Steam Turbine

Working Principle
In the figures shown in the next slides, Rankine cycle represent the following
processes:
ab, compression of liquid water by condensate extraction pump and feed
pump
bc, raising feedwater temperature in the feed heaters and steam generator
cd, evaporation of water in the steam generator
de, superheating of vapour in the steam generator
ef, expansion of steam in the turbine
fa, condensation of exhaust steam in the condenser

2
Steam Turbine
Introduction
Steam turbine is a rotating machine, which converts heat energy of steam to
mechanical energy
The steam turbine process can be explained by the Rankine cycle
Each of the three types of diagrams (as shown in the subsequent slides) indicate
the same Rankine cycle, but display the changes taking place in the process from
different considerations/point of view
3
Steam Turbine
Working Principle (contd)
The thermal efficiency of the Rankine cycle is:
4
=
Net work done
=
W
=
H
e
H
f
- ( H
b
- H
a
)
=
H
e
H
f
Heat added Q H
e
H
a
- (H
b
H
a
) H
e
H
a
Steam Turbine
5
Steam Turbine
6
Steam Turbine
Working Principles (contd)
Steam expanding through a narrow orifice (nozzle), acquires kinetic energy at the
expense of its heat energy
This kinetic energy of steam jet is used to rotate a rotor of turbine
There are two basic types of turbines:
Impulse turbine
Reaction turbine
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Steam Turbine
Impulse Turbine
In an ideal impulse
turbine, the steam
expansion occurs through
the stationary nozzle only
The moving blades
change steam velocity
and direction
The motive force is due to
the change in the
resultant momentum of
the steam
8
Impulse Turbine
Steam Turbine
Reaction Turbine
In ideal reaction turbine,
steam expansion occur in
the moving blades
The turbine rotor is forced
to turn by the active force
of the steam jet leaving the
nozzle
In commercial turbines,
fixed nozzles (blades) admit
steam in moving nozzles
(blades), leading pressure
reduction in both, i.e.,
moving and fixed blades
9
Reaction Turbine
Steam Turbine
10
Expansion of Steam in Impulse and Reaction
Turbine
Steam Turbine
11
Rotor (set of moving blades)
Diaphragm (set of fixed blades)
The above figure shows construction of a
typical lower half diaphragm, which is fixed in
the lower half of the turbine casing
Steam Turbine
12
Steam Turbine
Construction features
The figure shown in the previous slide is a simplified view of a typical turbine
It has a single rotating shaft which has a number of wheels attached to it
The steam passing the turbine is contained within a casing
The casing is usually split into upper and lower half, which are bolted together. This
enables upper half to be raised for maintenance.
Attached to the casing are diaphragm, which support the fixed blades nozzles
The casing gets progressively larger from high pressure end to low pressure end.
This is to accommodate the expansion of the steam as pressure is reduced.
Steam temperature for modern nuclear turbine is typically around 250C and 4000
kPa
13
Steam Turbine (Photo of Steam
Turbine Rotor)
14
Turbine Rotor
Steam Turbine (Photo of Steam
Turbine Rotor)
15
Turbine Rotor