Radial Turbines

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 Session Objectives

This session is intended to introduce the following:

• Types of radial gas turbines
• Constructional features
• Radial gas turbines components
• Expansion process and velocity triangles
• Radial turbine loading parameter
• Radial turbine performance

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 Introduction
A radial turbine looks similar to a
centrifugal compressor.
 The diffuser vanes are replaced
ring
byof
a nozzle guide vanes.
Gas flow with a high tangential
velocity is directed inwards and leaves
the rotor with as small a whirl velocity as
practicable near the axis of rotation.
The rotor is normally followed by a
diffuser at the outlet to reduce the exhaust
velocity to a negligible value.
Under normal design conditions, the
relative velocity at the rotor tip is radial Cohen and Rogers
(zero incidence) and the absolute velocity
at the exit is axial (3=0).
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 Introduction
• Radial-inflow turbines have been
established as a viable alternative to its
axial-flow counterpart, specifically in
power-system applications.
• Radial turbines are capable of extracting
a large per-stage shaft work in
situations with low mass-flow rates.
• Radial turbine also offers little
sensitivity to tip clearances, in contrast
to axial-flow turbines.
• Bulkiness and heavy weight virtually
prohibits its use in propulsion devices.
• Radial turbines are best used in micro-
gas turbines, turbochargers and
stationery power plants.
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 Radial Turbine

Radial turbine
impellers

Turbocharger

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Turbocharger with Radial Turbine

Radial turbine as part of a Garret make turbocharger

model GTCP-85
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 Types of Radial Turbines

Radial flow turbines may be classified as:

1. Inward flow radial (IFR) turbines

 Cantilever turbine
 90 degree turbine

2. Outward flow radial (OFR) turbines

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 Cantilever Radial Turbine
In cantilever IFR turbine the
blades are limited to the region
of the rotor tip extending from
the rotor in the axial direction.
The cantilever blades are
usually of the impulse type (or
low reaction), such that there is
little change in relative
velocity at inlet and outlet of
the rotor.

Aerodynamically, the cantilever turbine is similar

to an axial-impulse turbine and can even be
designed by similar methods. The fact that the
flow is radially inwards hardly alters the design
procedure because the blade radius ratio r2/r3 is
close to unity anyway.
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 90 Degree IFR Turbine

Nozzle
blades
The 90° IFR turbine or
centripetal turbine is
very similar in
appearance to the
centrifugal compressor,
but with the flow
direction and blade
motion reversed.

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Outward Flow Radial Turbine

Ljungström Type Outward Flow Radial Turbine

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 Vaned Radial Stator

Vaned stator as part of the turbine non-rotating assembly

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Scroll Casing Configuration

Vaneless versus vaned stator and typical scroll

cross-section configurations

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 Scroll Casing

Excessive surface
roughness of the scroll
interior surface leads to
aerodynamic
degradation

Reduction of the scroll cross-sectional area

in the circumferential direction

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 90 Degree IFR Turbine

Radial turbine with radial inlet flow and axial outlet flow

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 Expansion Process on T-s Diagram
Specific work output

For ideal isentropic turbine with

perfect diffuser

C0 is called the spouting velocity

and is equivalent of isentropic
enthalpy drop. For the ideal case

For good overall efficiency, C0 = 0.68-0.71

In terms of turbine pressure ratio

Cohen and Rogers

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 Spouting Velocity
The term spouting velocity (originating from hydraulic turbine practice) is defined
as that velocity that has an associated kinetic energy equal to the isentropic
enthalpy drop from turbine inlet stagnation pressure p01 to the final exhaust
pressure. The exhaust pressure here can have several interpretations depending
upon whether total or static conditions are used in the related efficiency definition
and upon whether or not a diffuser is included with the turbine. Thus, when no
diffuser is used

total case static case

In an ideal (frictionless) radial turbine with complete recovery of the exhaust

kinetic energy and with

At the best efficiency point of actual (frictional) 90° IFR turbines it is found
that this velocity ratio is, generally, in the range 0.68 < U2/c0 < 0.71.

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Spouting Velocity
The expander wheel must be designed at
optimum ratio of blade tip speed and
spouting velocity = U/C0, where U is the
blade tip speed and C0 is the magnitude
of absolute velocity vector at nozzle exit
under isentropic conditions.

U/C0 is a measure of the shape of the inlet velocity triangle

in the inter space between nozzle exit and rotor inlet
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 Specific Work and Efficiency
For Cw3 = 0, the specific work is given by:

For ideal isentropic turbine with perfect diffuser,

Overall isentropic efficiency of turbine and diffuser,

because (T01-T4') is the temperature equivalent of max work through isentropic

expansion from inlet state (p01, T01) to pa.

'Total to static' isentropic efficiency of turbine rotor ,

Cohen and Rogers

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 Loss Coefficients
Following axial turbine practice, the nozzle loss coefficient is defined as,

and the rotor loss coefficient is given by,

Plane 2 is located at the periphery of the rotor. The nozzle loss includes the loss
in the volute and in the vaneless space between the nozzle exit and rotor inlet.
Considering the small constant pressure processes between 2' – 2 and 3' – 3", we
can write cp. T = T. s, and

Cohen and Rogers

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 Turbine Efficiency

Consequently t becomes

From the velocity triangles

Since,
The expression for efficiency finally becomes

Cohen and Rogers

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0
 Temperature Rise
The temperature ratio T3'/T2' can be expressed in terms of the major design
variables. It is usually sufficiently near to unity for it have any effect on t , and
hence it is ignored. Thus we can write

Now T2 – T3 may be found by expanding the relation for specific work and
making use of the velocity triangles. Since T01 = T02

Note that is not the same at inlet and outlet of the rotor as in
axial flow machines because
Cohen and Rogers
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2
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 Temperature Rise
It follows that

And finally T2 may be expressed as

N is usually obtained from separate tests on inlet volute and nozzle vane
assembly, enabling R to be deduced from overall efficiency measurements with
the aid of the above equations.

Cohen and Rogers

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 Thermodynamics of 90 deg IFR Turbine
Across the nozzle, h01 = h02 and static enthalpy drops

Since the rothalpy, I, across the rotor is constant,

where

Hence

Across the diffuser, h03 = h04 and static enthalpy increases due to diffusion

Dixon
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Thermodynamics of 90 deg IFR Turbine
Specific work done by the fluid on the rotor is

As h01 = h02

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 Nominal Design Point Efficiency
Total to static efficiency is defined as

Defining passage enthalpy loss as fraction () of the exit kinetic energy relative
to the nozzle row and the rotor, i.e.

The total to static efficiency can be written as

Dixon
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 Nominal Design Point Efficiency
From the design velocity triangles

and noting that , we can arrive at the following expression

With the help of velocity triangles, an equation for T3 /T2 can be derived as

Dixon
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 Nominal Design Point Efficiency
Generally T3 /T2 has negligible effect on efficiency and hence it is ignored

An alternate form of total to static efficiency is

Where the spouting velocity C0 is defined by

Dixon
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 Relation between tt and ts

Total-total and total-static efficiencies are connected by:

Dixon
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 Mach Number Relations
Assuming the fluid to be a perfect gas, expressions can be deduced for the
important Mach numbers in the turbine.
At nozzle outlet the absolute Mach number at the nominal design point is,

At rotor outlet the relative Mach number at the design point is defined by,

Dixon
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 Nozzle Loss Coefficients
Enthalpy loss coefficient

Stagnation pressure loss coefficient

Defining velocity coefficient

it can be shown that

Practical values of  for well-designed nozzle rows in normal operation are usually
in the range of 0.90 to 0.97.
Dixon
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 Rotor Loss Coefficients
Enthalpy loss coefficient

Stagnation pressure loss coefficient

Defining velocity coefficient

it can be shown that

Normal range of  for well-designed rotors is usually in the range of 0.70 to 0.85.

Dixon
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 Slip Factor
Analogous to the slip factor used in centrifugal compressors, Whitfield and
Baines (1990), an incidence factor, ,

The slip factor, devised by Stanitz for centrifugal compressors, is used for
radial turbines also

We can also obtain the relation

Dixon
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 Specific Speed

The above equation can be factorised to give

For ideal 90 deg IFR turbine,

And specific speed reduces to

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 Remarks on Specific Speed
The numerical value of specific speed provides a general index of flow capacity
relative to work output.
 Low values of specific speed are associated with relatively small flow passage
area and high values with relatively large flow passage areas.
Specific speed has also been widely used as a general indication of achievable
efficiency.

These efficiencies apply to favourable design conditions with high values of flow
Reynolds number, efficient diffusers and low leakage losses at the blade tips.
Over a limited range of specific speed the best radial-flow turbines match the best
axial-flow turbine efficiency.
Butfrom specific speed (in radians) from 0.03 to 10, no other form of turbine, handling
compressible fluids, can exceed the peak performance capability of the axial turbine.

Dixon
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 Performance-Related Variables
• Reynolds number

• Flow coefficient:

• Work coefficient

• Total relative properties and critical Mach number

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Performance Characteristics

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Performance Characteristics

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 Radial Turbine – Characteristics
Larger pressure and temperature drops are achieved in a single stage compared to
an axial turbine. Hence, a radial turbine can extract larger work in a single stage.
The radial turbine is suitable for low mass flow, high pressure drop, and low
power application.
 The radial turbine is more robust and is more resistant to corrosion and
erosion.
The cooling of a radial turbine passage is more difficult than the cooling of an
axial stage.
Performance charac-
teristic of an
Allison make
(1980) radial
turbine
1258 HP; 55000 rpm;
TET = 1530K; Mass
flow rate = 2.36 kg/s
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 Mach and Reynolds Numbers

Effect of Mach number and Reynolds number on rotor efficiency

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 Radial Turbine Components

Referring to the above figure and also to the typical expansion process:

Nozzle:

Rotor:

Diffuser:

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Radial Turbine Loading Coefficient

or

where  = Vr2 /U2

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 Radial Turbine Performance

Temperature ratio

Pressure ratio

where

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 Radial Turbine – Degree of Reaction

Unlike axial turbines, the reaction is a function of inner and outer radii and
velocities at different radial locations.
For a specific case, when 3=0, 2=0, V1=0, V2=U2, and V1=0 (radial turbine
with axial exit):

If V1=W2=V3, then the reaction is 50%.

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 Stage Reaction

• The stage reaction (R) is the ratio between the static and
total enthalpy changes across the rotor

Note that for the terms in the above equation to represent an

enthalpy change (static or dynamic), each parenthesised term in
this expression should be divided by 2.

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 Session Summary

• Components and constructional features of radial

turbines are explained.
• Expansion process and velocity triangles are
discussed.
• Various loss coefficients are defined and
explained.
• Significance of spouting velocity is
explained
• Performance characteristcs of radial turbines are
presented and discussed

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Thank you

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