Main Components of Steam Turbine

4 5

1. Fixed/Guide Blades

5. Gland seals

9. Governing System

2. Moving Blades

6. Bearing & bearing Pedestal

10. Control & Instr.

3. Cylinder

7. Coupling

4. Rotor

8. Stop & Control Valves

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF STEAM TURBINE

CONVERSION OF HEAT ENERGY INTO KINETIC
ENERGY
DEPENDING UPON THE DYNAMIC ACTION OF
STEAM
DROP IN PRESSURE OF STEAM THROUGH SOME
PASSAGE RESULTING IN
INCREASE IN VELOCITY
CHANGE IN DIRECTION OF MOTION WHICH
GIVES RISE TO A CHANGE OF MOMENTUM OR
FORCE
THIS IS DRIVING FORCE OF THE ROTOR

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF STEAM TURBINE

ROTATING
BLADE
ROW

FIXED
BLADE
ROW
DRIVING

STATIONARY
BODY/CASING

FORCE

ROTOR

Steam at high pressure & temperature is made to pass

through a row of fixed blade mounted on stationary
body in Casing.
There will be drop in pressure of the steam across the
fixed blade resulting in very high steam velocity at the
exit of fixed blade
The high velocity steam then impinges on another row
of rotating blades mounted on the rotor shaft
The impingement of high velocity steam generates
driving force on these rotating blades which rotate the
rotor.
A set of fixed blades blades and rotating blades
mounted on rotor is called stage of turbine. Depending
on steam condition and power output, number of
stages in steam turbine is decided

IMPULSE TURBINE
Maximum steam velocity( Impulse) is created at the
inlet of moving blade
Which means high Kinetic Energy
This energy is utilised for rotation of moving blade
Steam Velocity can be maximised by having
maximum pressure drop in the Nozzles.
Hence in 100% Impulse steam Turbine, whole
pressure drop will be in stationary blades or nozzles
To sustain high velocity, impulse stage should be very
robust in construction.

REACTION TURBINE
Reaction is created due to action of change of
direction of steam through bucket (Blades).
This thrust or reaction causes the driving
force
This requires whole pressure drop in moving
blades
100% Impulse or Reaction stage is purely a
theoretical assumption ,not practically feasible

PRACTICAL SCENARIO
FOLLOWING COMBINATIONS FEASIBLE
1. NOZZLE CONTROL MACHINE WITH FIRST IMPULSE
STAGE AS CURTIS WHEEL(REGULATING STAGE) &
SUBSEQUENT STAGES WITH IMPULSE BLADING.
2. THROTTLE CONTROL MACHINE WITH ALL STAGES
HAVING VARYING DEGREE OF REACTION (AROUND
50%)
3. NOZZLE CONTROL MACHINE WITH FIRST STAGE AS
CURTIS
WHEEL(REGULATING
STAGE)
&
SUBSEQUENT STAGES WITH VARYING DEGREE OF
REACTION ( MIXED TURBINE).

MODES OF STEAM ADMISSION

NOZZLE CONTROL MACHINE

THROTTLE CONTROL MACHINE

SLIDING PRESSURE OPERATION MODE

MODIFIED SLIDING PRESSURE OPERATION MODE

OVERLOAD VALVE OPERATION

NOZZLE CONTROL MACHINE

SALIENT FEATURES ARE:
IMPULSE TURBINE WITH DIAPHRAGMS &
LINEAR NOZZLE SEGMENTS
PRESSURE DROP IN THE NOZZLES
SEQUENTIAL VALVE OPENING
PARTIAL ARC ADMISSION
LOWER THROTTLING LOSS AT PART LOADS
PERFORMANCE NOT VERY POOR AT PART LOAD
TURBINES IDEAL FOR PEAK LOAD OPERATION

THROTTLE CONTROL MACHINE

FEATURES IN COMPARISON ARE
IMPULSE TURBINE WITH DIAPHRAGMS,
LINEAR

REACTION TURBINE
NO NOZZLE SEGMENTS

NOZZLE SEGMENTS IN THE PERIPHERY

NO PRESSURE DROP

PRESSURE DROP IN THE NOZZLES

SIMULTANEOUS VALVE
OPENING

SEQUENTIAL VALVE OPENING

PARTIAL ARC ADMISSION

FULL ARC ADMISSION

HIGHER THROTTLING LOSS AT
PART LOADS

LOWER THROTTLING LOSS AT PART LOADS

PERFORMANCE NOT VERY POOR AT PART

PERFORMANCE POOR AT PART
LOAD
LOAD
TURBINES IDEAL FOR PEAK LOAD
OPERATION

TURBINES IDEAL FOR BASE

LOAD OPERATION

STEAM TURBINE CHARACTERISTIC CURVE

Throttle Controlled
Machine

NOZZLE
CONTROL
MACHINE

N
o
z
z
l
e
C
o
n
t
r
o
l

SLIDING PRESSURE OPERATION MODE

IN THROTTLE CONTROL MACHINE
ADMISSION VALVES FULLY OPEN AT ALL
LOADS
BOILER PRESSURE IS MATCHED WITH
FIRST STAGE PRESSURE
HENCE STEAM PRESSURE SLIDES WITH
RESPECT TO LOAD
WE HAVE MINIMUM THROTTLING LOSS

SLIDING PRESSURE OPERATION

PROBLEMS

NO SPINNING RESERVE
CANNOT MEET THE GRID DEMAND
OF SUDDEN LOAD INCREASE
COMPLEX BOILER CONTROL
NO LOAD CONTROL ON TURBINE
GOVERNING (or)TURBINE CONTROL
INEFFECTIVE

MODIFIED SLIDING PRESSURE

OPERATION MODE
SOME THROTTLING RESERVE ( 10 TO
20% ) MAINTAINED
ADMISSION VALVES NOT FULLY OPEN
BUT SLIGHTLY CLOSED
MAIN CONTROL STILL WITH BOILER
CONSTANT THROTTLING LOSS AT ALL
THE LOADS
PERFORMANCE SLIGHTLY POOR

OVERLOAD VALVE OPERATION

OVERLOAD VALVE NORMALLY CLOSED AT 95-100% LOAD
OPENS AFTER LOAD CROSSES 95-100% MCR
OVERLOAD STEAM ADMITTED INTO HP TURBINE AFTER A
FEW STAGES
OVERLOAD VALVE USED TO GET VWO OR PEAK LOAD
SO NO THROTTLING AT MCR
THEREFORE MCR OPERATION EFFICIENT
PROBLEMS
COMPLEX OPERATION COMPARED TO THROTTLE CONTROL
GREATER STRESS IN HPT BLADES, HENCE DESIGN
DIFFICULT
HP CASING DESIGN COMPLICATED.