Turbine

Performance
Turbine Types
1. Reaction Turbine – work is done by the force due to the changing speed as
well as the direction of the steam relative to the blade.
2. Impulse turbine – work is done by the force exerted when the direction of the fluid
steam is changed.
Modern steam turbines frequently employ both reaction
and impulse in the same unit, typically varying the degree
of reaction and impulse from the blade root to its
periphery. The rotor blades are usually designed like an
impulse blade at the rot and like a reaction blade at the
tip.
Turbine Performance

Steam entering a turbine must travel through the main steam valve (stop or throttle valve) which includes a
strainer, steam chest; all of which cause a pressure drop. Friction loss through this equipment would be about
4% of the initial pressure for a multivalve governor and 10% for a single valve turbine.

This pressure drop is a throttling process represented

by constant enthalpy from the entrance conditions 𝑝1 ,
𝑡1 , ℎ1 and 𝑠1 to point 2, Fig. 9-25, which is the
entrance to the first stage of the turbine
Fig 9-25. Turbine condition curve
In the first stage, the steam theoretically would expand isentropically from point 2 to point 3’.
Regardless of whether the stages are impulse or reaction, there will be losses occurring in the
expansion through the blades and nozzles, that will appear as thermal energy in the steam leaving
the stage. This will result in “reheating” of the steam from enthalpy ℎ′3 to ℎ3 at the stage pressure
𝑝3 . Upon entering the second stage, the steam will have the enthalpy ℎ3 . The process will continue
in this manner throughout the turbine until the steam emerges from the last stage at enthalpy ℎ7.

Inasmuch as this is the last stage of the turbine, there is no possibility of obtaining useful work
from the kinetic energy of the steam going into the condenser where the steam will come to rest.
Thus, the kinetic energy known as leaving loss is converted into thermal energy. The leaving loss is
represented by the ℎ8 − ℎ7 , while the energy transferred to the condenser circulating water is
represented by the difference between ℎ8 and the enthalpy of saturated liquid at pressure 𝑝7 .
A curved line drawn through points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, indicating the condition of the steam
throughout the turbine at points where it is possible to extract and measure the steam properties, is
known as the condition curve.

Stage efficiency has been defined as the ratio of the actual enthalpy drop across the stage to the
isentropic enthalpy drop for the same pressure differential.

ℎ2 − ℎ3
Stage Turbine Efficiency: 𝜂𝑡 =
ℎ2 − ℎ3′

When this ratio is applied to a group of blades or to the entire turbine, it is referred to as the Rankine
Cycle Ratio (RCR), or the internal efficiency of the turbine. This expression does not such mechanical
losses as bearing losses, oil pump power, etc.
ℎ1 − ℎ8
Rankine Cycle Ratio: 𝑅𝐶𝑅 =
ℎ1 − ℎ9
Likewise, the steam rates may be expressed with or without the mechanical efficiency, and they are pounds of
steam per hour that are required by the turbine to develop 1 kw or 1 hp. These relationships may be developed
as follows by defining the enthalpies as indicated in Fig. 9-25

ℎ1 −ℎ8
Engine efficiency: 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝑅𝐶𝑅 × 𝐸𝑚𝑔 = 𝐸𝑚𝑔
ℎ1 −ℎ9

𝐵𝑇𝑈 𝑘𝐽
3413𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟 3600𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟 𝑘𝑔
𝑙𝑏 or TSR = ;
Theoretical Steam Rate: TSR = 𝐵𝑇𝑈 ; 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟
ℎ1 −ℎ9 𝑙𝑏 𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟 ℎ1 −ℎ9 𝑘𝑔

3413 𝐵𝑇𝑈 3600 𝐾𝐽

Where: 1𝑘𝑊 = and 1𝑘𝑊 =
ℎ𝑟 ℎ𝑟

3413 𝑙𝑏 3600 𝑘𝑔
Actual Steam Rate: 𝑆𝑅 = ; or 𝑆𝑅 = ;
(ℎ1 −ℎ9 )𝐸𝑚𝑔 𝑅𝐶𝑅 𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟 (ℎ1 −ℎ9 )𝐸𝑚𝑔 𝑅𝐶𝑅 𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟

𝑇𝑆𝑅 𝑇𝑆𝑅
𝑆𝑅 = =
𝐸𝑚𝑔 𝑅𝐶𝑅 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑓𝑓
Sample Problem 1
A regenerative turbine has the following test results Steam Extraction:

steam flow = 38,300 kg/hr = ms m2 = 2,820 kg/hr @860kPa

Average Turbine – Generator Load = 10,000kW m3 = 2,460 kg/hr @276kPa

Throttle Pressure = 2,650 kPa m4 = 3,065 kg/hr @70kPa

Throttle Temp = 520°C Feedwater leaves the last heater at 170°𝐶

Condenser Pressure = 25.40 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 ×

101.325 𝑘𝑃𝑎
= 3.386 𝑘𝑃𝑎 Determine:
760 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔

a) Turbine Heat Rate

b) Overall Engine Eff (𝜂𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑒 )
Diagram
Solving for Enthalpies:
@P5 = 3.38 kPa & S1=S2=S3=S4=S5=7.3520 kJ/kg-K
@P1 = 2,650 kPa & T1 = 520°𝐶
ℎ5 = 2,210 kJ/kg-K
ℎ1 = 3,505.1 kJ/kg-K
@T =170°𝐶
𝑆1 = 7.3520 kJ/kg-K

@P2 = 860 kPa & S1 = S2= 7.3520 kJ/kg-K ℎ𝑓 = 719.21 kJ/kg

ℎ2 = 3,150 kJ/kg-K a) For the turbine heat rate

𝑚𝑠 ℎ1 −ℎ𝑓
@P3 = 276 kPa & S1= S2=S3=7.3520 kJ/kg-K HR =
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡

ℎ3 = 2,880 kJ/kg-K 𝑘𝑔 1ℎ𝑟 𝑘𝐽

38,300 × 3600𝑠 × 3,505.1 − 719.21
ℎ𝑟 𝑘𝑔
@P4 = 70 kPa & S1=S2=S3=S4=7.3520 kJ/kg-K 𝐻𝑅 =
10,000𝑘𝑊
ℎ4 = 2,630 kJ/kg-K 𝑘𝐽
𝐻𝑅 = 10,669.96
𝑘𝑊 − ℎ𝑟
 10,000𝑘𝑊
b) 𝜂𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
𝐴𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
Where:
𝐴𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
= 𝑚1 ℎ1 − ℎ2 + 𝑚1 − 𝑚2 ℎ2 − ℎ3 + 𝑚1 − 𝑚2 − 𝑚3 ℎ3 − ℎ4 + 𝑚1 − 𝑚2 − 𝑚3 − 𝑚4 ℎ4 − ℎ5
= 38,300 3,505.1 − 3,150 + (38,300 − 2,820)(3,150 − 2,880) + (38,300 − 2,820 − 2,460)(2,880 −
2,630) + (38,300 − 2,820 − 2,460 − 3,065)(2,630 − 2,210)
= 44,016,030 kJ/hr

10,000𝑘𝑊
𝜂𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 = × 100
𝑘𝐽 1ℎ𝑟
44,016,030 × 3600𝑠
ℎ𝑟

𝜂𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 81.79%

If there are no heaters:

𝐴𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 38,300 3,505.1 − 2,210 = 49,602,330 kJ/hr

10,000𝑘𝑊
𝜂𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 𝑘𝐽 1ℎ𝑟 × 100 = 72.58%
49,602,330ℎ𝑟×3600𝑠
Sample Problem 2.
Steam at 4500kPa and 4200C is used in an extraction turbine having five pressure
stages. Exhaust pressure is 1” Hgabs.

Stage data are:

Stage Pressure (kPa) Efficiency (%)

1 1400 81.3
2 500 76.9
3 130 74.3
4 25 71.5
5 1”Hg (3.4kPa) 68.5

Solve:
a. Rankine Cycle Ratio (RCR) and Actual Steam Rate (kg/kW-hr) using 𝐸𝑚𝑔 = 95% .
b. Mass flow rate of steam (kg/hr) considering a 50 MW output.
Diagram
Solution
At 4500 kPa and 420 0C:
h1 = 3252.5 kJ/kg S1 = 6.7747 kJ/kg-K

ℎ2′ ሿ1400𝑘𝑃𝑎
6.7747 = 2,942 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
From:
ℎ −ℎ
𝜂𝑡 = ℎ 1−ℎ 2
1 2′
ℎ2 = ℎ1 − 𝜂𝑡 ℎ1 − ℎ2′
= 3252.5 − 0.813 3252.5 − 2942
𝑘𝐽
= 3000.06 𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
𝑆2 ሿ1400𝑘𝑃𝑎
3000.06 = 6.882 𝑘𝑔−𝐾

ℎ3′ ሿ500𝑘𝑃𝑎
6.882 = 2,774.93 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
ℎ −ℎ
𝜂𝑡 = ℎ 2−ℎ 3
2 3′
ℎ3 = ℎ2 − 𝜂𝑡 ℎ2 − ℎ3′
= 3000.06 − 0.769 3000.06 − 2774.93
𝑘𝐽
= 2826.875 𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽
𝑆3 ሿ500𝑘𝑃𝑎
2826.875 = 6.998 𝑘𝑔−𝐾
Follow the same procedure to solve all the enthalpy and then solve the required:
ℎ1 − ℎ6
𝑎) 𝑅𝐶𝑅 = Finally:
ℎ1 − ℎ7
𝑘𝑔
3252.5 − 2289,564 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 = 3.935 × 50,000 𝑘𝑊
= 𝑘𝑊 − ℎ𝑟
3252.5 − 2023.019
𝑘𝑔
= 0.7832 = 196,767.98
ℎ𝑟

𝑏) 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 × 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

Where:
3600 𝑘𝑔
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑆𝑅) = ;
(ℎ1 −ℎ9 )𝐸𝑚𝑔 𝑅𝐶𝑅 𝑘𝑊−ℎ𝑟

3600
=
(3252.5 − 2023.019) × 0.95 × 0.7832
𝑘𝑔
= 3.935
𝑘𝑊 − ℎ𝑟