine coupled with a generator is used to produce electrical energy.
The turbine consists of blades attached to a shaft which in turn is coupled to the
generator. The steam from the boiler is used to cause the rotation of the shaft
and the generator then utilizes this mechanical energy to produce electrical
energy.

The Condenser Tower

This component is used to return the steam to its liquid form. Steam
exhaust from the turbine is fed to the base of the condenser tower. As the steam
rises in the tower, it comes in contact with the inner surface of the tower. This
surface provides an interface for heat transfer from the steam to the atmosphere.
Part of the steam condenses back to water and falls to the base of the
condenser, where it can either be drained from the system or returned to the
boiler via a pump.

Pump
This is used to pump the water from the condenser back to the boiler.
Theory
The workings of the Steam Turbine Power Plant (STPP) are as follows:

Figure 1: Layout of main components of STPP

Source :http://www.shomepower.com/dict/r/rankine_cycle.htm
Date Accessed : 21st Feb. 2007

Water is heated, at constant pressure in the boiler for it to become a

saturated vapour. Once saturation is reached further heating occurs at constant
temperature. This saturated vapour exits the boiler and is directed to the turbine.
Ideally, adiabatic expansion of the saturated vapour occurs through the blades of
the turbine causing it to rotate. The rotation of the turbine’s shaft in the generator
results in an e.m.f being induced.
The working fluid, now at a lower pressure and temperature and in a
vapour-liquid state, exits the turbine and is directed to the condenser. In the
condenser the vapour-liquid mixture is cooled to a saturated liquid. The saturated
liquid settles to the base of the condenser where a pump returns the now super-
cooled saturated liquid to the boiler, at a higher pressure, where the cycle is
repeated.
Below is a T-s (Temperature – entropy) diagram which represents the
ideal changes in the properties of water.

Figure 2: TS diagram of Rankine Cycle

Source : http://www.tpub.com/content/doe/h1012v1/css/h1012v1_114.htmDate
Accessed :21st Feb. 2007

Process 3:4: First, the working fluid is pumped (ideally isentropically) from low to
high pressure by a pump. Pumping requires a work input (for example
mechanical or electrical).
Process 4-1: The high pressure liquid enters a boiler where it is heated to
become a saturated vapor.
Process 1:2: The superheated vapor expands through a turbine to generate
power output. Ideally, this expansion is isentropic. This decreases the
temperature and pressure of the vapor.
Process 2:3: The vapor then enters a condenser where it is cooled to become a
saturated liquid. This liquid then re-enters the pump and the cycle repeats.
(Wikipedia)
RESULTS
The system was allowed to run so that it was operating at steady state and the
following data was recorded;
i. Pressure at turbine inlet
ii. Temperature at turbine inlet
iii. Pressure at turbine outlet
iv. Temperature at turbine outlet
v. Volume flow rate of fuel
vi. Generator voltage
vii. Generator amperage

Observations
The above data was recorded and placed in the table below.
Vol. flow
Pressure Temperature rate of Generator
fuel
Turbine inlet Turbine Turbine Turbine Voltage Amperage
outlet inlet outlet (V) (I)
6.594 PSIG 3.030 PSIG 138.160C 127.630C 5.081 7.211 V 0.115 A
L / min

All quantities recorded in units other than S.I. were converted to their S.I units as
follows.
1 atm. = 1.013 bar
1 PSIG = 0.069 bar
1 bar = 105 Pa
Pressure Values
 6.594 PSIG = 6.594 x 0.069 = 0.455 bar. (pressure due to steam)
Total pressure at Turbine inlet = inlet pressure + atmospheric pressure
 Total pressure = 0.455 + 1.013 = 1.468 bar = 0.1468 MPa
3.030 PSIG = 3.030 x 0.069 = 0.209 bar. (pressure due to steam)
Total pressure at turbine outlet = outlet pressure + atmospheric pressure
 Total pressure = 0.209 + 1.013 = 1.222 bar = 0.1222 MPa

Temperature Values
10C = 273 K
 138.160C = 138.16 + 273 = 411.16 K
And
127.630C = 127.63 + 273 = 400.63 K

Volume Flow Rate of Fuel

5.081 L /min = 8.468 x 10-5 m3/sec

Re-tabulating the above data

Vol. flow
Pressure Temperature rate of fuel Generator

Turbine inlet Turbine Turbine Turbine Voltage Amperage

outlet inlet outlet
0.1468 MPa 0.1222 MPa 411.16 K 400.63 K 8.468 x 10-5 7.211 V 0.115 A
m3/sec
Specimen Calculations
Overall plant efficiency = (Electrical power output) / (Fuel Power)
Where, electrical output = V x I and
Fuel Power = (mass flow rate of fuel) x (Caloric Value-CV)
= vol. flow rate x density x CV

Given that; CV of LPG = 50 MJ / kg and density = 2.2 kg / m 3

Electrical output = V x I
= 7.211 x 0.115
= 0.829 W
Fuel Power = 8.468 x 10-5 x 2.2 x 50 x 106
= 9314.8 W
0.829
Hence Plant Efficiency = x 100 = 0.0089 %
9314.8

h1  h 3
The Rankine Cycle Efficiency is given by =
h1  h 2
where h1, h2 and h3 are specific enthalpy values at the pressures p 1, p2 and p3
respectively.
To determine the enthalpy of the working fluid at the recorded pressures the
following was done.

From the SATURATED WATER & STEAM TABLE when;

pressure of steam = 0.15 MPa - specific enthalpy = 2693.4 kJ/kg
pressure of steam = 0.14 MPa - specific enthalpy = 2690.3 kJ/kg
Recorded pressure(p1) and respective enthalpy value(h1) lie in this range.

 2693.4  2690.3 
The slope of the line , m =   = 310
 0.15  0.14 
 h1  2690.3 
    310
 0.1468  0.14 
 h1 = 2692.4 kJ/kg

At state 2 and 3 on the T-s diagram the pressure of the working fluid is constant.
The above method for obtaining an accurate value of h was repeated for the
working fluid at state 3. (At state 3, working fluid is liquid. Therefore specific
enthalpy values of water were used)
This value was calculated as;
h3 = 441.6 kJ/kg

Using the Mollier diagram, h2 was determined to be 2660 kJ/kg.

Therefore with;
h1 = 2692.4 kJ/kg
h2 = 2660 kJ/kg
h3 = 441.6 kJ/kg
 2692.4  2660 
Rankine Cycle efficiency =    0.0144
 2692.4  441.6 

Discussion

things to go in diss.
assumptions
note diff in temp between inlet and outlet. results showed that expansion was not
therefore ideal.
losses in thermal energy

Finite pressure differences required to make steam flow from one part of the
plant to another as well as finite temp diff between the heat source and the boiler,
during heat addition make the processes non – quasistatic, and dissipative
effects such as friction and heat conduction are always present.

main  feature  of  the  Rankine  cycle,  shown  in  Figure  31,  is  that  it  confines  the
isentropic compression  process  to  the  liquid  phase  only  (Figure  31  points  1  to  2).
This  minimizes  the amount  of  work  required  to  attain  operating  pressures  and
avoids  the  mechanical  problems associated  with  pumping  a  two-phase  mixture.   The
compression  process  shown  in  figure  31 between points 1 and 2 is greatly
exaggerated .  In reality, a temperature rise of only 1°F occurs in compressing water from
*

14.7 psig at a saturation temperature of 212°F   to 1000 psig.

References
1Wikipedia Online Encyclopaedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankine_cycle Step
processes

http://www.shomepower.com/dict/r/rankine_cycle.htm Layout of main components of

STPP