STEAM TURBINE GENERATORS

Stanley A. Armbruster

8.1 INTRODUCTION

The steam turbine generator is the primary power conversion

component of the power plant. The function of the steam

turbine generator is to convert the thermal energy of the

steam from the steam generator to electrical energy. Two

separate components are provided: the steam turbine to convert the thermal energy to rotating
mechanical energy, and

the generator to convert the mechanical energy to electrical

energy. Typically, the turbine is directly coupled to the generator.

This chapter provides a general overview ofsteam turbine

generators. The detailed design of individual components is

not addressed since typically the power plant designer is not

involved in the detailed design of the steam turbine generator. The power plant designer specifies
performance and

general design requirements for a turbine generator manufacturer to meet in the production of the
turbine generator.

The turbine generator manufacturer performs the detailed

design of the unit. The knowledge required by the power

plant designer is an understanding of the basic operating

principles; familiarity with the types, components, and auxiliaries of the turbine generator; and an
understanding of the

unit performance with the capability to predict overall turbine generator performance. This required
information is

presented in this chapter. In-depth information on steam

turbine generators can be obtained from the additional references noted at the end of this chapter.

The principal medium to large steam turbine manufacturers in the United States are General Electric
and Westinghouse. The major European manufacturers who supply turbine generators to the United
States are ASEA Brown

Boveri, Siemens, MAN, and GEe Alsthom. The major Japanese manufacturers are Hitachi, Mitsubishi,
Toshiba, and
Fuji Electric.

8.2 OPERATING PRINCIPLES

The operation of the steam turbine generator involves the

expansion of steam through numerous stages in the turbine,

causing the turbine rotor to tum the generator rotor. The

generator rotor is magnetized, and its rotation generates the

electrical power in the generator stator.

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8.2.1 Turbine Stage Types

The thermal energy of the steam is converted to mechanical

energy by expanding the steam through the turbine. The

expansion of the steam occurs in two types of stages: impulse and reaction. The impulse stage can be
compared to a

water wheel on which a stream of water strikes the paddles,

causing the wheel to tum. The reaction stage can be compared to a rotating sprinkler in that the jet of
water from the

sprinkler causes the arms to rotate.

8.2.1.1 Impulse StQges. An impulse stage consists of a

stationary nozzle with rotating buckets or blades (Fig. 8-1).

The steam expands through the nozzle, increasing in velocity

as a result ofthe decrease in pressure. The steam then strikes

the rotating buckets and performs work on the rotating

buckets, which in tum decreases the steam velocity. The

impulse stages can be grouped together in velocity compound stages or pressure compound stages (Fig.
8-2).

The velocity compound stage involves a stationary nozzle

followed by several rotating and stationary buckets. The

nozzle has a large pressure drop with a resulting increase in

velocity. The first set of rotating buckets partially decreases

the velocity as a result ofthe work performed on the buckets.

The steam then passes through a set of stationary buckets in

that the steam direction is changed back to the original

direction. The steam then enters a second set of rotating

buckets where the steam velocity is completely dissipated by

performing work on this row of buckets. The velocity compound stage can consist of the stationary
nozzles and many

rotating and stationary buckets; however, there usually are

only two rotating bucket rows and one stationary bucket row.

The velocity compound stage typically is used as the first

stage of a turbine because of its ability to withstand highpressure reductions and the resultant efficiency
in quickly

reducing pressure and minimizing the requirements for highpressure casings. The velocity compound
stage is also called

a Curtis stage.

Also shown in Fig. 8-2 is a pressure compound series of

impulse stages. Rather than involving a large pressure drop

in the one nozzle set, the pressure compound stages involve

several sets of nozzles with small pressure drops through

each set of nozzles and complete velocity dissipation in each

row of rotating buckets. The pressure compound stages are

also called Rateau impulse stages. The pressure compound