Turbine: Difference between Impulse and Reaction Turbine In Hydro-Electric Power Plant mainly Impulse or Reaction Turbines are used to generate electric power. From the engineering point of view both have some differences in working or parts. Here in this article | am trying to share the knowledge with you. Main Differences of Impulse and Reaction Turbine 1) In impulse turbine the water flows through the nozzles and impinges on the buckets where as in reaction turbine the water is guided by the quide blades to flow over the moving vanes. 2) In impulse turbine the entire water energy is first converted in kinetic energy but there is no energy conversion in reaction turbine. 3) ) In impulse turbine the water impinges on the buckets with kinetic energy where as in reaction turbine the water glides over the moving vanes with pressure energy 4) In impulse turbine the work is done only by the change in the kinetic energy of the jet but in reaction turbine the work is done partly by the change in the velocity head, but almost entirely by the change in pressure head. 5) In impulse turbine the pressure of flowing water remains unchanged and is equal to the atmospheric pressure but in reaction turbine the pressure of flowing water is reduced after gliding over the vanes. 6) In impulse turbine it is not essential that the wheel should run full. Moreover, there should be free access of air between the vanes and the wheel where as it is essential that the wheel should always run full and kept full of water in reaction turbine. 7) In impulse turbine the water may be admitted over a part of the circumference or over the whole circumference of the wheel but in reaction turbine the water must be admitted over the whole circumference of the wheel. 8) Mt is possible to regulate the flow of water without loss in impulse turbine but in reaction turbine it is not possible to regulate the flow without loss.Turbines impulse V reaction Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine Moving 4 ‘ é buckets YG = rotor ——- Fed yop B Rotating nozzle 7 1 : nozzle Moving ws : buckets ay Rotating oo SO nozzle Lira > Rotor ——=—# nozzle Stator Rotationsysteioptlic. CELI VIG CI C8 OF ce ectricty - irovative Technologies towards Sustainable Development Lesson 6: Electr from Steam 2. Convert High Pressure Steam to Mechanical Rotation ‘Steam Turbines'® convert high pressure steam to mechanical rotation. Their power output can range from Fundamentals 0.5 megawatts to over 1300 megawatts." Steam turbines Kinetic energy is a form of energy in convert 10-40 percent of the combined input pressure moving objects. Kinetic energy can be potential energy and linear kinetic energy of steam to _ ®ither linear or rotational: output rotational kinetic energy of the turbine shaft” in. finearkinetic energy cclinear | the following process: veloety? = _ High-pressure steam (high pressure potential energy) | jaa and with some velocity (linear kinetic energy) enters | | | | ‘atonal vey | 1 } the turbine and is sucked through sets of different ‘turbine blades, exiting at atmospheric pressure. Potential energy is a form of stored energy in objects that can be - The steam first encounters a set of stationary blades, which are also converging nozzles, that guide the steam towards the next set of blades. - The steam then encounters a set of moving blades, called rotor blades, which are connected to the turbine shaft such that when the rotor blades move, the turbine shaft rotates (rotational kinetic energy). - Each pair of nozzles and rotor blades is called a stage. Some turbines use multiple stages in suocession to convert as much steam energy into shaft energy as is economical. The energy conversion as the steam flows through the blades depends on whether the turbine is an eee age impulse turbine or a reaction turbine. The difference between these two types of turbines lies in their blade configurations. Each blade configuration uses a different type of primary force (impulse or reaction) to move the rotor blades, but also uses the other type of force (reaction or impulse) secondarily. The two can also be combined into an impulse-reaction configuration, relying heavily on both impulse and reaction forces Gases will move from small volumes at high pressure to large volumes at low pressure (ifthe temperatures of anwary 2008, " Onate SYCOM Energy Corporation (1990) Review of Combined Hoot and Power Technologies, Ofice of industial Technolgies, pp 12-13, Avalabo for ‘Assessed 17 Apt 2007, +» Zascopn @00ta) The Europonn Eaveroon Tet on Coponrsion fea, tho Europea Assocaton for th Prometon of Cogeneration, Belgium, p47. Avatable at inv conen ca”Downloadables/ProiecisEDUCOGEN Tool pdf Accessed 17 Ap 2007: Onste SYCOM Energy Coxporatio (1999) Review of Combined Hoa ad Power Technologies, Ofe of inaustral Technologies, pp 5,12. Avaliable at hnipudwneore energy aoudelplslo ven pul. Accessed 17 Api 2007; Unita Nebons Environment Programme (nd) Energy Technology Fact Sheet Cogeneration, UNEP Divison of Technelony Industry and Eonomics Ey an Oza France, Aa gilli ables PublcatonsiF ac HP.pi, Accessed 17 Api 2007. * Educogen (20012) Te Eupean Education Toa on Cogeneraton. 2 ed. The European Asan te Homoton of Cogeneration, Blghan, p47, Avalable at ig men.cogen ora sth UCOGEN Tool pdt Accessed 17 ‘or 2007; Onsite SYCOM Energy Ceroraten (1999) Review of Conbned Hee and Power Tectrologies, Ofice of indus ‘Technologies, p 5. Avalable at pis sere onerayaovideoa/ehp review pd. Accessed 17 Api 2007; Unted Nations Envionment Programme (nd) Eneray Technology Fact Sheet. Copeneraton, UNEP Division of Technology, Incusty nd Economics - Energy and OzonActon Uni France. Avaliable a ninddnew.conen ora/Downiosdables;Pubicalons/Eact Sheet CHP.pdl. Accessed 17 Api 2007 Prepared by The Natural Edge Project 2008, Page 7 of 17 |ee ie Sones) VIS a C9 oaycty-povave Techies omar Ssthave Deed Lessons Beaty fom Seon to move the rotor blades. Impulse Turbines eae | s 4 A nozzle isa tube-ike device that The energy conversion for an impulse turbine is shown | Sinercomersas or dvorges he a in Figure 6.4. In the impulse blade configuration (see Auis ows thveugh @ nowsle is near Figure 6.5(a) and Figure 6.5(b)), there is high pressure | velocity inereases as the nozzle at the nozzle’s inlet, atmospheric pressure between the converges and decreases as the nozzle and rotor blade, and atmospheric pressure at nozzle diverges. The increase! the rotor blade’s outlet, A nozzle is usually at the outlet decrease inthe fhe’ linear velocity, of a guiding tube and rotor blades are connected to the | and hence its linear kinetic energy, is rotor, which is also connected to the turbine's shaft. | converted from/to its pressure Since the nozzle's inlet pressure is higher than its | tential energy: ‘outlet pressure, the steam expands through the nozzle | - finear velocity & t/pressure, = most of the steam’s pressure potential energy is _ Cemeing Nace Drea converted to linear kinetic energy. After flowing through | Pee es, the nozzle, steam then strikes the rotor blades and applies a force. This force resutts in an impulse on the rotor blades, transferring most of the steam’s linear kinetic energy to the rotor blades’ linear kinetic. energy and hence the s turbine shafts rotational Kinetic energy. Since a rotor blade’s inlet and outlet are both at atmospheric pressure, the steam does not ‘expand and thus rotor blades are not designed to converge nor diverge (see Figure 6.5(c)). After flowing through the rotor blades, the steam is finally exhausted at low pressure and low velocity. ‘A commonly recognised application of the impulse configuration is the Pelton wheel (see Figure 6.5(d)). Steam pressure potential energy Steam tnearKineticenesay Figure 6.4, Energy conversion in an impulse turbine. Page 8 of 17 Frepared by The Natural Edge Project 2008SuUsto| ole se ITS ee IE yap Tetrliges rds Sutanble Delon [Lesson 6: Electric from Steam renova nore (@) Figure 6.5. (2) Single-nozzie impulse turbine; (b) four-nozzle impulse turbine; (c) impulse nozzle blade configuration; (d) Pelton wheel ‘Source: (a) US Department of Energy; (b) Integrated Publishing (n.d.);“ (c) Adapted from Beardmore, R (2006)"* by TNEP; (d) Adapted from The Free Dictionary"® by TNEP Reaction Turbines ‘The energy conversion for a reaction turbine is shown in Figure 6.6. In the reaction blade configuration (see Figute 6.7(2) and Figure 6.7(b)), there is high pressure at the nozzle's inlet, moderate pressure between the nozzle and rotor blade, and atmospheric pressure at the rotor blade’s outlet. Nozzles are usually connected to the turbine’s casing and rotor blades are connected to the rotor, which iS also connected to the turbine's shaft. Since the nozzle’s inlet pressure is higher than its outlet pressure, the steam expands through the nozzle ~ some of the sleam’s pressure potential energy is converted to linear kinetic energy. After flowing through the nozzle, steam then flows through the rotor blades, where it is forced to change direction. This force on the steam results in a reaction force on the rotor blades, transferring most of the steam’ pressure potential energy and linear kinetic energy to the rotor blades’ linear kinetic ‘energy and hence the turbine shafts rotational kinetic energy. see US Doprman of Ena - Meoycopone Sys Tunes Fumes, nd Weel ‘ i 20, Accessed 20 December 2007. " Baacirare, 205) Tharodynamcs— Stam Trin, Aaa at Accessed 20 Deoembor 2007 = is Tho es Debora Tae at hn tenga Asnse 9 Desonbe 2007 ‘Prepared by The Natural Edge Project 2508 Page 9 of 17eystel le eae II 13 8 OB ty nme Tei vari usable Devaloen Lesson &: Electioty trom Steam Throughnozie” Though lerbades ei 2. ‘team naan enesoy FIXED BLADE ROW NS Zot Ue MOVING BLADE ROW © @), Figure 8.7. (a) Blades of @ single-stage reaction turbine; (b) Blades of a two-stage reaction. turbine; (c) reaction nozzle blade configuration; (d) Catherine wheel Source: (a) & (b) Global Security (n.d.)"” (0) Adapted from Beardmore, R. (2008):"® (d) Adapted from The Free Dictionary’? "Global Secu (n.d) Arerat Gas Turbine Engines, Subcourse No. AL0993, S° asiton, Lesson 2: Major Engine Sections, Natabie ihe yori itvanyposcyarm jad Him. Accessed 21 December 2007. fs (200) Themodynames ~ Stam Turbine, Roymoch, UK Avatable st smos/Tharmos. Steam Tuts hin). Accessed 20 Oecember 2007 ia iin efeitos con Turinee Accessed 20 December 2007 Prepared by The Natural Edge Project 2008 Page 10 of 17sustainable aac Tey OS F crocincty — innovative Technologies towards Sustainable Development Lesson Electricity from Steam Since a rotor blade's inlet pressure is higher than its outlet pressure, the steam expands and thus rotor blades are designed as converging nozzles in the same shape as the nozzle blade (See Figure 6.7(0)), After flowing through the rotor blades, the steam is finally exhausted at low pressure and low velocity. A commonly recognised application of the impulse configuration is the Catherine wheel (see Figure 6.7(d)). Imputse-Reaction Turbines In the impulse-reaction blade configuration, the rotor blades are usually designed like an impulse blade at the root and like a reaction blade at the tip (see Figure 6.8). IMPULSE ROOT REACTION TIP Figure 2,8. Impulse-reaction turbine blade ‘Source: Global Security”” Electric Generator ea eer ed ‘An electric generator is a device that converts kinetic | Fundementats energy info electricity, or an electric curent. The | vectors have bth magnitude and electricity then generates @ voltage across an electrical | direction and are usually denoted i joad. An electric generator works under the principle of | bold or with an SOW. The cross electromagnetic induction, which means that if an | procuct () of two vectors, Ax B, electrical conductor, such as @ wire, is moved through a | results in a another vector that has: = _ Magnitude = (magnitude of A) x magnetic field, then an electric current wit! be generated in the conductor. i erectrenteuae | The magnitude | of the current in A postive electrical current (which is Aa | assumed in the right band rue) flows ree Si to { | fom postive ota negative bape the direction of the current is given by the ne right hand rule (see Figure 6.9); and the magnitude of the voltage across the load is given by Equation 6.2 and Table 6.2. Te bade inthe images for an acaf's gas turbine rthor tan fora sleam tubine, bt the image serves to demonstrate the Impulseteacton loge contguation. * Gal Sect.) Ara Ga Ho, 1.0985 $ aon Legon 2: Maer Eine Secon "Aceassed 21 December 2007 vatabe ac Prepared by The Natural Edge Project 2008 Page 11 of?