Table of Contents

7.1 Objective .............................................................................................................................. 2

7.2 Apparatus ............................................................................................................................. 2
7.3 Specifications ....................................................................................................................... 2
7.4 Theory .................................................................................................................................. 2
7.4.1 Rankine Cycle ............................................................................................................... 2
7.4.2 Work Done According to Rankine Cycle ..................................................................... 3
7.4.3 Efficiency of Steam Turbine: ........................................................................................ 4
7.5 Procedure ............................................................................................................................. 5
7.6 Observations and Calculations ............................................................................................. 5
7.6.1 Sample Calculations...................................................................................................... 5
7.6.2 Observations ................................................................................................................. 5
7.7 Comments ............................................................................................................................ 5

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 Experiment No. 7

7.1 Objective
To determine the efficiency of steam turbine in steam turbine power plant (STPP)

7.2 Apparatus
1. Steam Turbine Power Plant
2. Pressure Gauges
3. Stop watch

Figure 1 Steam Turbine Power Plant

7.3 Specifications
Maximum output power = 0.6 kW
Rotational Speed = 3000 rpm
Input/ Output Pressure Gauge = 0.5 – 1.0 MPa

7.4 Theory
7.4.1 Introduction to Turbine
A turbine is a device that converts chemical energy into mechanical energy, specifically when
a rotor of multiple blades or vanes is driven by the movement of a fluid or gas. In the case of
a steam turbine, the pressure and flow of newly condensed steam rapidly turns the rotor. This
movement is possible because the water to steam conversion results in a rapidly expanding
gas. As the turbine’s rotor turns, the rotating shaft can work to accomplish numerous
applications, often electricity generation.

7.4.2 Working of a Turbine

In a steam turbine, the steam’s energy is extracted through the turbine and the steam leaves
the turbine at a lower energy state. High pressure and temperature fluid at the inlet of the
turbine exit as lower pressure and temperature fluid. The difference in energy is converted by

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the turbine to mechanical rotational energy. Since the fluid is at a lower pressure at the exit of
the turbine than at the inlet, it is common to say the fluid has been “expanded” across the
turbine

.
Figure 2 Steam Turbine

7.4. Rankine Cycle

Ideally, steam turbine power plants operates on the Rankine cycle. The ideal Rankine cycle
does not involve any internal irreversibilities and consists of the following four processes:

 1-2 Isentropic compression in a pump

 2-3 Constant pressure heat addition in a boiler
 3-4 Isentropic expansion in a turbine
 4-1 Constant pressure heat rejection in a condenser

Figure 2 Ideal Rankine Cycle (Cengel 2011)

7.4.2 Work Done According to Rankine Cycle

Area under the process curve on a T-s diagram represents the heat transfer for internally
reversible processes. Therefore the area under process curve 2-3 represents the heat
transferred to the water in the boiler and the area under the process curve 4-1 represents the
heat rejected in the condenser. The difference between these two (the area enclosed by the
cycle curve) is the net-work produced during the cycle.

Application of the First law of thermodynamics to the control volume (pump, steam
generator, turbine and condenser), gives

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Work done on pump, per kg of water, WP= h2-h1
Energy added in steam generator, q1= h3-h2
Work delivered by turbine, WT= h3-h4
Energy rejected in the condenser, q2= h4-h1

Figure 3 Schematic of a typical STPP apparatus

7.4.3 Efficiency of Steam Turbine:

𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝜂=
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒

𝜂𝑡 =
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒

Since the brake power of turbine cannot be measured directly, the following formulas are
used:
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟
𝜂𝐺 =
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟

𝑉𝐼
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝜂𝐺
𝜂𝐺 = 85 %

𝑉𝐼
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝜂𝐺

𝑉𝐼
𝜂𝐺
𝜂𝑡 =
𝑚𝑠 ( ℎ3 − ℎ4 )

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Where,𝑚𝑠 = 𝜌𝑉𝑤 ,
ℎ3 (𝑃, 𝑇) in saturated region, ℎ4 = ℎ𝑓 + 𝑥ℎ𝑓𝑔
𝑠3 = 𝑠4 , 𝑠𝑔 = 𝑠𝑓 + 𝑥𝑠𝑓𝑔

7.5 Procedure
1. Start boiler and set steam pressure to the turbine by means of reducing valves.
2. The designed steam condition of turbine is approximately 0.5 MPa (read value on the
pressure gauge) 200oC of superheated steam.
3. Turbine output can be obtained by varying the generators load resistance, however do
not set steam pressure higher than 0.8 MPa at that time.
4. Steam flow rate must not be above 120kg/h.
5. Note the readings of the turbine inlet pressure and temperature, turbine outlet pressure
and temperature.
6. Also record the values of voltage and current of generator.

7.6 Observations and Calculations

7.6.1 Sample Calculations
𝑉𝐼
𝜂𝐺
𝜂𝑡 =
𝑚𝑠 ( ℎ𝑖𝑛 − ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
0.107
𝜂𝑡 =
0.517(0.1216)( 2739.4 − 2711)
= 59.6%

7.6.2 Observations
Sr. Pin Tin hin Pout Tout hout ms VI 𝜂𝑔 𝜂𝑡
No (Bar) (oC) (kJ/kg) (Bar) o
( C) (kJ/kg) (kg/h) (kW) (%) (%)
1 1.96 135.8 2739.4 1.02 117.2 2711 43.8 0.107 51.7 59.6
2 2.54 154.9 2774.5 1.02 120.2 2716 56.3 0.213 67.3 34.6
3 3.13 165.6 2794.0 1.03 1127.5 2731 80.3 0.313 76.0 29.3
4 3.73 169.8 2797.2 1.04 133.1 2742 67.6 0.404 77.7 49.8

7.7 Comments
1. Parallax error must be avoided when reading the pressure gauges.
2. As the inlet temperature and pressure is increased, the output power increases.
3. To minimize human reaction error, more than a single observer should record the time
intervals, and then an average must be taken.
4. Always check that the valves of pressure and temperature are in a reasonably safe
range, by frequently checking the safety valves.