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3 . DETERMINATION OF ISENTROPIC EFFICIENCY.

Introduction
An ideal turbine would be one in which there is no wastage of available energy. Available energy is wasted
by:

Heat losses
Mechanical friction:- - bearings and glands
Fluid friction:- - between passages and fluid
between turbine blades and fluid
between turbine rotor and fluid
dissipation of Kinetic energy
Shock losses associated with very high fluid velocities.

Expansion of the fluid in a turbine in the absence of these losses would be Adiabatic (i.e. no heat transfer)
and Reversible (i.e. no friction losses, etc.).

An adiabatic and reversible process takes place at constant entropy and is said to be Isentropic.

An isentropic process is a thermodynamic ideal and cannot be achieved in practice. However, the
performance of a real turbine may be set against the performance of an isentropic turbine in order to
measure the effectiveness of the design.

𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒

Isentropic Efficiency 𝜂𝑠 = both having the same inlet and
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝐼𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒

exhaust conditions and the same mass flow rate.

Property Charts
The property charts usually used for steam are as shown on Page 64.

The co-ordinate axes are specific enthalpy (h) and specific entropy (s), and the chart has lines of constant pressure
(p), constant temperature (t), constant dryness fraction (x).

A process represented by a vertical line on this chart will have no change of entropy and represents an isentropic
process.

To determine the isentropic efficiency of the turbine

The isentropic efficiency may be determined at any running condition. It is advisable to use conditions
where it is known that the turbine will be developing close to its maximum power (refer to power/speed
curves).

Procedure

(i) Repeat start and warm the turbine as given on Page 21 onwards

(ii) Establish a steady steam temperature of 180-200 oC at the steam generator.

(iii) Set the turbine inlet pressure, turbine exhaust pressure and speed to the selected values.

(iv) When conditions have stabilised make the observations set out on Page 63.
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OBSERVATIONS

Date:

Atmospheric Pressure: mbar

o
Ambient Temperature (ta): C

Turbine Inlet Pressure pi / bar gauge

Turine Exhaust Pressure po / bar gauge

Rotational Speed / Rev.min.-1

Brake Load /N

Time to Collect 200cm3 Condensate / s-1

Condenser Cooling Water Flow Ratem w / gm s-1

Cooling Water Inlet Temperature t3 / oC

Cooling Water Outlet Temperature t4 / oC

Condensate Temperature t2 / oC

Chamber Temperature t5 / oC
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