Introduction to Steam
Turbine
Mahendra Prabhu SUBRMANI
Rotating Equipment Engineer
Contents
• Thermodynamics & Steam Cycle terms
• History of Steam turbine Development
• Compounding Mechanism
• Steam turbine Types
• Steam turbine Construction
• Materials
• Extracts from API 611 & 612
• Accessories of Steam turbine
• References
Why Steam?
• Low Cost
• Availability
• High enthalpy of Vaporization
Terms used in the steam cycle
- Heat rate
- Efficiency
Simple Ideal Rankine Cycle and
Modifications
Fig – Ideal Rankine Cycle Fig – Modified Rankine Cycle
Courtesy : Reference [3] Courtesy: Reference [3]
History of Steam Turbine Development
• 1st Century – Aeolipile
• 1775 – James Watt – Reaction turbine
• 1884 – Sir Charles Parsons – Reaction turbine
• De laval’s - Impulse Turbine
• 1896- Augusta Rateau – Alstom
• Aurel Stodola – Professor at ETH, Zurich
• Brown – Curtis – Impulse turbine – John Brown & Company
Courtesy: Reference [1]
Impulse and Reaction blading
Courtesy: Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy : Wikipedia
Types of Steam Turbine
Steam
Turbine
No of Stages
Exhaust
and Control Process
Condition
Valves
Non Induction
Non Single Valve Single Valve Multivalve Multistage Controlled Controlled
Condensing Controlled and
Condensing Single Stage Multi Stage Single Stage Multi valve Extraction Induction
Extraction Extraction
Courtesy : Reference [2]
Main Components
• Turbine Cylinder
• Turbine Rotor
• Turbine Blading
• Seals
• Bearings
Turbine Cylinder
• Design consideration include Pressure ,
Temperature and High thermal stresses and
distortion
• Easy maintenance
• Single flow high pressure turbine – Brown
Boveri design
• Single flow high pressure turbine – Kraftwerk
union
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Turbine Cylinder
• Design consideration include Pressure ,
Temperature and High thermal stresses and
distortion
• Easy maintenance
• Single flow high pressure turbine – Brown
Boveri design
• Single flow high pressure turbine – Kraftwerk
union
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont…
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.…
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Cont.
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Rotors – Low Pressure Turbine
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Blades
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Turbine Seals
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [1]
Cont.
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Cont.
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Cont.
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Cont.
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API 611 (ISO 10436) 4th Edition
• Scope: General purpose turbines are horizontal or vertical turbines used to drive equipment that is
usually spared, is relative small in size (power), or is in non-critical service. They are used where
steam conditions will not exceed a pressure of 48 bar and a temperature of 400°C or where speed will
not exceed 6000 rpm.
• Annex:
- A – General purpose steam turbine data sheets
- B – Damped unbalanced response analysis
- C – Worksheet and Procedure for determination of residual unbalance
- D – Minimum Pressurized lube- oil system
- E – Vendor drawing and data requirements
- F – Inspector’s checklist
- G – Corresponding International Standards
API 612 (ISO 10437) 6th Edition
Basic Design:
IEC 60045-1 and NEMA SM 23 contain recommendations for steam purity levels.
The purchaser’s approval is required for built-up rotors (disks shrunk on the shaft) when blade tip velocities
exceed 250 m/s at maximum continuous speed or when stage inlet steam temperatures exceed 440 °C.
Over Speed shutdown system:
a) Electronic overspeed detection system
b) Electro-hydraulic solenoid valves
c) Emergency trip valve(s) / combined trip and throttle valve(s)
If specified a turbine with an exhaust pressure less than atmospheric pressure shall be provided with an exhaust
vaccum breaker actuated by the shutdown system. Details of such a system shall be agreed by the purchaser and
the turbine vendor.
Performance test according to PTC 6
Cont.
Annex:
A – Data Sheets
B – Steam turbine nomenclature
C – Procedure for determining residual unbalance
D – Alarm and Shutdown systems
E – Coupling guards
F – Foundation drawings
G – Gland sealing and leak-off system
H – Typical inspection of components
I – Inspector's check list
Difference between API 611 and API 612
API 611 API 612
• Cast iron bearing housing • Steel baring housing
• Sleeve or tilt-pad journal bearings
• Sleeve journal bearing
• Tilt-pas thrust bearing
• Ball or tilted pad thrust bearings
• Labyrinth end seals
• Carbon ring steam seals
• NEMA D governor
• Keyed shaft
• Oil operated T&T valve
• NEMA A or D governor • 2 out of 3 voting electronic trip
• 1 hr uninterrupted mechanical test • No mechanical trip
• Standard rotor balance • Casing field rotor balance provision
• Rotor shafts must be degaussed
• 4 – hour uninterrupted mechanical test
• Rotor Dynamics Testing
Courtesy : Reference [4]
Accessories of Steam Turbine
• Lube Oil System
• Governors
• Surface condenser's package
Governors
Courtesy : Reference [6]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [6]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [6]
Governors
Courtesy : Reference [5]
Cont.
Courtesy : Reference [5]
Surface Condenser
Courtesy : Wikipedia
Cont.
Courtesy : Wikipedia
Cont.
Courtesy : Wikipedia
References
1. “Steam Turbine Components and Systems” by R.A.Chaplin
2. NEMA SM 23 and API 611 and API 612
3. “Thermodynamics Engineering Approach” 5th Edition by Yunus A. Cengel.,Michel A.Boles
4. “Selecting Steam Turbines for Pump drives” by Dave Scoot.,Wayne Adams at Calgary Pump symposium
5. “Standard Control Devices for Steam Turbines” Application Sheet 51238 Rev A from Woodward
6. “Steam turbine Control procedure” Application Sheet 83403 Rev B from Woodward
