Impulse Turbine and Reaction Turbine-Principle,

Working and Difference

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February 11, 2017

INTRODUCTION
In this article, we see about the Impulse Turbine and Reaction Turbine-Principle,
Working and Difference

Steam turbine is the widely use as a prime mover in power plants, refineries,
petrochemical plants, food processing plants, power plants etc.,

Steam Turbine Operation Principles

Based on operating principle the steam turbine is classified as two types

1. Impulse turbine
2. Reaction turbine

Impulse Turbine
In principle, the impulse steam turbine consists of a casing containing stationary steam
nozzles and a rotor with moving or rotating buckets.

When the steam passes through the stationary nozzles and is directed at high velocity
against the rotor buckets. The rotor buckets starts to rotate at high speed.

Events take place in the nozzle

The steam pressure decreases.

The enthalpy of the steam decreases.
The steam velocity increases
The volume of the steam increases.

In nozzles, the pressure energy of the steam is converted into kinetic energy. They are
two types of nozzles used in the steam turbine. They are

1. Convergent nozzles
2. Convergent -divergent nozzles

The Convergent Nozzles

They are used for smaller pressure drops where the minimum exit pressure is 0.577 x
the inlet pressure (the critical pressure for nozzles.) If the exit pressure is less than
0.577 x inlet pressure, eddy-currents are developed and finally, the exit velocity will be
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less than calculated.

The Convergent-divergent Nozzles

The convergent-divergent nozzles prevent eddy currents and the calculated velocity will
be obtained even at large pressure drops.

The purpose of the bucket or moving blade on the rotor is to convert the kinetic energy
of the steam into mechanical energy. If all kinetic energy is converted the steam exit
velocity will be 0 m/s. This is not possible but it shows that the rotor blades must bring
the steam exit velocity near 0 m/s.

The Impulse Principle

The steam at high pressure enters
through a stationary nozzle of a steam
turbine, as a result the pressure of the
steam is decrease and an increase in
steam velocity. As a result of increased
steam velocity steam pass through the
nozzle in the form of a high-speed jet.
This high-velocity steam hit the properly
shaped turbine blade, as a result, the
steam flow direction is changed. The effect of this change in direction of the steam flow
will produce an impulse force. This force cause the blade move, thereby the rotor will
start to rotate.

The force applied to the blade is developed by causing the steam to change the direction
of flow (Newton’s 2nd Law – change of momentum). The change of momentum
produces the impulse force.

Impulse Turbine Working:

In the impulse turbine pressure drops and the velocity increases as the steam passes
through the nozzles. When the steam passes through the moving blades the velocity
drops but the pressure remains the same.

The fact that the pressure does not drop across the moving blades is the distinguishing
feature of the impulse turbine. The pressure at the inlet of the moving blades is same as
the pressure at the outlet of moving blades.

Reaction Turbine Principle:

In the case of reaction turbine, the moving blades of a turbine are shaped in such a way
that the steam expands and drops in pressure as it passes through them. As a result of
pressure decrease in the moving blade, a reaction force will be produced. This force will

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make the blades to rotate.

Reaction Turbine Working:

A reaction turbine has rows of fixed blades alternating with rows of moving blades. The
steam expands first in the stationary or fixed blades where it gains some velocity as it
drops in pressure. Then enters the moving blades where its direction of flow is changed
thus producing an impulse force on the moving blades. In addition, however, the steam
upon passing through the moving blades, again expands and further drops in pressure
giving a reaction force to the blades.

This sequence is repeated as the steam passes through additional rows of fixed and
moving blades.
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Note that the steam pressure drops across both the fixed and the moving blades while
the absolute velocity rises in the fixed blades and drops in the moving blades.

The distinguishing feature of the reaction turbine is the fact that the pressure does drop
across the moving blades. In other words, there is a pressure difference between the
inlet to the moving blades and the outlet from the moving blades.

Special Aspects of Reaction Turbines

There is a difference in pressure across the moving blades. The steam will,
therefore, tend to leak around the periphery of the blades instead of passing
through them. Hence the blade clearances as to maintain as minimum as possible.
Also, due to the pressure drop across the moving blades, an unbalanced thrust will
be developed upon the rotor and some arrangement must be made to balance this.

Difference Between Impulse and Reaction Steam Turbine:

Parame Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine

ters

Efficien For the same flow rate & operating condition t For same flow rate & operating conditi
cy he efficiency of impulse turbine is very low on the efficiency of the reaction turbin
e is high

Space The size of impulse turbine is very less. The footprint required for reaction turbi
Require ne is high
ment

Cost The Cost of impulse turbine is much lower wh Reaction turbine cost is much higher d
en compare to reaction turbine for same pow ue to the critical shape of rotor
er rating.

Applicat Widely used in petrochemical and refineries. Widely used in Power plants.
ion

Staging In the case of multistage impulse turbine, thre No compounding is available

e type of compounding in impulse turbine. Th
ey are
1. Pressure Compounding

2. Velocity Compounding

3. Pressure – Velocity Compounding

Mainten Easy Maintenance Not so easy when compare with impul

ance se turbine

Conclusion

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The steam turbines are widely used in both power generation and process industries.
Also as discussed, the impulse and reaction turbines are used in all types of
applications. But when compare with reaction turbine, Impulse types are widely used.

Image Courtesy: wikipedia.org

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