Steam Turbine

The Impulse Principle

The force on the plate, F is equal to the change in
momentum of the jet in +x direction
( )
0
s s
m m
F V V
g g
- -
= =
where m is mass-flow rate of the jet, lb
m
/s or kg/s
V
s
is velocity in horizontal direction, ft/s or m/s
Fixed flat plate
The Impulse Principle
( )
s B
m
F V V
g
-
=
( )
B B S B
m
W FV V V V
g
-
-
= =
Moving flat plate
where V
B
is the plate velocity, ft/s or m/s
2
2
2
2
B B
plate
S S
S
V V W
V V
mV
g
q
-
-
(
| |
( = =
|
| |
(
\ .

|
|
\ .
Force on the plate
Power done by jet
Efficiency is ratio of power
to initial power of the jet
Power is 0 if V
B
= 0 or
(V
s
-V
B
)=0
B
S
V
V
The Impulse Principle
To find optimum V
B
, power is differentiated
respect to V
B

( ) ( )
2
,
2
max
2 0
2
4
S B B S B
B B
S
B opt
S
dW d m m
V V V V V
dV dV g g
V
V
mV
W
g
- - -
-
-
(
(
= = =
(

=
=
Half of kinetic energy per unit time of
jet
Half of jet velocity
The Impulse Principle
Fluid relative entrance velocity = Fluid relative exit velocity
Fluid relative velocity =
s B
V V
( )
Absolute jet velocity at exit (+x direction) = - - 2
B S B B S
V V V V V =
( ) ( )
( )
2
2
2
2
4
S B S S B
B B S B
B B
b
S S
m m
F V V V V V
g g
m
W FV V V V
g
V V
V V
q
- -
-
-
= = (

= =
(
| |
( =
|
(
\ .

For frictionless blade
By impulse and momentum principle
For 180
o
curved blade
Double of value on
flat plate case
The Impulse Principle
( ) ( )
2
,
2
max
2 2 2 0
2
2
S B B S B
B B
S
B opt
S
dW d m m
V V V V V
dV dV g g
V
V
mV
W
g
- - -
-
-
(
(
= = =
(

=
=
To find optimum V
B
, power is differentiated
respect to V
B

Half of jet velocity
Equal to kinetic energy per unit time of jet
,max
100%
B
q =
The Impulse Principle
It is impossible to have 180
0
curved blade in actual
application
jet exit will impinging on the back of next blade
Blade entrance angle and blade exit angle cannot be
zero, as shown in the figure below
The Velocity Diagram
Absolute velocity of fluid leaving the nozzle
Relative velocity of fluid (as seen by an observer riding on the blade)
Blade velocity
Absolute velocity of fluid leaving the blade
Relative velocity of fluid leaving the blade
Nozzle angle
Blade
entrance
angle
Blade exit
angle
Fluid exit angle
The Velocity Diagram
( )
( )
( )
1 2
1 2
1 2
2
1 1 1
cos cos
cos cos
2 cos cos
S S
w w
B
B S S
s B B
B
s s s
m
F V V
g
m
F V V
g
mV
W FV V V
g
V V V
V V V
u o
u o
q u o
-
-
-
-
=
=
= =
(
| | | || |
=
( | | |
\ . \ .\ .

Velocity of whirl, V
w

The Velocity Diagram
With no friction, expansion or contraction
( )
r1 r2 1
2 1 1
V in + x direction = V in -x direction = cos
Absolute velocity of fluid leaving the blade in +x direction
cos cos 2 cos
s B
s B s B B s
V V
V V V V V V
u
o u u

= =
( )
( )
,
1
1
,
2
2
max
1
2
cos
0
cos
2
2
cos
2
B opt
B
s B
B
s
B opt
s
mV
W V V
g
dW
by
dV
V
V
m m
W V V
g g
u
u
u
-
-
-
- -
-
=
=
=
= =
( )
2 max
,max
2
1
cos
2
B
s
W
mV
g
q u
-
-
= =
| |
|
|
\ .
The Impulse Principle
From first-law of thermodynamics,
for adiabatic system and PE = 0
( )
2 2
1 2
1 2
2 2
s s
V V
W H H m
g g
- -
| |
= +
|
\ .
where H
1
and H
2
are the enthalpy entering and leaving the blade
H
1
- H
2
is obtained by considering fluid flow relative to the blade (observer is on the
blade), where only relative velocities and no work are observed.
2 2
2 1
1 2
2 2
r r
V V
H H
g g
| |
=
|
\ .
( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
1 2 1 2
2
s s r r
m
W V V V V
g
-
-
(
=

Including friction, expansion or
contraction
The Impulse Principle
In case of pure impulse (no friction, no expansion
and no contraction),
H
1
= H
2
and V
r1
= V
r2



Friction is described by, velocity coefficient, k
v


Stage efficiency is the ratio of work of the blade
divided by the total enthalpy drop for the whole
blade

( )
2 2
impulse
1 2
2
pure
s s
m
W V V
g
-
-
=
2
1
r
v
r
V
k
V
=
H
s
s
W W
H
m h
q
- -
A -
= =
A
A
Impulse Turbine
Blade is usually symmetrical.
Entrance angle ( ) and exit angle () are around
20
o
.
Usually used in the entrance high-pressure stages
of a steam turbine.
Enthalpy drop and pressure drop occur in the
nozzle.
The Single-Stage Impulse Turbine
De Laval turbine

Steam is fed through one or
several convergent-divergent
nozzles.
Pressure drop occurs in the
nozzle (not in the blade)
Maximum velocity (kinetic energy)
occurs at nozzle exit.

Compounded-Impulse Turbine
For single-stage impulse turbine


For modern boiler conditions, expansion in single
nozzle stage gives 1645 m/s.
Beyond the maximum allowable safety limits. (due to
centrifugal stress)
To overcome these difficulties,
Velocity-compounded turbine
Pressure-compounded turbine

1
,
cos
2
s
B opt
V
V
u
=
Velocity-Compounded Impulse Turbine
Curtis stage turbine
2
2 1 1
1
3
3 2 2
2
4
4 3 3
3



r
r r v
r
s
s s v
s
r
r r v
r
V
V V k
V
V
V V k
V
V
V V k
V
< =
< =
< =
Velocity-Compounded Impulse Turbine
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
{ }
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 2 2 1 3 4 4 3
2
s s r r s s r r
c
m
W V V V V V V V V
g
-
-
( (
= +

1 1
,
cos
2
s
B opt
V
V
n
u
=
Nozzle angle
Number of stages
Velocity-Compounded Impulse Turbine
Work ratio
for 2 stages turbine 3:1
for 3 stages turbine 5:3:1
for 4 stages turbine 7:5:3:1
Pressure-Compounded Impulse Turbine
Rateau turbine
1 2
... 2
tot
s s c
h
V V g
n
A
= = =
h
tot
= the total specific enthalpy drop of the
turbine
n = the number of stages
Enthalpy drops per stage are the same
Pressure drops are not
Pressure-Compounded Impulse Turbine
Advantages of reduced blade velocity, reduced steam velocity (hence friction)
Equal work among the stages.
Disadvantages pressure drop across the fixed nozzles require leak-tight diaphragm
to avoid steam leakage.
Reaction Principle
Fixed nozzle, a rocket, a whirling lawn sprinkle and turbine are
devices that cause a fluid to exit at high speeds.
The fluid beginning with zero velocity inside, creates a force in
the direction of motion F equal to
c
V
F m
g
-
=
Reaction Turbine
pressure
Absolute velocity
Nozzles with full steam admission
Unsymmetrical blade
Similar shape to fixed blade
(opposite direction curve)
Pressure continually drops through all rows of
blades (fixed and moving)
Absolute velocity changes within each stage
repeats from stage to stage
50 % Degree of reaction
-Half of enthalpy drop of the stage occurs at fixed blade
-Half of enthalpy drop of the stage occurs at moving
blade
Reaction Turbine
( )
( ) ( )
1
1
, 1
2 2
1
2 cos
2 cos 2 0
cos
cos
opt
B
s B
c
s B
B
B opt s
s B
c c
V
W m V V
g
dW
V V
dV
V V
m m
W V V
g g
u
u
u
u
- -
-
- -
-
=
= =
=
= =
Reaction Turbine
( )
2 2
1 0
0 1
, 0 1
1
2
s s
c
N
f s s
V V
g h h
h h h
q
| |

|

\ .
= =
A
( )
0 2
B
s ss
W W
m h m h h
q
- -
- -
= =
A
( )
2 2
1 1
1 2
2 2
B
s s
ms s
c c
W W
V V
m h m h h
g g
q
- -
- -
= =
| | | |
+ A +
| |
\ . \ .
Fixed-blade (nozzle) efficiency
Moving-blade efficiency
Stage efficiency
,
isentropic enthalpy drop across fixed blade
f s
h A =
isentropic enthalpy drop across moving blade
ms
h A =
isentropic enthalpy drop across entire stage
s
h A =
Enthalpy
Entropy
Reaction Turbine
Reaction stage has pressure drop across the
moving blade.
Not suitable for high pressure stage because
pressure drop is very high and results in steam
leakage around the tips of the blades.
Impulse turbine is normally used for HP stages.
Reaction turbine is normally used for LP stages.

Axial Thrust
Impulse turbine
Little pressure drop on the moving blade from friction
Change in axial component of momentum of the
steam from entrance to exit


For pure symmetrical impulse blades, V
r1
= V
r2
and
= , axial thrust is zero.

( )
1 2
sin sin
axial r r
c
m
F V V
g
|
-
=
Axial Thrust
Reaction turbine
Change in axial momentum is zero.
Large and continual pressure drop across the
moving blade.
Axial thrust is quite large.
Thrust bearing to support axial thrust.
Dummy piston (rings) to balance axial thrust
Steam Turbine
Twisted Blades
Reaction blades are high, especially in the latter stages.
V
B
increases with radius from base to tip of blade.
V
s1
and do not vary in radial direction.
Increase from root
to tip
decrease from root
to tip
Twisted Blades
Combination Turbines
Case 1
Curtis stages (Velocity compounded impulse)
First two-rows
Rateau stages (Pressure compounded impulse)
Latter stages
Case 2
Curtis stages
First one or two-rows
Reaction stages

Combination Turbines
Impulse stage
Suitable for high pressure
No pressure drop on moving blade
For same enthalpy drop, much larger pressure drop
occurs at high pressure.
Higher pressure drop = more possibility for leakage
between blade tip and casing
Reaction stage
More efficient at low pressure
Turbine Configurations
Tandem compound single shaft
Cross compound two parallel shaft
HP turbine high pressure turbine
IP turbine intermediate pressure turbine
LP turbine low pressure turbine
LSB last stage blade
Turbine Configurations

Steam Flow Path

Straight through Single reheat
Extraction Induction (or mixed flow)
Turbine Rotors
Almost all of turbines are placed face-to-face,
especially in IP and LP turbine, which comprise
of reaction stages.
What is the reason for this arrangement?
HP inlet
HP Exhaust
IP inlet
LP Exhaust IP Exhaust
LP Exhaust LP Exhaust
LP Exhaust
LP inlet LP inlet
IP Exhaust
What is the configuration type of this
steam turbine?