The Losses of Turbomachines

The Losses of Turbomachines

1
1. Internal Losses: Losses which take place in the inner
passages of the machine and directly
connected with rotor or flow of the
medium and which are adding heat to the
flow medium

2. External losses: Losses which appear outside of the inner

passages of the casing and which do not
transfer the generated heat directly into
the flow medium

1
Internal Losses

• Due to the inner losses, the total energy exchange between 
, gy g
the rotor and the flow medium is altered.
• In the case of the working machine more energy has to be 
exchanged
h d
• In the case of the power machine less energy is exchanged 
than by a machine under the same condition but without 
y
losses.

• The losses can be :
– Specific Energy Losses
– Volume/mass
Volume/mass‐flow
flow losses
losses

2
A. Hydraulic Loss Zh
• Is a specific Energy Loss due to friction, separation,
contraction, diffucion, eddy formation etc. while the flow
passes through the main flow passages from entrance to
discharge flange of the machine

• In case of turbines the needed energy to overcome the

hydraulic loss Zh is taken from the available spec. energy Y.
⎡ Nm ⎤
Yblade = Y − Z h ⎢ ⎥
⎣ kg ⎦

• In case of working machines, the impeller has to transfer in

addition to the spec. energy Y a spec. energy Zh
⎡ Nm ⎤
Yblade = Y + Z h ⎢ ⎥
⎣ kg ⎦
3
B. Disc Friction Loss Zr
• The surface of the rotor which does not form the main flow 
passage is surrounded by a fluid medium
passage is surrounded by a fluid medium

• While the rotor rotates, a friction is generated between this 
rotor surface and its surrounding fluid medium. The needed 
power to overcome this friction can be written as:

N r = ρ VZ r

Where: Zr = disc friction spec. energy loss and is involved with ρV

4
C. Return
Return‐Flow
Flow Loss Za
• A return flow of already energy loaded medium may be 
noted in pumps Especially by those of the axial‐flow
noted in pumps. Especially by those of the axial flow type.
type

N a = ρ VZ a

Where ZZa = the spec. energy loss 
Where = the spec energy loss
involved and related to ρV.

™ Na is very small for the design point and, thus it is normally 
neglected. But it may increase greatly when discharge Vx is less 
that the design point discharge V
that the design point discharge V.

5
D. Leakage Loss ΔV (Loss of Volume or mass‐flow
• Due to possible leakage, the volume V passing through the 
pressure flange of the machine differs from the volume V’ passing 
through the rotor vane channels.

If ΔV is the total leakage

, the volume flowing
through the rotor
channels is:

V ' = V + ΔV In working machines

V ' = V − ΔV In power machines

The specific energy loss ΔV

due to leakage: Zl = Yblade
V 6
Internal Power
• The total internal loss, Zi Zi = Zh + Zr + Za + Zl

• Accounting for all internal losses, the power transferred 
between the rotor and the flow is defined as:

N i = ρ (V ± Δ V )Yblade ± ( N r + N a ) = ρ VY i

• Where Yi is internal specific work defined as:

⎛ ΔV ⎞
⎟Yblade ± (Z r + Z a )
Ni
Yi = = ⎜1 ±
ρV ⎝ V ⎠
Yi = Y − Z i For power machines
Yi = Y + Z i For working machines

7
External Losses
• All external losses due to friction in the bearings, sealings
and due to fluid friction at the outside rotating surfaces of 
f f g f
the machine can be counted together as a power loss: N ⎡⎢ Nmm
⎤
kg ⎥
⎣ ⎦

• External losses also include losses from auxiliary equipments 
(oil pump, bearing lubrication speed regulators) since they 
are mostly driven directly by the shaft of the turbomachine
y y y

• The coupling power N which considers all internal and 
external losses is

N = N i ± N m = ρ (V ± Δ V )Yblade ± ( N r + N a + N m )
8
Sankey diagram
• For working Machines

• For Power Machines

9
The Efficiency of the Turbomachine
• Definition of Efficiency: energy output power output
η = =
energy
gy input
p p
power input
p

• Different efficiencies can be defined considering different 
losses:
±1 ±1
⎛ Y ⎞ ⎛ Y ⎞
A. Hydraulic Efficiency:  η h = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ Yblade ⎠ ⎝ Y ± Z h ⎠

™ Hydraulic efficiency cannot be measured directly by test because 
Nr and Na are also involved in the flow through and around the 
rotor.

10
 ±1 ±1
B. Internal Efficiency:  ⎛Y ⎞ ⎛ ρ VY ⎞
η i = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ Yi ⎠ ⎝ Ni ⎠

™ Considers all internal losses including the hydraulic losses.
™ For steam or a gas turbines the velocity and geodetic energy 
F t t bi th l it d d ti
can be neglected: 
™ the internal efficiency can be determined by measuring 
y y g
temperatures or enthalpies

Δ t ad T D' − T S Δ i ad i D' − i S
compressio n η i = = = =
Δt TD − TS Δi iD − iS
Δ t ad T − TS Δ i ad iD − iS
exp ansion ηi = = D = =
Δt T D − T S' Δi i D − i S'

11
 ±1 ±1
C Mechanical Efficiency:
C. M h i l Effi i ⎛ Ni ⎞ ⎛ Ni ⎞
ηm = ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ N ⎠ ⎝ Ni ± Nm ⎠

™ The mechanical efficiency considers only the external losses.
y y

D. Overall Efficiency:  (Often referred  to as ‘efficiency’):

For working machines :

ρ VY ρ VY N i
η = = = η iη m
N Ni N
For power machines :
N Ni N
η = = = η iη m
ρ VY ρ VY N i

™ The overall efficiency which includes all internal and external 
The overall efficiency which includes all internal and external
losses can be determined by test.
12