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The steam turbine is a prime mover in which the potential energy of the steam is
transformed into kinetic energy and latter in its turn is transformed into the mechanical
energy of rotation of the turbine shaft. The turbine shaft, directly or with the help of a
reduction gearing, is connected with the driven mechanism. Depending on the type of the
driven mechanism a steam turbine may be utilised in most diverse fields of industry, for
power generation.
The steam turbines are mainly divided into two groups as:
a) Impulse turbine
b) Reaction turbine
In both types of turbine, first the heat energy of the steam at high pressure is converted
into kinetic energy passing through the nozzles. The turbines are classified as impulse or
reaction according to the action of high velocity steam used to develop the power.
In impulse turbine, the steam coming out at a very high velocity through the fixed
nozzles impinges on the blades fixed on the periphery of a rotor. The blades change the
direction of the steam flow without changing its pressure. The resulting motive force (due to
nozzles. When the steam comes out through this nozzles the velocity of the steam increases
relative to the rotating disc. The resulting reaction force of the steam on nozzle gives the
rotating motion to the disc and the shaft. The shaft rotates in the opposite direction to the
In an impulse reaction turbine, the steam expands both in fixed and moving blades
continuously as the steam passes over them. Therefore, the pressure drop occurs gradually
If the entire pressure drop from boiler pressure to condenser pressure is carried out in
single stage nozzle, then the velocity of the steam entering into the turbine could be very high
of the order of 1500 m/sec. The turbine rotor velocity will be very high, of the order of 30,000
r.p.m as it is directly proportional to the steam entering velocity. Such high R.P.M. of the
turbine rotor is not useful for practical purpose and a reduction gear is necessary between the
turbine and external equipment driven by the turbine. There is also danger of structural failure
of the blade due to excessive centrifugal stresses. Therefore the velocity of the blades is
The velocity of the steam at the exit of the turbine is sufficiently high when single
stage blades are used. This gives a considerable loss of kinetic energy (about 10 to 12%). The
above-mentioned difficulties associated with the single stage turbine can be solved by
compound. The combinations of stages are known as compounding. The different methods
of compounding are:
1. Velocity Compounding
2. Pressure Compounding
1. Velocity Compounding. There is only one set of nozzles and two or more rows of
moving blades. There is also a row of fixed blades in between the moving blades. The
function of fixed blade is only to direct the steam coming out from first moving row
to next moving row. The heat energy drop takes place only in the nozzle at the first
stage and it converts into kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the steam gained in
the nozzles is successively used by the rows of moving blades and finally exhausted
from the last row of the blades on the turbine rotor. The function of the fixed blades
is merely to turn the steam into the direction required for entry into the next row of
rotor blades without altering pressure and velocity of the steam. A turbine working
one row of fixed blades at the entry of each row of moving blades. The total pressure
drop of the steam does not take place in a single stage nozzle but is divided equally
pressure and velocity compounding. The total pressure drop of the steam from boiler
provide higher pressure drop in each stage and hence less number of stages and an
Advantages:
4. The turbine housing need not be made strong as pressure in the housing is
considerably less because the total pressure falls in the nozzle only.
Disadvantages:
1. The friction losses are too larger due to the high velocity of steam.
2. The maximum blade efficiency and efficiency range decreases with an increase in
number of stages.
3. The power developed in each successive blade row decreases with an increase in
number of rows, even though all the rows require same space, material and initial
cost. Therefore all the stages are not economically used. Velocity compounded steam
turbines are generally used as drives for centrifugal compressors, centrifugal pumps,
and small generators and feed pumps of high capacity power plants.
The causes for the energy losses in steam turbines are listed below:
1. Residual Velocity Loss. The steam leaves the turbine with some absolute velocity.
The energy loss due to absolute exit velocity of steam is equivalent to Vaex2/2gJ kJ/kg,
The residual velocity loss is 10to 12% in a single stage impulse turbine. This loss is
2. Loss Due To Friction and Turbulence. Friction loss occurs in nozzles, turbine
blades and between the steam and rotating discs. The friction loss in the nozzle is
taken into account with introducing factor ‘nozzle efficiency’. The loss due to friction
3. Leakage Loss. The leakage of steam occurs at the points mentioned below:
reaction turbine.
4. Loss Due To Mechanical Friction. The loss due to friction between the shaft and
bearing comes under this category. Some loss also occurs in regulating the valves.
This friction loss can be reduced with the help of an efficient lubricating system.
5. Radiation Loss. The heat is lost from the turbine to the surroundings as its
temperature is higher than atmospheric temperature. Usually the turbines are highly
insulated to reduce this loss. The loss due to radiation is always negligible.
6. Loss Due To Moisture. The steam contains water particles passing through the lower
stages of the turbine as it becomes wet. The velocity of the water particles is less than
the steam and therefore the water particles have to be dragged along with the steam
The main function of the governing is to maintain the speed constant irrespective of
load on the turbine. The different methods which are commonly used for governing the steam
1. Throttle Governing.
3. By-Pass Governing.
1. Throttle Governing. The quantity of steam entering into the turbine is reduced by
the throttling of the steam. The throttling is achieved with the help of double heat
mechanism. The effort of the governor may not be sufficient to move the valve against
the piston in big units. Therefore an oil operated relay is incorporated in the circuit to
magnify the small force produced by the governor to operate the valve.
Fig.5.4 Throttle Governing.
2. Nozzle Control Governing. In this method of control, the steam supplied to the
An arrangement often used for large steam power plants is shown in fig. The numbers
of nozzles supplying the steam to the turbine are divided into three groups and the
3. By-Pass Governing. More than one stage is used for high pressure impulse turbine
to reduce the diameter of the wheel. The nozzle control governing cannot be used for
multi stage impulse turbine due to small heat drop in first stage. It is also desirable in
multistage impulse turbine to have full admission into high pressure stages to reduce
the partial admission losses. In such cases by-pass governing is generally employed.
The following troubles may occur during the running of turbines which may cause
Sudden increase in the vibration of the turbine is the most usual indication of any
The creep phenomenon is the main criteria in selection of blade material especially
for high temperature region. 1% Cr-Mo-V alloy and stainless steels having 12% Cr are widely
Blades of L.P. stage, though, at the low temperature end have to withstand the effect
of corrosion and erosion due to water droplets (0.25mm), about 10-12% stainless iron is
commonly used. New materials such as titanium, plastics reinforced with carbon having a
lower specific weight and higher strengths are also considered as they have high tensile