Chapter 4, Problem 1P

To determine

Investigate the operation of various turbines and explain the operation of steam turbines, hydraulic turbines, gas turbines, and wind turbines.

Explanation of Solution

Turbine:

A turbine is also known as rotary engine that transforms the rotational energy from a fluid or air into a usable energy or work.

The turbine contains a generator, a shaft, and blades. The blade act as a barrier for fluid or air, when the blade moves the energy from the water or air is transferred to the rotor. When the rotor starts to rotate the shaft also rotates and transforms the mechanical energy into rotational energy. The electrical energy is produced by the generator.

Impulse turbine:

Impulse turbine changes the flow path of high velocity fluid. The turbine spins and leaves the kinetic energy from the fluid flow as a result of the impulse. The pressure of the blades does not alter. The total pressure drop takes place in the stationary blades for the steam or gas turbine. The stationary blades is the part which takes place the total pressure drop in the steam or gas turbine.

The fluid pressure head is reformed to velocity head by accelerating the fluid with a nozzle. No pressure casement is required for impulse turbine. The Pelton wheels use the impulse turbine concept exclusively.

Reaction turbine:

The reaction turbine functions are based on the Newton’s third law of motion. The torque developed due to the turbine response to the fluid pressure. The pressure casement is essential for the turbine.

The turbine nozzles are united to the rotor. The Francis turbine and steam turbines are use the concept of reaction turbine. When the fluid leaving through the nozzles, it produces a reaction force on the pipes due to acceleration of fluid. It causes the rotor to change in the direction against to the direction of fluid. Steam turbines and Francis turbine are used by the concept of reaction turbine.

Operation of steam turbine:

The higher amount of mechanical power is produced by the steam turbine applying the less amount of steam. The wheels and blades are attached to the steam turbine rotor. The turbine blade extracts the energy from the steam. It is meant for the electricity production in the thermal power plants. The primary type of steam turbine is the condensing steam turbine.

Operation of hydraulic turbine:

The hydraulic turbine transforms the kinetic energy of the falling water into mechanical energy of rotation. It is used in hydraulic power plants. The modern hydraulic turbines are a form of fluid dynamic machinery of the jet and vane type operating on the principle of impulse or reaction turbine.

Operation of gas turbine:

In gas turbine the air is used as a working fluid. It contains three main components they are downstream turbine on the shaft, upstream rotating gas compressor, and a combustion chamber in the midst of the compressor and the shaft.

The compressor pulls the air into the engine, and push in to the ‘combustion chamber’. It creates the larger amount of pressure and temperature and expands through the turbine section, then the electricity has produced owing to the spinning of generator.

Operation of wind turbine:

Wind turbine works on the principle by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. The propellers or blades get rotation while the wind energy strikes on the blades around the rotor. The shaft is connected with rotor and it induce the generator to produce electricity.

Conclusion:

Thus, the operation of steam turbines, hydraulic turbines, gas turbines, and wind turbines is explained.