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Steam Turbine
Steam Turbine
INTRODUCTION
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal
energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its
modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884.
Definitions of steam turbine:
turbine
A system of angled and shaped blades arranged on a rotor through which steam
is passed to generate rotational energy. Today, normally used in power stations
Equipment unit flown through by steam, used to convert the energy of the steam
into rotational energy.
in
which
steam
strikes
blades
and
makes
them
turn
for regulating the speed and power of the turbine by controlling the steam
flow, and an oil system for lubrication of the bearings and, on all but the
smallest machines, for operating the control valves by a relay system
connected with the governor; (5) a coupling to connect with the driven
machine; and (6) pipe connections to the steam supply at the inlet and to
an exhaust system at the outlet of the casing or shell.
Steam turbines are ideal prime movers for driving machines requiring
rotational mechanical input power. They can deliver constant or variable
speed and are capable of close speed control. Drive applications
include centrifugal pumps, compressors, ship propellers, and, most
important, electric generators.
Steam is no remnant of the Industrial Revolution. Even nuclear power plants employ steam
technology.
As mentioned earlier, there are basically three stages of matter: Solid, liquid
and gas. Each stage is held together by a different level of molecular force.
With water, gaseous steam takes up space due to its molecules being furthest
apart. However, when enough pressure is applied to steam, an amazing thing
happens. The molecules are forced together to the point that the water becomes
more like a liquid again, while retaining the properties of a gas. It is at this point
that it becomes a supercritical fluid.
Many of today's power plants use supercritical steam, with pressure and
temperature at the critical point. This means supercritical steam power plants
operate at much higher temperatures and pressures than plants using subcritical
steam. Water is actually heated to such a high pressure that boiling does not even
occur.
The resulting high-pressure fluid of supercritical steam provides excellent
energy efficiency. With the aid of high pressure, supercritical steam turbines can
be driven to much higher speeds for the same amount of heat energy as
traditional steam power. They also release less CO2 exhaust into the atmosphere.
Additionally, new high-pressure boilers built with rocket technology are being
developed to further control the levels of CO2 emitted. Some boilers will even cool
the steam back into a liquid and channel it into the ground to capture emissions.
Blades:
For starters, a simple turbine works just like a windmill. Only, in the steam
turbines of today, rather than striking the blades directly, the blades are
designed in such a way as to produce maximum rotational energy by directing
the flow of the steam along its surface. So the primary component that goes into
a steam turbine is its blades. The blades of a steam turbine are designed to
behave like nozzles, thus effectively tapping both the impulse and reaction force
of the steam for higher efficiency. Nozzle design itself is a complex process, and
the nozzle shaped blade of the turbine is probably one of the most important
parts in its construction. The blades are made at specific angles in order to
incorporate the net flow of steam over it in its favor. The blades may be of
stationary or fixed and rotary or moving or types.
Shafts:
The shaft is a power transmitting device and is used to transmit the
rotational movement of the blades connected to it at one end via the
rotor to the coupling, speed reducer or gear at the other end.
Outer Casing:
The steam turbine is surrounded by housing or an outer casing
which contains the turbine and protects the device components from
external influence and damage. It may also support the bearings on
which the shafts rest to provide rigidity to the shaft. Usually split at the
center horizontally, the casing parts are often bolted together for easy
opening, checking and steam turbine maintenance, and are extremely
sturdy and strong.
Governor:
The governor is a device used to regulate and control or govern
the output of the steam turbine. This is done by means of control
valves which control the steam flow into the turbine in the first place.
Oil System:
A steam turbine has thousands of moving parts and all these
parts not only have to move in high velocities, but also need to be
protected from wear and tear over the years. This is done by effective
lubrication by the oil system, which governs the pressure, flow and
temperature of the turbine oil, the bearing oil and lubrication of other
moving parts.
Pipes:
The pipe is an all important steam turbine component that brings
the steam from the boiler to the turbine. This has to be done without
an appreciable loss in pressure, and at the same time, must be able to
withstand all these pressures safely. The pipes should be easy to clean
and are prone to deposits on their inner surfaces. Deposits on the inner
surface of the steam pipe reduce the net steam flow area, throwing
forth a negative effect on the efficiency.
the force impact and give the reaction in the direction of the fluid flow.
Thus the whole turbine rotates.
The rotation speed of the turbine depends on the fluid velocity, more
the fluid velocity, greater the rotation speed, and greater the speed means
more power generation.
the exit pressure of the steam is lesser, and the conversion is more. The
velocity drop between the fixed blades and moving blades is almost zero,
and the main velocity drop occurs only in the rotor stage.
What are the advantages of impulse cum reaction turbine over pure
impulse and pure reaction turbine?
The difference between impulse and reaction turbine goes
here......
1) In case of an impulse turbine the pressure remains same in
the rotor or runners, but in case of reaction turbine the pressure
decreases in runners as well as stators also.
2) In case of impulse turbine the pressure drop happens only in
the nozzle part by means of its kinetic energy. In case of Reaction one
the stators those are fixed to the diaphragm act as a nozzle.