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The efficiency with which the transfer of energy to the moving blades occurs is essentially dependent
upon the ratio of moving blade velocity and the steam absolute velocity (U/C, = £). As one might expect,
the effect of the velocity ratio on efficiency in an impulse stage is somewhat different to that in a
reaction stage.
This describes a parabola and is shown in Fig 1.11. The maximum value of efficiency may be derived by
differentiating the above expression with respect to U and equating to zero.
For an ideal 50% reaction stage the velocity diagram will appear as Fig 1.11. Since the fixed and moving
blades have the same shape, /3 = a and 0 = 0, AV = 2C,(cos a U). Therefore, WD = mUAV = mU(2C,cos a -
U).
In a reaction stage, there is an enthalpy drop across the moving blade as well as the fixed; the available
energy is therefore:
Figure 1.11 shows the diagram efficiency of a reaction stage in comparison to the impulse stage.
In reality there are a number of factors that affect blade efficiency and these will be discussed in section
2.3 of this chapter. To achieve the best efficiency for both designs, reaction turbines require twice the
number of stages of an impulse turbine. This is because the high velocity ratio (U/C|) for the reaction
turbine means only a small heat drop can be accommodated at each stage.
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12 Answers
Updated Nov 8, 2016 · Author has 332 answers and 2m answer views
Back Pressure Steam Turbine is also called as Non Condensing Steam Turbine is mostly used in process
steam industries or co-generation plants. The non-condensing steam turbine uses high-pressure steam
for the rotation of blades. This steam then leaves the turbine at the atmospheric pressure or Higher
Pressure.
Advantages:
o Its efficiency is higher as it does not reject heat in the condensation process
Disadvantages:
(more)
What is the difference between fully condensing and back pressure steam turbines?
What is the difference between condensing steam turbine and back pressure steam turbine?
A2A
Back pressure turbine is basically postive exhaust turbines. Exhaust temperature is higher than
atmospheric temperature.
It is generally used in process plant and co-generation if power is secondary and steam is primary factor.
It will be less effective as compared to condensing set but serves the purpose.
Exhaust is directly taken to process and since pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure, there is no
need of condensor.
Such turbines are smaller in size compared to condensing set as less amount of work is extracted from...
(more)
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Konanur Lakshminarayana, PhD Mechanical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University,
Anantapur (2015)
Answered Jan 17, 2017 · Author has 2.1k answers and 4.5m answer views
Back pressure steam turbine is a non-condensing steam turbine which operates with an exhaust equal to
or in excess of atmospheric pressure. The features are as follows:
[1] Back pressure steam turbine uses exhaust steam for lower pressure steam process loads.ƒ
[2] It is available in smaller sizes and pass large amounts of steam per MW of output (low efficiency).ƒ
[3] It produces less useful work than a condensing turbine, but since the unused steam from the turbine
is passed on to process loads, the lower turbine power generation efficiency (less than 35%) are not a
major issue.ƒ
[4] It is very...
(more)
Back pressure turbines are those steam turbines where steam is not condensed back into water, steam
from the exhaust is used for some others process. In these turbines there will be no condenser.
Updated Mar 4, 2017 · Author has 1.9k answers and 483.8k answer views
A back-pressure turbine is used where steam is generated at medium or high pressure in a watertube
boiler but the process, such as a paper mill or chemical plant, needs steam at low pressure. The steam
pressure is reduced by expanding it through a back-pressure turbine, producing a significant amount of
energy and desuperheating the steam at the same time, so it can be used as process steam.
Learn More
Answered Mar 7, 2018 · Author has 67 answers and 7.8k answer views
The "back pressure" is the pressure at the turbine exhaust state point, i.e. the pressure that the turbine
flow discharges to.
637 views · View 1 Upvoter
Bill Gurry, Senior Vice-President, Consulting Director at Marsh & McLennan (2014-present)
Answered Sep 7, 2017 · Author has 155 answers and 45.4k answer views
When steam is “finished” going through a steam turbine it then exits. If it exits into a vacuum condenser
and the steam condenses, then that condensate ultimately is reused to create steam again within a
closed cycle.
Should the steam not go into a vacuuum condenser and instead is then used for other purposes such as
steam heating or for various commercial uses in processing for example, then that steam (with its
inherent pressure), is called back pressure (as opposed to being in a vacuum).
Answered Mar 7, 2018 · Author has 5.1k answers and 1.2m answer views
In non condensing turbines steam is used to send for some process. after doling work in turbine. This
exhaust pressure is called back pressure and such turbines are known as back pressure turbines.
picture indiamart.com.
3k views · View 3 Upvoters
Priyanka Deo, B.E. Mechanical Engineering, Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune (2016)
Answered Sep 8, 2017 · Author has 116 answers and 142.1k answer views
In addition to all the answers written below, you can find some more relevant information in the pdf link
below.
http://www.midwestchptap.org/Arc...
Robert Counselman, former Manager of Power and Utilities at Campbell Soup (1999-2015)
The pressure that is exerted in the turbine exhaust from the resistance due to exhausting into a confined
space. You prevent it by condensing the exhaust and forming a vacuum.
781 views
Back pressure Turbines are those in which the turbine exhaust pressure is more than atmospheric
pressure. These turbines are generally used in process industries.
Answered May 25, 2019 · Author has 79 answers and 25.2k answer views
In this detailed post we are going to see what is turbine and what are the different types of turbines and
how they work & their applications in various power plants.
342 views
Related Questions
What is the difference between fully condensing and back pressure steam turbines?
What is the difference between condensing steam turbine and back pressure steam turbine?
Difference between extraction (condensing) steam turbine & back pressure turbine?
What are the effects of steam turbine when exhaust pressure lo?
Contents [show]
The Rankine cycle was named after him and describes the performance of steam turbine systems,
though the theoretical principle also applies to reciprocating engines such as steam locomotives. In
general, the Rankine cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle of a constant pressure heat engine that
converts part of heat into mechanical work. In this cycle the heat is supplied externally to a closed loop,
which usually uses water (in a liquid and vapor phase) as the working fluid. In contrast to the Brayton
cycle, the working fluid in the Rankine cycle undergo the phase change from a liquid to vapor phase and
vice versa.
While many substances could be used as the working fluid in the Rankine cycle (inorganic or even
organic), water is usually the fluid of choice due to its favorable properties, such as its non-toxic and
unreactive chemistry, abundance, and low cost, as well as its thermodynamic properties. For
example, water has the highest specific heat of any common substance – 4.19 kJ/kg K. Moreover it has
very high heat of vaporization, which makes it an effective coolant and medium in thermal power plants
and other energy industry. In case of the Rankine cycle, the Ideal Gas Law almost cannot be used (steam
do not follow pV=nRT), therefore all important parameters of water and steam are tabulated in so called
“Steam Tables“.
One of the major advantages of the Rankine cycle is that the compression process in the pump takes
place on a liquid. By condensing the working steam to a liquid (inside a condenser) the pressure at the
turbine outlet is lowered and the energy required by the feed pump consumes only 1% to 3% of the
turbine output power and these factors contribute to a higher efficiency for the cycle.
In an ideal Rankine cycle, the system executing the cycle undergoes a series of four processes: two
isentropic (reversible adiabatic) processes alternated with two isobaric processes:
Isobaric heat addition (in a heat exchanger – boiler) – In this phase (between state 2 and state 3)
there is a constant-pressure heat transfer to the liquid condensate from an external source, since
the chamber is open to flow in and out. The feedwater (secondary circuit) is heated from to the
boiling point (2 → 3a) of that fluid and then evaporated in the boiler (3a → 3). The net heat
added is given by Qadd = H3 – H2
Isentropic expansion (expansion in a steam turbine) – Steam from the boiler expands
adiabatically from state 3 to state 4 in a steam turbine to produce work and then is discharged to
the condenser (partially condensed). The steam does work on the surroundings (blades of the
turbine) and loses an amount of enthalpy equal to the work that leaves the system. The work
done by turbine is given by WT = H4 – H3. Again the entropy remains unchanged.
Isobaric heat rejection (in a heat exchanger) – In this phase the cycle completes by a constant-
pressure process in which heat is rejected from the partially condensed steam. There is heat
transfer from the vapor to cooling water flowing in a cooling circuit. The vapor condenses and
the temperature of the cooling water increases. The net heat rejected is given by Qre = H4 – H1
During a Rankine cycle, work is done on the fluid by the pumps between states 1 and 2 (isentropic
compression). Work is done by the fluid in the turbine between stages 3 and 4 (isentropic expansion).
The difference between the work done by the fluid and the work done on the fluid is the net work
produced by the cycle and it corresponds to the area enclosed by the cycle curve (in pV diagram). The
working fluid in a Rankine cycle follows a closed loop and is reused constantly.
As can be seen, it is convenient to use enthalpy and the first law in terms of enthalpy in analysis of this
thermodynamic cycle. This form of the law simplifies the description of energy transfer. At constant
pressure, the enthalpy change equals the energy transferred from the environment through heating:
dH = dQ → Q = H2 – H1
At constant entropy, i.e. in isentropic process, the enthalpy change equals the flow process work done
on or by the system:
dH = Vdp → W = H2 – H1
When the vapor quality is equal to 0, it is referred to as the saturated liquid state (single-phase). On the
other hand, when the vapor quality is equal to 1, it is referred to as the saturated vapor state or dry
steam (single-phase). Between these two states, we talk about vapor-liquid mixture or wet steam (two-
phase mixture). At constant pressure, an addition of energy does not changes the temperature of the
mixture, but the vapor quality and specific volume changes.
Enthalpy of Vaporization
Isentropic Process
An isentropic process is a thermodynamic process, in which the entropy of the fluid or gas remains
constant. It means the isentropic process is a special case of an adiabatic process in which there is no
transfer of heat or matter. It is a reversible adiabatic process. The assumption of no heat transfer is very
important, since we can use the adiabatic approximation only in very rapid processes.
For a closed system, we can write the first law of thermodynamics in terms of enthalpy:
dH = dQ + Vdp
or
dH = TdS + Vdp
dH = Vdp → W = H2 – H1
Isobaric Process
An isobaric process is a thermodynamic process, in which the pressure of the system remains
constant (p = const). The heat transfer into or out of the system does work, but also changes the internal
energy of the system.
Since there are changes in internal energy (dU) and changes in system volume (∆V), engineers often use
the enthalpy of the system, which is defined as:
H = U + pV
The classical form of the first law of thermodynamics is the following equation:
dU = dQ – dW
In this equation dW is equal to dW = pdV and is known as the boundary work. In an isobaric process and
the ideal gas, part of heat added to the system will be used to do work and part of heat added will
increase the internal energy (increase the temperature). Therefore it is convenient to use
the enthalpy instead of the internal energy.
dH = dQ → Q = H2– H1
At constant entropy, i.e. in isentropic process, the enthalpy change equals the flow process work done
on or by the system.
In general the thermal efficiency, ηth, of any heat engine is defined as the ratio of the work it does, W, to
the heat input at the high temperature, QH.
The thermal efficiency, ηth, represents the fraction of heat, QH, that is converted to work. Since energy is
conserved according to the first law of thermodynamics and energy cannot be be converted to work
completely, the heat input, QH, must equal the work done, W, plus the heat that must be dissipated
as waste heat QC into the environment. Therefore we can rewrite the formula for thermal efficiency as:
This is very useful formula, but here we express the thermal efficiency using the first law in terms
of enthalpy.
Typically most of nuclear power plants operates multi-stage condensing steam turbines. In these
turbines the high-pressure stage receives steam (this steam is nearly saturated steam – x = 0.995 – point
C at the figure; 6 MPa; 275.6°C) from a steam generator and exhaust it to moisture separator-reheater
(point D). The steam must be reheated in order to avoid damages that could be caused to blades of
steam turbine by low quality steam. The reheater heats the steam (point D) and then the steam is
directed to the low-pressure stage of steam turbine, where expands (point E to F). The exhausted steam
then condenses in the condenser and it is at a pressure well below atmospheric (absolute pressure
of 0.008 MPa), and is in a partially condensed state (point F), typically of a quality near 90%.
In this case, steam generators, steam turbine, condensers and feedwater pumps constitute a heat
engine, that is subject to the efficiency limitations imposed by the second law of thermodynamics. In
ideal case (no friction, reversible processes, perfect design), this heat engine would have a Carnot
efficiency of
where the temperature of the hot reservoir is 275.6°C (548.7K), the temperature of the cold reservoir is
41.5°C (314.7K). But the nuclear power plant is the real heat engine, in which thermodynamic processes
are somehow irreversible. They are not done infinitely slowly. In real devices (such as turbines, pumps,
and compressors) a mechanical friction and heat losses cause further efficiency losses.
To calculate the thermal efficiency of the simplest Rankine cycle (without reheating) engineers use
the first law of thermodynamics in terms of enthalpy rather than in terms of internal energy.
dH = dQ + Vdp
In this equation the term Vdp is a flow process work. This work, Vdp, is used for open flow systems like
a turbine or a pump in which there is a “dp”, i.e. change in pressure. There are no changes in control
volume. As can be seen, this form of the law simplifies the description of energy transfer. At constant
pressure, the enthalpy change equals the energy transferred from the environment through heating:
dH = dQ → Q = H2 – H1
At constant entropy, i.e. in isentropic process, the enthalpy change equals the flow process work done
on or by the system:
dH = Vdp → W = H2 – H1
It is obvious, it will be very useful in analysis of both thermodynamic cycles used in power engineering,
i.e. in Brayton cycle and Rankine cycle.
The enthalpy can be made into an intensive, or specific, variable by dividing by the mass. Engineers use
the specific enthalpy in thermodynamic analysis more than the enthalpy itself. It is tabulated in
the steam tables along with specific volume and specific internal energy. The thermal efficiency of such
simple Rankine cycle and in terms of specific enthalpies would be:
It is very simple equation and for determination of the thermal efficiency you can use data from steam
tables.
Takaishi, Tatsuo; Numata,
Akira; Nakano, Ryouji; Sakaguchi, Katsuhiko (March 2008). “Approach to High Efficiency Diesel and Gas
Engines” (PDF). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review. 45 (1). Retrieved 2011-02-04.
In modern nuclear power plants the overall thermal efficiency is about one-third (33%), so 3000
MWth of thermal power from the fission reaction is needed to generate 1000 MWe of electrical power.
The reason lies in relatively low steam temperature (6 MPa; 275.6°C). Higher efficiencies can be attained
by increasing the temperature of the steam. But this requires an increase in pressures inside boilers or
steam generators. However, metallurgical considerations place an upper limits on such pressures. In
comparison to other energy sources the thermal efficiency of 33% is not much. But it must be noted that
nuclear power plants are much more complex than fossil fuel power plants and it is much easier to burn
fossil fuel ,than to generate energy from nuclear fuel. Sub-critical fossil fuel power plants, that are
operated under critical pressure (i.e. lower than 22.1 MPa), can achieve 36–40% efficiency.
Calculate:
2. the enthalpy difference between these two states (3 → 4), which corresponds to the work done
by the steam, WT.
3. the enthalpy difference between these two states (1 → 2), which corresponds to the work done
by pumps, WP.
4. the enthalpy difference between these two states (2 → 3), which corresponds to the net heat
added in the steam generator
5. the thermodynamic efficiency of this cycle and compare this value with the Carnot’s efficiency
1)
Since we do not know the exact vapor quality of the outlet steam, we have to determine this parameter.
State 4 is fixed by the pressure p4 = 0.008 MPa and the fact that the specific entropy is constant for the
isentropic expansion (s3 = s4 = 5.89 kJ/kgK for 6 MPa). The specific entropy of saturated liquid water (x=0)
and dry steam (x=1) can be picked from steam tables. In case of wet steam, the actual entropy can be
calculated with the vapor quality, x, and the specific entropies of saturated liquid water and dry steam:
s4 = sv x + (1 – x ) sl
where
sl = entropy of saturated liquid water (J/kg K) = 0.592 kJ/kgK (for 0.008 MPa)
x4 = (s4 – sl) / (sv – sl) = (5.89 – 0.592) / (8.227 – 0.592) = 0.694 = 69.4%
2)
The enthalpy for the state 3 can be picked directly from steam tables, whereas the enthalpy for the state
4 must be calculated using vapor quality:
h4, wet = h4,v x + (1 – x ) h4,l = 2576 . 0.694 + (1 – 0.694) . 174 = 1787 + 53.2 = 1840 kJ/kg
WT = Δh = 945 kJ/kg
3)
State 2 is fixed by the pressure p2 = 6.0 MPa and the fact that the specific entropy is constant for the
isentropic compression (s1 = s2 = 0.592 kJ/kgK for 0.008 MPa). For this entropy s2 = 0.592 kJ/kgK and p2 =
6.0 MPa we find h2, subcooled in steam tables for compressed water (using interpolation between two
states).
WP = Δh = 5.7 kJ/kg
4)
The enthalpy difference between (2 → 3), which corresponds to the net heat added in the steam
generator, is simply:
5)
In this case, steam generators, steam turbine, condensers and feedwater pumps constitute a heat
engine, that is subject to the efficiency limitations imposed by the second law of thermodynamics. In
the ideal case (no friction, reversible processes, perfect design), this heat engine would have a Carnot
efficiency of
where the temperature of the hot reservoir is 275.6°C (548.7 K), the temperature of the cold reservoir is
41.5°C (314.7K).
The thermodynamic efficiency of this cycle can be calculated by the following formula:
thus
ηth = (945 – 5.7) / 2605.3 = 0.361 = 36.1%
References:
3. W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.
4. Glasstone, Sesonske. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Systems Engineering, Springer; 4th
edition, 1994, ISBN: 978-0412985317
5. W.S.C. Williams. Nuclear and Particle Physics. Clarendon Press; 1 edition, 1991, ISBN: 978-
0198520467
6. Kenneth S. Krane. Introductory Nuclear Physics, 3rd Edition, Wiley, 1987, ISBN: 978-0471805533
7. G.R.Keepin. Physics of Nuclear Kinetics. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co; 1st edition, 1965
1. K. O. Ott, W. A. Bezella, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics, American Nuclear Society, Revised
edition (1989), 1989, ISBN: 0-894-48033-2.
2. K. O. Ott, R. J. Neuhold, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Dynamics, American Nuclear Society, 1985,
ISBN: 0-894-48029-4.
3. D. L. Hetrick, Dynamics of Nuclear Reactors, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48453-
2.
Is there any method for steam turbine off design performance calculation without known the steam
turbine geometry diameter? For example, we could use compressor map to calculate gas turbine
compressor. Is there any similar method could apply to steam turbine? Thank you very much!
Steam Turbine
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Prem Baboo
Calculation Details
Step 2: Calculate Ideal Outlet Properties (Inlet Entropy equals Outlet Entropy)
Step 3: If solve for 'Isentropic Efficiency', Determine Outlet Properties
Isentropic Efficiency = (Inlet Specific Enthalpy - Outlet Specific Enthalpy) / (Inlet Specific Enthalpy - IDEAL
Outlet Specific Enthalpy)
1. Isentropic Efficiency = (Inlet Specific Enthalpy - Outlet Specific Enthalpy) / (Inlet Specific
Enthalpy - IDEAL Outlet Specific Enthalpy)
2. Isentropic Efficiency * (Inlet Specific Enthalpy - IDEAL Outlet Specific Enthalpy) = (Inlet Specific
Enthalpy - Outlet Specific Enthalpy)
3. Outlet Specific Enthalpy = Inlet Specific Enthalpy - Isentropic Efficiency * (Inlet Specific
Enthalpy - IDEAL Outlet Specific Enthalpy)
Step 4: Calculate Steam Turbine Energy Out and Generation (Power Out)
Energy Out = (Inlet Specific Enthalpy - Outlet Specific Enthalpy) * Mass Flow
e.g.
For your exhaust condition, knowing the pressure is often not enough information. However, since you
have specified a turbine operating isentropically, then using a Mollier diagram (a special diagram of
enthalpy versus entropy), the state line of this turbine will be a single vertical line running from the inlet
point down to the exhaust pressure of 30 kPa. Since Mollier diagrams are hard to find on the web, you
can also use steam tables. For P = 6000 kPa and T = 500 C, then h = 3423.1 kJ/kg and s = 6.8826 kJ/kg*K
For P = 30 kPa, we need to find the properties for s = 6.8826 kJ/kg*K, sf = 0.9441 kJ/kg*K sfg = 6.8234
kJ/kg*K s = 6.8826 kJ/kg*K = sf + x * sfg, where x is the quality of the vapor doing the algebra and solving
for x = 0.870, or a vapor quality of 87% The enthalpy of this mixture can be calculated using the
saturated liquid properties: hf = 289.27 kJ/kg hfg = 2335.3 kJ/kg h = hf + x * hfg h = 2321.7 kJ/kg at the
exit. The isentropic work (or more accurately, the power) is therefore ,W = m*(hi - ho) = 0.5 kg/s *
(3423.1 - 2321.7) kJ/kg
Please find attached herewith related article steam Turbine in Off design Applications.
regards,
Prem Baboo
T S diagram.png10.61 KB
1995Section8.PDF1.44 MB
Steam turbine.png308.64 KB
Cranfield University
Thanks a lot for your reply. I know what you wrote above. But for off design, both Isentropic Efficiency
and Outlet Specific Enthalpy are unknown, how could we calculate steam turbine off design without
steam turbine geometry data?
Best regards,
Yuzhi Chen