Question: Define steam turbine.

Write down the classification of

steam turbine.

Answer:

Steam turbine: Steam turbine is a prime mover in which rotary motion is

obtained by the gradual change of momentum of the steam. In general, a
steam turbine consists of the following two parts:

1. The nozzle in which the heat energy of high pressure steam is

converted into kinetic energy, so that the steam issues from the
nozzle with a very high velocity.
2. The blades which change the direction of steam issuing from the
nozzle, so that a force acts on the blade due to change of momentum
and propel them.

Classification of Steam Turbine:

The steam turbines may be classified into the following types:

1. According to the mode of steam action

i) Impulse turbine
ii) Reaction turbine
2. According to the direction of steam flow
i) Axial flow turbine
ii) Radial flow turbine
3. According to the exhaust condition of team
i) Condensing turbine
ii) Non-condensing turbine
4. According to the pressure of steam
i) High pressure turbine
ii) Medium pressure turbine
iii) Low pressure turbine
5. According to the number of stages
i) Single stage turbine
ii) Multi-stage turbine

Question: Compare between impulse and reaction turbine.

Prepared By: Hasan Bin Firoz (533)

Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals (ME-401)
 Answer: The comparison between impulse and reaction turbine is given
below:

IMPULSE TURBINE REACTION TURBINE

1. Impulse turbine works on the principle of 1. Reaction turbine works on the principle
Newton’s second law of motion. of Newton’s third law of motion.
2. In impulse turbine only kinetic energy is 2. In reaction turbine both pressure energy
used. and kinetic energy is used.
3. Blades passage is of constant cross section 3. Blade passage is of variable cross
area as there is no expansion of steam. sectional area due to expansion of steam.
4. Steam completely expands in the nozzle 4. Steam expands both in fixed and moving
itself. Hence its pressure remains constant blades continuously as it passes over them.
on both ends of the moving blades.
5. The drop in pressure of steam takes place5. The drop in pressure takes place in fixed
only in nozzles and not in moving blades. nozzles as well as moving blades.
6. As pressure remains constant in moving 6. Continuous expansion of steam causes
blades, the relative velocity of steam passing
relative velocity of steam in the moving
over the moving blades remains constant. blades to increase.
7. Blades are of symmetrical types. 7. Blades are of non-symmetrical types.
8. Because of large pressure drop in the 8. Because of small pressure drop in each
nozzles, the number of stages are less. stage, the number of stages are more for
the same pressure drop.
9. The size of an impulse turbine for power 9. The size of the reaction turbine for the
output is comparatively small. same power output is large.
10. Impulse turbine is suitable for small 10. Reaction turbine is suitable for medium
powers. and higher powers.
Prepared By: Hasan Bin Firoz (533)
Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals (ME-401)
Question: Velocity triangles for moving blade of an impulse turbine.

Answer: Consider a steam jet entering a curved blade after leaving the
nozzle at C. Now let the jet glides over the inside surface and leaves the
blade at D as shown in figure (a). Now let us draw the velocity triangles at
inlet and outlet tips of the moving blade as shown in figure (a).

Let, Vb = Liner velocity of the moving blade (AB)

V = Absolute velocity of steam entering the moving blade (AC)
Vr = Relative velocity of jet to the moving blade (BC)
Vf = Velocity of flow at entrance of the moving blade
Vw = Velocity of whirl at entrance of the moving blade
θ = Angle at which the relative velocity of jet to the moving blade
(Vr) makes with the direction of motion of the blade.
α = Angle with the direction of motion of the blade at which the
jet enters the blade.

V1, Vr1, Vf1, Vw1, β, Φ = Corresponding values at exit of the moving blade.

 The inlet triangle of velocities is represented by AEC, whereas the

outlet triangle by AFD. The relation between inlet and outlet velocity
triangle is Vr=Vr1.

Prepared By: Hasan Bin Firoz (533)

Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals (ME-401)
Question: Derive the expression of power produced by an impulse
turbine.

Answer: Consider an impulse turbine working under the action of a steam

jet.

Let, m = Mass of the steam flowing through the turbine in kg/s.

Vw+Vw1 = Change in the velocity of whirl in m/s [when Vw1 is negative]

We know that according to the Newton’s second law of motion force in the
direction of motion of the blades,

Fx = Mass of steam flowing per second ⨉ change in the velocity of whirl

= m[Vw-(-Vw1)]
= m(Vw+Vw1)

And work done in the direction of motion of the blades

= Force ⨉ Distance
= m(Vw+Vw1)⨉Vb N-m/s

∴ Power produced by the turbine,

P = m(Vw+Vw1)⨉Vb Watts [∵ 1 N-m/s=1 watt]

Similarly, we can find out axial thrust on the wheel is due to the difference
of velocities of flow at inlet and outlet.

∴ Axial thrust on the wheel,

Fy= Mass of steam flowing per second ⨉ change in the velocity of flow
= m(Vf - Vf1)

 The value of Vw1 is taken as negative because of the opposite direction of

Vw with respect to the blade motion. If Vw1 is in the same direction with
respect to the blade motion, then Vw1 is taken as positive.
 The ratio of Vr1 to Vr is known as blade velocity co-efficient or friction
factor, denoted by K.

∴K=

Prepared By: Hasan Bin Firoz (533)

Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals (ME-401)