Department of Aerospace Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

AEROSPACE PROPULSION LABORATORY (AE - 312)
STUDY OF IMPULSE TURBINE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
BY
V S HARIKRISHNA

PERFORMED ON: 20 TH MARCH 2023

PARTNERS: ABHISHEK P M
RIHAN AARON D’SILVA
CHAITANYA SANKAR MOON
RAKSHA MAHESHWARI
RIDDHIMA CHANNA
MUGDHA GAIKWAD
JATIN SONGARA
CHANDMAL
RICKRAJ MANDAL
ARYANK

GUIDED BY
SNAHASIS

PROFESSOR IN CHARGE: PROF. HRISHIKESH GADGIL

VENUE: PROPULSION LABORATORY

1
CONTENTS
AIM 3

THEORY 4

TURBINES…………………………………………………………………………….4
DEGREE OF REACTION OF TURBINES…..…………………………………………….6
AXIAL AND RADIAL FLOW TURBINES…………………....…...…….………………………….7
ISENTROPIC FUEL EFFICIENCY…….….……………………….………………………………….7
SPECIFIC AIR CONSUMPTION…….…….………………………..……….……………….8

APPARATUS 9

EXPERIMENT SETUP 9

PROCEDURE 11

EXPERIMENTAL IMAGES 14

OBSERVATION 17

EXPERIMENTAL DATA………….….…………….………….……………………….…………….17
FORMULAE IN USE….………..………..……………….……..………….………….…....………..17
SAMPLE CALCULATION……….……….….………………………….…………...………..….….18
CALCULATED DATA…….……………..…………………………………………………..……….19
COMPUTATIONAL DATA…………….…………….………….………………………..………….20
PLOT……..………………….……….…..……..……………..….…….......……..……......…..…....21

CONCLUSION 22

REFERENCES 23

STATEMENT OF INTEGRITY
I hereby confirm that this experiment has been conducted by me personally
through the guidance of my guide and supervision of the professor in charge and
that all particulars used in this report amount to observational data collected
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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

during my experiment or theoretical assumptions as per the relevant theory. I

promise to uphold academic integrity in writing this report and agree to be held
accountable for any case of plagiarism or falsification of data and shall comply
with the penalty given as per the professor in charge or guide.

V S Harikrishna
160010054

AIM

The experiment aims to observe, study and understand the operation of a radial
flow reaction turbine at various RPM and inlet pressures. The performance
parameters like efficiency, power output and specific air consumption (SAC) are
calculated and compared with literature data and the behavior observed is
discussed.

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

THEORY
TURBINES
Turbines are turbomachinery used to extract flow work from an expanding gas at
high pressure and temperature. They, along with nozzles constitute the expansion
process in the gas turbine engine cycle. The work extracted by turbines may be
used to run a compressor (as in gas turbine engines) or a dynamo (as in gas-turbine
power generators). Unlike reciprocating engines, gas turbines engines operate in
constant flux and thus generate constant power as long as the inlet flow rate and
thermodynamic conditions are maintained. The p-v and T-S diagrams for the cycle
for gas turbine engines is shown below. Turbines operate between the stations 4
and 5 in the diagram. The equations for the process 4-5 is as shown:

Factoring in the fact that some energy is lost to irreversibility of expansion process,
we get isentropic efficiency , as:

Gas turbine cycle

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

Gas Turbine Power Generator

Gas Turbine Engine Station Numbers

TURBINE DEGREE OF REACTION
The degree of reaction refers to the ratio of isentropic flow enthalpy change across
the rotor to that across the entire stage. In simple terms it refers to the fraction of
total flow energy extracted by a stage that occurs in the rotors of a single stage. A
degree of reaction of 1 means that all the enthalpy change (diffusion) across a stage
occurs entirely across the rotor and the stator simply turns the flow. Such turbines
are called reaction turbines. A degree of reaction of zero implies that the rotor
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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

simply turs the flow and all of the enthalpy change (diffusion) occurs across the
stator. Such turbines are called impulse turbines. The schematic showing reaction
and impulse turbine shown below.

Radial Flow Impulse Turbines

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

Reaction Turbines

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Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

AXIAL AND RADIAL FLOW TURBINES

Based on the type of air flow, turbines can be radial flow or axial flow.
In radial flow turbines, the air flow is in the radial direction and thus the air has to
turn at about 90° to achieve this. They consist of a rotating part called runner and
a stationary part called the guide wheel. They are usually used in smaller
turbomachinery and hence operate at lower pressure ratios. The schematics are as
shown below:

Radial flow turbines

In axial flow turbines, the air flow is in along the axis of the turbine and thus they
form an annular channel with both stator (nozzle) and rotor blades attached to
discs. Usually, they are more common as they facilitate staging when allowed to
operate serially. They are usually used in large scale turbomachinery and hence
operate at lower pressure ratios. The schematics are as shown below:

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

Multi-stage axial flow turbine assembly

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

ISENTROPIC TURBINE EFFICIENCY

The ratio of actual work extracted by turbine to the ideal work extracted assuming
isentropic expansion across the turbine is defined as the isentropic efficiency. The
relation of isentropic efficiency with pressure and temperature ratios across the
turbine is given as:

Where , the total temperature ratio across the turbine

, ratio of total pressures across the turbine
IDEAL WORK OUTPUT OF A TURBINE
The amount of work extracted by the turbine per unit time under ideal isentropic
expansion process is defined as the ideal work output of a turbine. It is given as:

ACTUAL WORK OUTPUT OF A TURBINE

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

The amount of work actually extracted by the turbine per unit time that is available
for the shaft of the turbine is defined as the actual work output of a turbine. It is
given as:

Where is the torque supplied by the turbine shaft

SPECIFIC AIR CONSUMPTION

The mass of air consumed per unit time per unit of power extracted by the turbine
is defined as the specific air consumption or SAC of the turbine. It is given by the
following formulae:

Where is the actual work output of the turbine

APPARATUS

1. External compressor setup for providing high pressure at the inlet.

2. Tachometer to measure RPM
3. A digital strain gauge to measure brake force
4. Rotameter to measure mass flow rate
5. Thermocouple to measure temperature
6. A turbine assembly with a single stage radial flow impulse turbine

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

Experimental setup
The above diagram depicts the experimental setup. High pressure air is supplied
from a compressor through a duct with a valve into the turbine which rests on a
casing fastened to the experimental table. The turbine is manufactured by P.A.
Hilton Ltd. for laboratory use. The turbine rotor is connected to a steel shaft of
radius 1.45 cm running of on lubricated ball bearings. The air entering the turbine
passes radially through the rotor (or runner) before exiting through convergent
nozzles along the periphery. The change in flow direction of the air causes a an
impulse on the rotor and cause it to spin which drives the shaft which delivers the
rotary work.
A 0.5 mm diameter K-type thermocouple was used to measure the turbine inlet
and outlet temperatures. The inlet and outlet flows were connected to pressure
gauges that measured the pressures at both these locations. The inlet pressure can
be controlled through the throttle valve. The outlet pressure is maintained to be
atmospheric pressure. A rotameter is used to measure the mass flow rate of air out
of the turbine and a tachometer gives the accurate value of the turbine RPM. Brake
force is applied by connecting the turbine shaft to a brake band that runs along a
brake disc. The disc is air-cooled to avoid heating and associated thermal
expansion or band wear. The brake force is measured using a dynamometer
connected to the brake adjusting lever that adjusts the tension in the brake band.

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

Velocity triangle for impulse turbine

PROCEDURE

1. The ambient pressure and temperature is noted. This is useful for

calculations.

2. The setup is inspected for any visual or mechanical faults. The compressor
is checked for proper operation and pressure values. The pressure regulator
is turned ON and the inlet pressure increased steadily by opening the pressure
valve till the required inlet pressure is achieved.

3. The outlet pressure is maintained to be zero. The zero error of the

dynamometer attached to the brake control lever is noted. This value is to be
added to the data obtained by the dynamometer during calculation.

4. The brake lever is adjusted till the required RPM is achieved. Once the RPM
is achieved, the inlet pressure and the inlet and outlet temperature values are
noted. Also, the mas flow rate is noted from the rotameter.

5. The above procedure is repeated for the required inlet pressures and RPM
values.

6. The collected data is tabulated in the section below.

7. The pressure valve is closed and the and the inlet flow regulator is shut down.

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

OBSERVATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Experimental data tabulated for various inlet pressures at constant RPM of 14000
for 4 inlet nozzles open:
𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) 𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) (𝑲) (𝑲)
𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆

141.325 101.325 1.3948 14000 0.71 3.1 299.66 296.16

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 1.21 3.6 299.76 294.76

161.325 101.325 1.5922 14000 1.4 3.6 299.86 294.36

Experimental data tabulated for various RPM values at constant pressure ratio of
1.4935 for 4 inlet nozzles open:
𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) 𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) (𝑲) (𝑲)
𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 1.21 3.6 299.76 294.76

151.325 101.325 1.4935 15000 1.14 3.6 300.26 295.26

151.325 101.325 1.4935 16000 1.13 3.6 300.36 295.06

Experimental data tabulated for various inlet pressures at constant RPM of 14000
for 2 inlet nozzles open:

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔
𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) 𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 (𝑲) (𝑲)
(𝒈/𝒔)

141.325 101.325 1.3948 14000 0.5 1.5 301.06 297.46

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 0.6 1.8 301.16 297.06

161.325 101.325 1.5922 14000 0.68 1.8 301.26 296.36

Experimental data tabulated for various RPM values at constant pressure ratio of
1.4935 for 2 inlet nozzles open:
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔
𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) 𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 (𝑲) (𝑲)
(𝒈/𝒔)

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 0.62 1.8 301.16 297.06

151.325 101.325 1.4935 15000 0.6 1.8 301.46 296.56

151.325 101.325 1.4935 16000 0.57 1.8 301.66 296.56

FORMULAE IN USE

• 𝐴!"#$% = #$2 × $10.8 − 𝑥!"#$% - × 𝑡𝑎𝑛 1 0& - + 2.53 × 0.2𝑐𝑚'

• 𝜌()"%* 𝐴()"%* 𝑈()"%* = 𝜌!"#$% 𝐴!"#$% 𝑈!"#$%

15
 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

+ ,&#'($
• 𝐹𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 $𝑈!"#$% - = 𝑈()"%* × + !"#$% ×
&#'($ ,!"#$%

Note: 𝑃!"#$%# is taken as 101325 Pa.

SAMPLE CALCULATION
A sample calculation is done for the first case to obtain the first data point:
(Uinlet = 0.9 m/s, Tflame = 499 K, Xflame = 4.4cm)
Observed data:
1. 𝑈&'$%# = 0.9 𝑚/𝑠
2. 𝑇&'$%# = 300 𝐾
3. 𝑇($)*% = 499 𝐾
+!"#$%
4. = 0.6012
+&#'($

5. 𝑥($)*% = 4.4 𝑐𝑚
Calculated data:
1. 𝐴($)*% = 2.6598 𝑐𝑚,
-!"#$%
2. = 0.532
-&#'($

3. 𝑈($)*% = 78.67 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

CALCULATED DATA
Calculated data tabulated for various inlet pressures at constant RPM of 14000
for 4 inlet nozzles open:

𝑺𝑨𝑪
𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒆 ̇
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑾̇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 (𝒈/𝑵
𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 (𝒎𝑵 𝜼𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) (𝑲) (𝑲) (𝑾) (𝑾) −𝒎
(𝑵) 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 − 𝒎)
− 𝒔)

141.325 101.325 1.3948 14000 0.71 0.71 3.1 299.66 296.16 10.295 15.093 84.664 0.2054 0.1783

16
 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 1.21 1.21 3.6 299.76 294.76 17.545 25.722 117.429 0.1400 0.2190

161.325 101.325 1.5922 14000 1.4 1.4 3.6 299.86 294.36 20.300 29.761 134.995 0.1210 0.2205

Calculated data tabulated for various RPM values at constant pressure ratio of
1.49354 for 4 inlet nozzles open:

𝑺𝑨𝑪
𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒆 ̇
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑾̇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 (𝒈/𝑵
𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 (𝒎𝑵 𝜼𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) (𝑲) (𝑲) (𝑾) (𝑾) −𝒎
(𝑵) 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 − 𝒎)
− 𝒔)

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 1.21 1.21 3.6 299.76 294.76 17.545 25.722 117.429 0.1400 0.2190

16.530
151.325 101.325 1.4935 15000 1.14 1.14 3.6 300.26 295.26 25.965 117.625 0.1386 0.2207

151.325 101.325 1.4935 16000 1.13 1.13 3.6 300.36 295.06 16.385 27.453 117.664 0.1311 0.2333

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

Calculated data tabulated for various inlet pressures at constant RPM of 14000
for 2 inlet nozzles open:

𝑺𝑨𝑪
𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒆 ̇
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑾̇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 (𝒈/𝑵
𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 (𝒎𝑵 𝜼𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) (𝑲) (𝑲) (𝑾) (𝑾) −𝒎
(𝑵) 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 − 𝒎)
− 𝒔)

141.325 101.325 1.3948 14000 0.5 0.5 1.5 301.06 297.46 7.250 10.629 41.158 0.1411 0.2583

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 0.6 0.6 1.8 301.16 297.06 8.700 12.755 52.434 0.1254 0.2433

161.325 101.325 1.5922 14000 0.68 0.68 1.8 301.26 296.36 9.860 14.456 67.813 0.1245 0.2132

Calculated data tabulated for various RPM values at constant pressure ratio of
1.49354 for 2 inlet nozzles open:

𝑺𝑨𝑪
𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒆 ̇
𝑷𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑾̇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 (𝒈/𝑵
𝛑𝒕 𝑹𝑷𝑴 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 (𝒎𝑵 𝜼𝒕
(𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝒌𝑷𝒂) (𝑵) (𝑲) (𝑲) (𝑾) (𝑾) −𝒎
(𝑵) 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 − 𝒎)
− 𝒔)

151.325 101.325 1.4935 14000 0.62 0.62 1.8 301.16 297.06 8.990 12.755 52.434 0.1254 0.2433

151.325 101.325 1.4935 15000 0.6 0.6 1.8 301.46 296.56 8.700 13.666 52.487 0.1171 0.2604

151.325 101.325 1.4935 16000 0.57 0.57 1.8 301.66 296.56 8.265 13.848 52.522 0.1155 0.2637

PLOTS

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

CONCLUSION
The following conclusions result from the analysis of the plots:
1. The actual work output of the turbine increases with increase in pressure ratio
across the compressor. This can be explained by the fact that the total mass
flow rate of air entering the turbine increases with increasing pressure ratio.

2. Torque available to the shaft of rotor also increases with the increase in
pressure ratio. This is a direct consequence of higher work output at constant
RPM.

3. Efficiency of the turbine increases with the pressure ratio till it saturates at
around 1.3. Thus, the design pressure ratio of the given turbine is close to 1.3
as beyond this, there is choked flow through the converging nozzle of the
turbine. Since efficiency vs pressure ratio curve for Turbine increases till
design pressure ratio and decreases then.

4. SAC decreases with increase in actual power till the power value at the
design pressure ratio. Beyond this SAC remains constant as the converging
nozzle in the turbine periphery is choked.

5. Efficiency of the turbine is decreases slightly with RPM. This is justified as

mechanical losses increase with RPM, reducing efficicency. A plot of
efficiency vs RPM is attached for reference.

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

From the plot it is clear that for constant pressure ratio (i.e., constant mass
flow rate, the efficiencies clearly decrease for turbine)

6. At constant Pressure ratio the flow energy is constant. Hence the momentum
imparted to the rotor by flow is constant. Thus, with increase in RPM torque
available on the shaft decreases.

7. Actual power should remain constant at constant pressure ratio ideally. Here,
as losses incurred at higher RPM accumulates the actual power decreases
with RPM.

8. SAC decreases slightly with RPM since the aerodynamic losses increases at
higher RPM.

9. Efficiency of the turbine is coming very low since the expansion is not taking
place fully in the turbine. It seems more of the expansion is happening in the
cavity afterwards. This can be inferred from the exit temperature values of
turbine.

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 Experiment 3
Study of Radial Flow Reaction Turbines

REFERENCES

• Thermodynamics – An Engineering Approach (8th Edition); Cengel Y.A.,

Boles M.A., McGraw Hill Education.

• Gas Turbine Theory (4th Edition); H. Cohen, G. F. C. Rogers, H. I. H.

Saravanamutoo, Academic Press

• Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources, by Muhammad Asif Hanif,

Farwa Nadeem, Rida Tariq and Umer Rashid, Academic Press

• PA Hilton F300C Users Manual; PA Hilton, 2018

25