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Turbine Specific Speed and Specific Speed Map

Article · November 2015

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Enver Sinan Karakas

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Enver Karakas, Ebara International Corp., USA,
compares gas and hydraulic turbine designs based on
specific speed and efficiency requirements.

Specific
Speed T
he design of both turbomachinery and rotating
equipment should follow the rules and
guidelines of dimensionless parameters, such
as specific speed, in order to achieve the maximum
attainable efficiency. These dimensionless parameters
are used to determine the fundamental shape and
geometry of hydraulic components, such as impellers,
runners, diffusers, nozzles, etc., for any given process
and efficiency requirement of an application. This
article is a discussion of the specific speed number for
turbines, and describes the basis for the selection of
the turbine and its design. It explains the criteria for
selecting turbine configurations, shifting duty points,
and adjusting specific speed by changing the rotating
speed of the equipment and the number of stages, or
by utilising multiple turbines running in series or parallel
configurations. Ebara International Corp.’s cryogenic
turbine (hydraulic expander) specific speed range is
shared for a better understanding of the impact of
specific speed, and to characterise the turbine and
attainable efficiencies. The main purpose of this article
is to educate the reader on the different styles of
turbines (expanders) based on the requirements of the
application.

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 Figure 1. Specific speed vs specific diameter map, showing the type of turbine wheels and achievable efficiencies.1 Ebara International
Corp.’s (EIC) cryogenic turbine (expander) operating region is also plotted.
Dimensionless parameters
used in turbine selection and
design
Specific speed is the most common dimensionless (unit-less)
parameter used in the determination of the turbine type and
achievable efficiency. Formulation for specific speed can
be obtained through utilisation of Buckingham π theorem
per the physical variables of the application. For pump
applications, differential head (H), volumetric flowrate (Q),
and rotational speed (n) are important variables to define
pump characteristics and are used to obtain specific speed
(NS). Pump specific speed is determined by the following
equation:
NS = n√Q
H 3/4
Where:
n: rotational speed (rpm)
Q: volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
H: head per stage (m)
It is important to pay attention to the units when
calculating pump specific speed. Between metric and US unit
systems, specific speed values vary significantly. This is
because the form of the equation is not truly dimensionless,
unless it is reduced by including gravitational acceleration.
Pump specific speed is a useful guideline to determine the
type of turbine. However, for some turbine applications, due
to the importance of power generation, power (P) is taken
into account in determination of specific speed and replaces
the flowrate (Q) in the equation. Accordingly, turbine specific
speed (nS), can be calculated with the following equation:
nS = n√P
H 5/4
LNGINDUSTRY REPRINTED FROM NOV/DEC 2015
Where:
n: rotational speed (rpm)
P: power output (kW)
H: head per stage (m)
Over the years, based on proven turbine applications and
their operating conditions along with achieved efficiencies,
turbine manufacturers established various specific speed
maps to assist engineers in their selection and design of the
hydraulic components. Since specific speed is a
dimensionless parameter, these specific maps can be applied
to any turbine application, regardless of the physical size of
the unit and the process. Besides the specific speed, other
dimensionless numbers, such as Reynolds Number,
Mach Number, etc., shall be considered in the design and
scaling of the turbomachinery. Maintaining these
dimensionless parameters is key in scaling applications.
Specific diameter (DS) is also used in selecting the turbine
type and/or scaling an existing turbine application. Specific
diameter is calculated based on the actual physical diameter
of the turbine wheel (runner) and the process parameters,
which are head per stage and volumetric flowrate.
DS = DH 1/4
Q 1/2
Where:
D: diameter (m)
H: head per stage (m)
Q: volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
As in the specific speed formula, the specific diameter
is not truly dimensionless since the gravitational
acceleration is not included in the equation, and it is
assumed to be constant. As the actual value of the
gravitational acceleration differs depending on which unit Design and process
system is used, one should pay attention to the units of considerations in cryogenic
each parameter when determining specific speed and turbine application
specific diameter. Specific speed is a guideline for design and process engineers
to determine the turbine type and estimate the expected
Specific speed maps, turbine hydraulic efficiency of a turbine. The design of turbomachinery
type and achievable efficiency components, which is not limited to the design of hydraulic
Specific speed of an application can often be plotted against components, always plays an important role in achieving
a parameter that is crucial for that application, or, if that efficiency. Design and process engineers often consider
the comparison is to be based on a certain parameter, varying the rotational speed, increasing the number of stages,
specific speed vs important parameter shall be plotted and even increasing the number of turbine units for a given
to determine the characteristics of that application. There total head and flow requirement of a process.
are general specific speed maps that have the specific Rotational speed changes the specific speed linearly and is
diameter with a range of efficiencies based on the type directly proportional to it. Speed also varies the head and
of application. Figure 1 is the specific speed vs specific flowrate of a turbine. The relationship between rotational
diameter map, which covers the application region and speed and process parameters (head and flowrate) is defined
achievable efficiencies for each type of turbine.1 by affinity laws for centrifugal turbine applications. It is often
It should be noted that Figure 1 is established for a possible to vary the turbine speed by implementing variable
Reynolds number greater than 106 – a rotor inlet frequency drives, or by changing the actual physical diameter
Mach number of 1.0. The type of turbine based on the of the turbine wheel. The impact on the rotordynamics,
hydraulics varies according to the specific speed and the
diameter. It should also be noted that the turbine
efficiencies can be greater than 80% for specific speeds
greater than 40 US units.
Depending on the flow direction and path across the
turbine wheel, each turbine type is specified as a radial,
partial axial (mixed flow), or full axial turbine. Turbines
with a specific speed of 10 or less (US units) are often
called impulse turbines and have a relatively higher head
with a lower flowrate. Drag turbines shown in Figure 1 fall
under this category. Piston expanders (displacement and
rotary) are often used for high head application with a
relatively low volumetric flowrate. Piston expanders are
not centrifugal type turbines, and so do not have a
Figure 2. Type of turbines based on specific speed (US units)
rotating wheel. and achievable efficiency.2
Figure 2 covers the centrifugal type turbines and
estimates efficiency of those turbines based on a specific
speed.2 All of the published efficiencies at each figure are
hydraulic efficiencies that do not include any of the losses due
to internal leakage, generator, etc.
According to Figure 2, the turbines with a turbine
specific speed (nS) of 15 or greater are reaction turbines,
which have a relatively higher flowrate, but also have lower
head compared to impulse expanders. Reaction turbines
utilise nozzle vanes to increase the velocity of the incoming
flow to the turbine, while impulse turbines have jets to
carry out the same function. Francis and Kaplan turbines
are the most common reaction turbines used in
turbomachinery applications. Francis turbines have a wider
range of application region and they are the type of turbine
that EIC Cryo offers. The company’s turbines are mostly
used for LNG liquefaction processes, and have proven to
be a suitable alternative to Joule Thomson valves to
recover BOG and generate electricity. These expanders are
capable of 90% hydraulic efficiency, with a resulting total
efficiency of approximately 80%. Specific speeds range
from 50 – 80 in US units, with specific diameters ranging
from 1.6 to 2.5. EIC Cryo’s cryogenic turbines are vertically
suspended multistage units with two or more turbine
wheels (stages) per unit, and have a submerged generator
design to enhance generator cooling. A typical cryogenic Figure 3. Four stage vertically suspended cryogenic Francis
turbine of EIC is shown in Figure 3. turbine by EIC Cryo.

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 reliability of the turbine, and cost should be considered when
examining a change to the rotational speed.
The most common way to adjust the specific speed is by
increasing or decreasing the number of stages of the
turbomachinery. This can be costly and there is always a limit
to the number of stages that a turbine can handle. This
limitation is set by rotordynamic behaviour of the
turbomachinery, and the maximum allowable pressure of the
casings and related components.
Another method of adjusting the specific speed is to
increase the number of turbines used in an application and the
installation configuration of those turbines in that application.
For relatively high head (pressure) applications, two or more
turbines can be installed in series to increase the specific
speed to a desired value, while dropping the total pressure to
the process needs. For applications with relatively high
flowrates, turbines can be operated in parallel to reduce the
specific speed of the turbine. It is often preferred to have a
single turbine handle the process due to limitations of the
footprint. Maintenance requirements and complexity of the
system must also be taken into account if multiple turbines
are to be operated in parallel or in series, due to the cost
impact. Regardless, it may not be feasible to utilise a single
turbine to meet the process needs. Forcing a single turbine
LNGINDUSTRY REPRINTED FROM NOV/DEC 2015
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into the process can greatly harm efficiency and result in a
product that does not satisfy expectations.
Conclusion
Selection of turbine type based on specific speed and
estimating attainable hydraulic efficiencies for each turbine
type have been discussed. The fundamental differences and
similarities of each hydraulic turbine type have been shared
without getting into finite design details. Specific speed charts
(maps) have proven to be useful for selection and estimation,
and are widely used in the turbine design industry. It is good
practice to review and follow the specific speed charts prior to
a decision in feasibility of a turbine application. In conclusion,
some adjustments are advantageous and necessary to
maintain a turbine’s specific speed within a certain range to
ensure high reliability and performance.
References
1. NICHOLS, K. E., ‘How to Select Turbomachinery for Your
Application’, http://www.barber-nichols.com/sites/default/
files/wysiwyg/images/how_to_select_turbomachinery_for_
your_application.pdf (Accessed on 11/09/15).
2. YOUNG, D. F., MUNSON, B. R., and OKIISHI, T. H., ‘A
Brief Introduction to Fluid Mechanics’, 4th edition (2001).