5.

Steam Turbines
outline

1. Introduction

2. Impulse turbine

3. Reaction turbine

4. Steam powerplant

1
 6.1. Introduction

 What exactly is the

turbine?
Turbine is an engine that
converts energy of fluid
into mechanical energy
 The steam turbine is
steam driven rotary
engine.
Some Historical Facts
 The first „turbine” was made by Hero of
Alexandria in the second century
 In the end of XVIII century the Industrial
Revolution began (in 1770 first reciprocating
piston steam engine invented by Thomas
Newcomer and invented by James Watt
started its work)
 The first steam turbines were constructed in
1883 by Dr Gustaf de Laval and in 1884 by sir
Charles Parsons
 In1896 Charles Curtis received a patent on
impulse turbine
 In 1910 was created radial turbine
(Ljungström)
Construction Of Steam Turbines

1 – steam pipeline 9 – rotor disc 21 – bearing pedestal

2 – inlet control valve 10 – rotor 22 – safety governor
3 – nozzle chamber 11 – journal bearing 23 – main oil pump
4 – nozzle-box 13 – thrust bearing 24 – centrifugal governor
5 – outlet 14 – generator rotor 25 – turning gear
6 – stator 15 – coupling 29 – control stage impulse
7 – blade carrier 16 – labyrinth packing blading
8 – casing 19 – steam bleeding (extraction)
 Turbine Belding
Depending upon the types of blades used and the method
of energy transfer from the fluid to the rotor wheel, the
turbines may be of two types
1. Impulse turbine
2. Reaction turbines
Impulse turbine
Reaction turbine
Reaction turbine
 Turbine performance can be expressed by the following factors :
i. The steam flow process.
ii. The steam flow rate through the unit.
iii. Thermal efficiency.
iv. Losses such as exhaust, mechanical, generator, radiation etc.
v. Mechanical losses include bearing losses, oil pump losses and generator bearing
losses.
vi. Generator losses include will electrical and mechanical losses.
vii.Exhaust losses include the kinetic energy of the steam as it leaves the last stage
and the pressure drop from the exit of last stage to the condenser stage.
viii.For successful operation of a steam turbine it is desirable to supply steam at
constant pressure and temperature.
 Steam pressure can be easily regulated by means of safety valve
fitted on the boiler.
 The steam temperature may try to fluctuate because of the
following reasons :
i. Variation in heat produced due to varying amounts of fuel burnt
according to changing loads.
ii. Fluctuation in quantity of excess air.

iii.Variation in moisture content and temperature of air entering the

furnace.
iv. Variation in temperature of feed water.

v. The varying condition of cleanliness of heat absorbing surface.

The efficiency of steam turbines can be increased:

i. By using super heated steam.

ii.Use of bled steam reduces the heat rejected to the

condenser and this increases the turbine efficiency.
Governing of steam turbines
 The function of governing is maintain the shaft speed constant as
the load varies.
 The simplest type of governor is the centrifugal fly ball type.

2TN
pshaft 
60
 Where T is torque and N is the rpm.
 As load (torque ) decreases, speed increases. consequently, with
the increase of centrifugal force, the fly balls apart and raise the
sleeve which ,operating through a lever and a fulcrum, actuates the
main valve to close and reduce the mass flow of steam admitted to
the turbine.
cont. …
 An oil- opratered servo system in addition may be used to
enhanced the sensitivity of the governor.
 The governor force is amplified to move a light and almost friction
frictionless pilot valve which controls the flow of high pressure oil
to a piston.
 The piston powered by the oil can thus operate the governor valve
as desired. The steady-state speed regulation Rs is given by

No  N
Rs  100
Nr
Where
 No=speed at full load
 N=speed at no load ,and
 Nr= rated speed
cont. …
 Example 6.1
The speed change from full load to no load is limited to 3-4%
of the speed at rated load. If the rated speed is 3000rpm,
the speed at full load would be 3060 rpm and that at no load
would be 2940 rpm.
Given
No=3060rpm
N=2940rpm
Nr= 3000rpm
Solution
No  N
Rs  100
Nr
3060  2940
Rs  100  4%
3000
Throttle governing
2.Nozzle governing
2.Emergency governing
Every turbine is provided with same form of an emergency
governor which trips the turbine (close the strip valve and
stops steam supply when
a)Shaft exceeds 110% of its rates value i.e. 3300rpm
b)Lubrication system fails
c) Balancing (static as well as dynamic) of turbine is not proper
d)Condenser becomes hot (due to inadequate cooling water
circulation )or vacuum is less .
3.By pass governing
Steam power plant