CHAPTER II STEAM ENGINEERING

01. Why steam is used as working fluid in steam turbines ? Ans: It is a pure substance whose specific volume changes rapidly during change of phase. 02. What is the name given to steam generators? Ans: Steam boilers. 03. What are fire tube boilers and water tube boilers ? Ans: The boilers in which smoke or the flue gases passes through the tubes and water surrounds the tubes are called fire tube boilers. Ex.: Lancashire, Cochran, Locomotive, Velox etc., The boilers in which water passes through the tubes and flue gases surrounds the tubes are called water tube boilers. Ex.: Babcock & Wilcox, Stirling, Lamont, Loeffler, Benson etc., Most of the high pressure boilers are water tube boilers, whose pressure is greater than 30 to 60 bar. 04. What is equivalent evaporation ? Ans: It is the quantity of steam generated at 100 oC from water at 100 oC. Equivalent evaporation = ms(h1 h2) / hfg. (h1 h2) is the energy supplied in boiler, ms is steam generated in kg/h and hfg is latent heat of evaporation. 05. What is boiler horse power ? Ans: It is equivalent to generation of 13.6 kg of steam / h from water at 100 oC to steam at 100 oC. 06. What are boiler mountings ? Ans: These are the essential devices supplied along with the boiler and are safety devices. Ex: Safety valves, water level indicator, blow off cock, fusible plug etc., 07. What are boiler accessories? Ans: These are the devices which shall increase the performance of the boiler. They are Economizer Water preheater which receives heat energy from chimney gases Air pre-heater Air will be preheated before it is supplied to the grate. Super heater Steam is superheated by the flue gases near the furnace. Steam will be supplied to the prime movers in super heated state. 08. What is boiler draught ? Ans: It is a small pressure difference which causes the air and flue gases to flow through the boiler. 09. What are the types of draught ? Ans: Natural draught (chimney draught) and artificial draught provided with the help of fans. 10. What are the types of artificial draughts ? Ans: i) Forced draught Fan forces air through the grate. ii) Induced draught fan suck the flue gases from the grate and air will be induced. Iii) Balanced draught In which both forced fan and induced fans are provided.

11. What is a boiler ? Ans: Boiler is a device which changes the phase of a substance from liquid to vapour by receiving heat energy. 12. What is a condenser ? Ans: Condenser is a device which changes the phase of a substance from vapour to liquid by rejecting heat energy. 13. What is a turbine ? Ans: Turbine is a device which converts the enthalpy or energy of the working substance to the motive power for a rotor. It is rotary machine. 14. What is the main classification of steam turbines ? Ans: Reaction and impulse. In impulse turbine while steam is passing over blade pressure do not change. The velocity of blade, steam etc., are very high. Suitable for medium power development blades are symmetrical ( = ub / ui = cos and maximum efficiency = Cos2 ; uro / uri 1. 2 For a reaction turbine for maximum efficiency ( =ub / ui = Cos and maximum efficiency = 2Cos2 / (1 + Cos2 ), uro > uri Another classification is axial in which fluid flow is parallel to the axis through out and Centrifugal in which fluid enters axially and leaves radially or tangentially. 15. Why compounding is done for steam turbines ? Ans: If steam is expanded from boiler pressure to condenser pressure and steam is allowed to pass over one M.B. ring the speed of the rotor is bound to be supersonic 30000 rpm. Hence to reduce the speed of the rotor compounding is done. 16. What are the different types of compounding ? Ans: Velocity compounding (Curtis) ; Pressure compounding (Rateau) ; Pressure velocity compounding (Zoelly) ; Reaction turbine (Parsons reaction turbine) 17. What is meant by degree of reaction ? Ans: It is the ratio of pressure drop in M.B. to the total pressure drop (in M.B. + F.B.) in a reaction turbine. 18. What is a nozzle ? Ans: Nozzle is a device which converts the pressure energy (or enthalpy) in to K.E. A nozzle is always placed in front of turbine to increase K.E. of steam at the expense of pressure energy. 19. What is the purpose of steam condensers ? Ans: Steam condenser is used to condense steam. Very low pressures are maintained in condensers 73.25 cm of Hg vacuum for steam turbines and 65 cm of Hg vacuum for steam engines. Because of low pressure steam can be expanded in turbines to a very lower pressures and hence more work output. It removes non condensible gases. 20. What is the thermodynamic cycle on which steam turbine operates ? Ans: Rankine cycle or complete expansion cycle.

21. What is the thermodynamic cycle on which steam engine works ? Ans: Modified Rankine cycle or incomplete expansion cycle. 22. What are the different types of condensers ? Ans: Direct mixing type (jet condensers), Non-mixing type (Surface condensers) 23. Which condensers are used in steam power plants ? Ans: Surface condensers.