TURBINES

Flash back your memory

What is turbomachine?
A turbomachine is a steady flow device (nonpositive displacement) which
creates/consumes shaft-work by changing the
moment of momentum (angular momentum) of
a fluid passing through a rotating set of blades.

What is in this section?

Understand the classification of
turbines.
Analysis of the flow in the blade rows
and stages.
Dynamic scaling, characteristics of
compressors and turbines.
Compressible flow machines.
Hub-tip variations in flow properties.

Examples of turbines

Examples of turbines

Examples of turbines:
Aero Engines & aero Derivatives

Another example: Hydro

turbines

TURBINES
TYPES

TURBIN
ES

IMPULS
E
REACTI
ON
FLOW

CONTROL
VOLUME

DIMENSION
AL
ANALYSIS

VELOCITY
VELOCITY
TRIANGLES

Dynamic turbine
classifications

Impulse turbine
Flow converts into kinetic
energy.
Eg. Pelton wheel

Reaction turbine

Momentum is exchanged
between the fluid, there is large
pressure drop.

Impulse turbine: Pelton

wheel.

Impulse turbine: Pelton wheel.

The insight

Impulse turbine: Pelton

wheel.

Impulse turbine: Pelton wheel.

The insight

Impulse turbine: Pelton wheel.

Velocity diagram

Reaction turbine

Subcategories of reaction turbines

Reaction turbine:
Francis turbine

Typical set-up and terminology for

hydroelectric plant: Francis turbine

Figure 14.95: Outer radius runner

Equation 14.45

Figure 14.96: Inner radius runner

Equation 14.46

Figure 14.99: The control volume from

inlet to the outlet runner (Francis turbine)

Further classification
Type and arrangement of
staging
Direction of steam flow
Repetition of steam flow
Division of steam flow

Flow velocity and flow triangles

(basic coordinate systems and
velocities)
Earlier we defined a turbomachinery as a steady
flow device which creates/consumes shaft-work
by changing the momentum of a fluid through a
rotating set of blades.
Therefore we must consider:
the moment of momentum
rotation about an axis

Flow velocity and flow

triangles

Flow velocity and flow

triangles

The analysis of the flow through rotating blade rows (rotors) can
be greatly simplified by working in a frame of reference so that
the rotors appear to be at rest.

Axial view of the components of the absolute and rotor relative

velocity vectors.

The two (stationary/absolute and rotational/rotor relative) frames

of reference are related according to the vector expression:
Absolute velocity=relative velocity + rotational velocity
Since Vx and Vr are same in both frames of reference, the only
difference between the absolute and relative velocities is due to
the magnitude of the circumferential velocity.

Velocity triangles for an axial

turbine stage
(stator and rotor)
For simplicity, we assume that:
The variation of the flow in the radial direction is small.
The radial component of velocity is negligible (Vx=0).
There is no large change in radius (r)through the stage.
The blade speed
( r U ) is constant.
The direction of the flow in the circumferential direction is
small.
We recall that the flow angles are positie if they are in the
same direction as the rotation of the rotor.

Now,
turbines use stators to create a moment of momentum which
is then removed in the rotor.

Note that, the analysis of the flow through rotating blade rows
(rotors) can be greatly simplified by working n a frame of
reference so that the rotors appear to be at rest.
We recall that the axial velocity, Vx2 is the same in both frames
of reference and that

Therefore, the rotor relative inlet flow angle is given by

We now look at the rotor exit:

At the rotor exit, we note that,

And that;

Conclusion

Turbine blades make the flow more tangential

This is very common
Turbine blades accelerate the flow
Boundary layers thin and losses in efficiency are
small.

Example
The flow leaving an axial turbine stator blade row has a
velocity 700m/s at an angle of 70. The rotor has a blade
speed of 500m/s. the flow leaving a rotor blade row also
has a relative velocity of 700m/s at a relative angle of
-70. Neglect any radial velocities and assume that the
axial velocity is constant through the stage, calculate the
relative flow angle at rotor inlet and the absolute flow
angle at rotor exit.

Turbine scaling laws

Example 14.16 Turbine specific speed.

Questions
14.68C
Why turbines often have greater efficiencies that do pumps?
14.69C
Discuss the main difference between in the way that dynamic
pumps and reaction turbines are classified as centrifugal
(radial), mixed flow or axial.
14.71C
Name briefly describe the differences between the two basic
types of dynamic turbine.
14.72C
Discuss the meaning of reverse swirl in reaction hydro
turbines and explain why some reverse swirl may be
desirable. Support your answer with an equation. Why is it not
wise to have too much swirl? Discuss.