INTRODUCTION

TO
STEAM TURBINE
BIBIN CHIDAMBARANATHAN
Introduction to Steam Turbines
Introduction to Steam Turbines
 HISTORY OF STEAM TURBINE

❖The first steam turbine was invented by Greek Mathematician Hero of

Alexandria about 120 BC and it was reciprocating type.

❖The modern steam Turbine was made by Sir Charles Parsons in the year

1884.

❖The design has been changed in many times.

❖The capacity of the turbine is coming from 0.75 KW to 1000 MW.

❖Modern steam turbine is also used as a prime mover in a big thermal power

plant.
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF STEAM TURBINE
 Advantages of Steam Turbine over Steam Engines:

(a) The thermal efficiency of a steam turbine plant is higher.

(b) Steam turbines are highly simplified in construction and operation.
(c) Condensate can be directly used in boilers.
(d) Vibration and noise are minimized.
(e) Balancing of rotor can be done accurately.
(f) Much higher speed is possible.
(g) Steam turbines are suitable for the operation with high-pressure steam.
(h) They are well suited for large steam power plants.
 Parts of Steam Turbine:

The main parts of steam turbines are

❖nozzles,
❖wheel or rotor,
❖vanes or blades, and
❖casing.
Nozzle
Rotor
Blades
Casing of Turbine
 TYPES OF STEAM TURBINE

1. According to the working principle steam turbines are mainly divided into
two categories :
a)Impulse Turbine
b) Reaction Steam Turbine

⇨When steam strikes the moving blades through nozzles called Impulse
Turbine and when it strikes the moving blades under pressure via guide
mechanism called Reaction Turbine.
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF IMPULSE STEAM TURBINE
Representation of an impulse turbine
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF IMPULSE REACTION STEAM TURBINE:

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Four-stage reaction turbine
Variation of pressure and velocity
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMPULSE TURBINE AND REACTION TURBINE
Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine
1) In impulse Turbine, only impulsive force strikes to 1) In reaction turbine, vector sum of impulsive and reactive
the blades fixed to the rotor force strikes the blades fixed to the rotor.

2) Steam expands completely when it passes through 2) pressure can't expand fully. It partially expands when it
the nozzles and its pressure remains constant. pass through the nozzles and rest on the rotor blades.

3) Blades are symmetrical shape. 3) Blades are asymmetrical shape.

4) But reaction turbine speed is much lower than impulse

4) Since the velocity of steam is high, speed is high in
turbine because steam velocity is lower in reaction turbine
impulse turbine.
as compared to impulse turbine.

5) For producing same power, the number of stages

5) It require more stages to develop same power.
required are much less.

6) The blade efficiency is high. 6) The blade efficiency is lower than impulse turbine.
2. According to the direction of steam flow, it may be classified into two
categories:-

a).Axial Flow Steam Turbine:-

b).Radial Flow Steam Turbine:-

⇨ When the flow of steam inside the casing is parallel to the rotor shaft axis
then it is called Axial Flow Steam Turbine and flow of steam inside the casing is
radial to the rotor shaft axis called Radial Flow Steam turbine.
3. According to the exhaust condition of steam, it is further divided into two
categories:-

a)Back Pressure or Non-Condensing types Steam Turbine:-

b)Condensing type Steam Turbine:-

⇨ After expansion of steam it is exhausted into atmosphere called back

pressure steam turbine or non-condensing types steam turbine otherwise it
exhausted into a condenser called condensing turbine.
4. According to pressure of steam, it may be divided following categories:-

a) High-pressure or pass-out or Extraction steam turbine:-

b) Medium-pressure or back pressure steam turbine:-
c) Low-pressure turbine:-

These turbines are used for various manufacturing and heating process.
5. According to the number of stages, it may be divided following categories:-

a)Single stage steam turbine:-

b)Multi-stage steam turbine:-

⇨ Steam is coming from nozzles when passed through a single set of moving
blades called single stage steam turbine and to flow multi-stages of moving
blades called multi-stages steam turbine.
6. According to the blade and wheels arrangement, it may be divided
following categories:-

a)Pressure Compounding Steam Turbine (Rateau)

b)Velocity Compounding Steam Turbine(Curtis)

c)Pressure-Velocity Compounding Steam Turbine

 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STEAM TURBINE AND STEAM ENGINE
Steam Turbine Steam Engine

1) Conversion of heat energy to mechanical work, there

1) High frictional loss for reciprocating parts.
is no frictional loss.

2) Balance is good. 2) Balance is not so good.

3) Foundation is light weight. 3) Foundation is heavy weight.

4) It can run high speed. 4) It can not run so much speed.

5) Lubrication is simple as there is no rubbing parts 5) Lubrication is not so simple for rubbing parts.

6) Power generation uniformly. 6) It does not generate power uniformly.

7) Steam consumption is less 7) It consume more steam than steam turbine.

8) It is more compact and require less attention. 8) Steam engine needs more attention.

9) It is suitable for large power plants. 9) It is not suitable for large power plants.

10) Steam turbine is more efficient than steam engine. 10) Steam engine is not so much efficient.
 Comparison of Impulse and Reaction Turbine:
Impulse Turbine:
i. Pressure drop takes place only in the nozzle and not in the moving blade. The
pressure remains constant in the moving blade row.
ii. The area of blade channel at entrance and exit is same.
iii. Symmetrical profile type blades are used in impulse turbine which provides a
uniform section. Impulse turbine may be either partial admission or full admission.
iv. This occupies less space for the same power.
v. Not much power can be developed.
vi. Efficiency is found low.
vii. Suitable for small power generation.
viii. High rotor speed requires compounding of turbine.
Reaction Turbine:
i. Pressure drop takes place in the fixed blade (nozzle) as well as in the moving
blade row also.
ii. The area of blade channel at the exit is made narrow. It is of convergent type.
iii. Aerofoil types of blades are used in reaction turbine. Reaction turbine is always
full admission turbine.
iv. This occupies more space for the same power.
v. Much power can be developed.
vi. High efficiency can be achieved.
Vii. Suitable for medium and high power generation.
viii. The speed is relatively low and hence no compounding is required.
Thank You