Steam Turbines:

Introduction

Section 1: Introduction to Steam Turbines

Overview
In this section of the program, you will learn about the operation of steam turbines,
including:

Steam turbine principles.

Impulse turbines.
Reaction turbines.

Steam Turbine Principles

Heat is the flow of thermal
energy. Energy can be converted from
one form to another. Steam turbines
are used to change thermal energy to
mechanical energy.
When water boils and turns to
steam, the steam has more energy
than the water. If water is heated in a
closed container, its vapor pressure
increases. When heat is added to a
boiler, steam pressure builds up in the
container. Steam pressure in the container becomes higher than the pressure of
the atmosphere.
The higher pressure forces steam to expand out through the nozzle at high speed. A
jet of steam strikes the bucket, and the bucket moves. Mechanical energy is produced
as the high-velocity steam strikes the bucket and causes it to move.
As the pressure of the steam flowing through the
nozzle is reduced, the velocity of the steam:
Increases.
Decreases.
Stays the same.

When steam expands

through the nozzle, its
pressure decreases and its
velocity increases.

Answer

Simple Steam Turbine

This is a simple turbine. The rotor consists of blades or buckets mounted on a

shaft. The nozzle directs the flow of steam toward the buckets.
As steam leaves the nozzle, its pressure and temperature decreases and its velocity
increases. Heat (thermal energy) produces steam pressure, and the nozzle converts
steam pressure to steam velocity. After steam strikes the buckets, steam velocity
decreases. The rotor turns and produces mechanical work. Then, the steam loses
energy.
More steam, at the same temperature and pressure, produces more work than less
steam. If more nozzles are added, or if the nozzle is enlarged, more steam strikes the
buckets. So, more nozzles or a larger nozzle produces more mechanical work.
To increases the amount of steam flow:

Increase the pressure difference.

Or, increase the nozzle opening while keeping the pressure constant.

Where is steam pressure lower?

At the rotor.
In the boiler.

Answer

Steam will flow from an

area of higher pressure to
an area of lower
pressure. If there is not a
pressure difference between
the boiler and the rotor,
steam will not flow.

Impulse Turbines
This turbine has a rotor, a
nozzle, and a source of
steam, but the rotor's
buckets are mounted on a
wheel rather than directly on
the shaft.
The high-velocity steam
directed toward the buckets
is an impelling force
(impulse), causing the rotor
to turn. Because the turbine
uses the impulse of steam on
the buckets to turn the rotor,
the turbine is called an
impulse turbine.
All the steam expansion in an impulse turbine occurs through a stationary nozzle. The
nozzles are located in the wall of the steam chest. A governor controls the flow of
steam into the steam chest and thereby controls the output of mechanical energy.
The rotor is mounted inside a metal casing. For the steam to flow into the casing
through the nozzle, the steam pressure in the casing must be lower than the steam
pressure in the steam chest. Without a pressure difference, the steam cannot flow and
no mechanical work can be
produced.
In this example, Turbine A
has a smaller load, so it
needs less energy than
Turbine B to do its job.
The most convenient way to
increase the power output of
the turbine is to allow more
steam into the steam chest.

Opening the governor valve increases the speed of

the rotor.
True.
False.

Answer

When more energy is

needed, the governor valve
is opened to let more steam
into the steam chest.

If the load on the shaft increases (but the steam flow is not increased), the speed of
the rotor decreases. The speed of the rotor also increases as the load on the shaft is
decreased.
Shaft speed depends on:
The amount of load on the shaft.
The amount of steam flowing into the steam chest.
Both of the above.

Answer

If the rotor turns too fast, it may be damaged.

True.
False.

The governor valve controls

rotor speed.

Answer

Reaction Turbines

A reaction turbine develops torque

by reacting to the pressure or weight of the fluid. In a reaction turbine, the steam
nozzles are attached directly to the rotor. The steam accelerating from
the nozzles produces a reaction force, causing the rotor to turn in the opposite
direction. All of the pressure drop occurs in the rotor, with the pressure of the steam
changing as it passes through the rotor blades or buckets.
In the impulse turbine:

Expansion of steam (pressure drop) occurs across the stationary nozzles.

Steam does not expand to a great extent in the buckets.

In the reaction turbine:

The steam expands as it flows through the buckets.

Some or all expansion occurs in the buckets mounted on the rotor, although
they normally have stationary nozzles like impulse turbines.

Reaction turbines, although sometimes more efficient than impulse turbines, require
more stages than impulse turbines and are seldom used as pump or compressor
drivers.
Plants usually use:
Impulse turbines.
Reaction turbines.

Answer

Section 2:

Types of Steam Turbines

Overview
In this section of the program, you will learn about types of steam turbines, including:

Single- and multi-stage turbines.

Stationary buckets.
Condensing and non-condensing turbines.

Single- and Multi-Stage Turbines

The compartment into which steam expands is a
stage. Because pressure decreases when volume
increases, steam pressure is also decreased in a stage.
When pressure is reduced in one stage only, like in this
drawing, a turbine is called single-stage. If steam

pressure is reduced in more than one stage the turbine is called multi-stage.
This multi-stage turbine has three
wheels and pressure is reduced in
three stages.
All of the stages are housed in one
casing and steam leaves the turbine
through the final stage's exhaust.
This drawing shows multiple
wheels mounted on one
shaft. A diaphragm
separates each stage and
supports that stage's nozzle.

Some turbines use a row of smaller

nozzles in each stage, rather than one
large nozzle.

A turbine designed for a high inlet pressure and low

exhaust pressure generally has its pressure reduced
in:
Several stages.
One stage.

Answer

Turbines having large

pressure drops between
inlet and exhaust are
usually multi-stage
turbines.

The number of stages in a turbine is determined by

the number of:
Zones of pressure reduction.
Rows of buckets.
Governor valves.
Nozzles.

Answer

In this example, Rotor A is single-stage, and

Rotor B is a multi-stage turbine.
Rotor B reduces pressure in steps and is
probably in a larger turbine.
Steam expanding from stage to stage
increases in volume. To provide for the
larger volume in the later stages, the
buckets are longer. In Rotor B, the buckets
on the last wheel are longer than the
buckets on the first wheel.

Stationary Buckets
A rotor may contain two rows of buckets in a
stage instead of one, but because there is
only one pressure reduction, it is still
considered a single-stage.
The nozzles direct steam at the first row of
buckets. As the steam leaves the buckets, it
is moving in the opposite direction from the
moving buckets.
To move a second row of buckets in the same
direction as the first, the steam must be
redirected.

Mounted on the casing, between the two

rows of moving buckets, is a row of
stationary buckets.
These stationary buckets redirect the
steam jets into another row of moving
buckets. Since the stationary buckets do
not change the pressure of the steam jets
to any great extent, they do not have the
same effect as a row of nozzles.
This example shows two different wheel
configurations. Although there are two
wheels shown on the left, most stages have
just one wheel, like the one on the right.

Where are the nozzles in this drawing?

(Click the image to answer.)

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Condensing and Non-Condensing Turbines

Steam expands from a higher

pressure to a lower pressure. Therefore, steam flows from the boiler at a higher
pressure and leaves the turbine through the exhaust at a lower pressure.
Low-pressure steam can still be used to run a turbine. Low-pressure steam can expand
into an area of still lower pressure.
Turbine B has a condenser installed at the exhaust. The condenser cools the steam
leaving the turbine and changes it into water, thus removing heat and lowering
pressure. Turbine A is a non-condensing turbine and has a higher exhaust pressure
than Turbine B.
Which turbine produces more mechanical work?
Turbine A.
Turbine B.

Answer

The non-condensing turbine

does not use all of the
available thermal energy
present in the steam. From
the same amount of steam
(at the same inlet
pressure), the condensing
turbine produces more
mechanical work.

When the steam is condensed, the water may be returned to the boiler for reheating.
Since large pressure drops are common in condensing turbines, the steam pressure is
usually reduced in steps.

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Condensing turbines are usually:

Single-stage.
Multi-stage.

Answer

Extraction and Induction

Some steam may be removed
from or added to a stage before
it reaches the exhaust.
Steam removed from a stage
can be used for processes that
need steam at pressures and
temperatures above the
pressure and temperature of
the exhaust.
Removing steam at an intermediate stage is called extraction.
Steam may also be fed or induced into the turbine at an intermediate
stage. Sometimes excess steam is available in the plant, at the pressure of a turbine's
intermediate stage. This steam can be induced into the turbine at that stage.
Removing steam from an intermediate stage and using
it for other processes is called:
Induction.
Extraction.

Steam fed into a turbine, at

the pressure of an
intermediate stage, is called
induction.

Answer

12

Section 3:

Governors

Overview
The governor valve regulates the amount of steam allowed into the turbine and the
amount of mechanical work produced. The governor valve is used to control turbine
speed.
When a heavier load is placed on the turbine, more power is needed than when the
turbine is only partially loaded. The speed of the driven equipment must be controlled
to perform its operating function.
The governor is a mechanism which opens and closes the governor valve. When the
speed of the turbine starts to speed up or slow down, its speed must be brought back
to normal. The governor corrects for changes in speed.

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In this section of the program, you will learn about the different types of governors
used on steam turbines, including:

Direct-acting flyball governor.

Hydraulic governor.
Oil-relay governor.
Overspeed trip.
Single- and multi-valve governors.

Direct-Acting Flyball Governor

When the turbine is not
operating, the spring holds
the flyballs close to the shaft.
Before the turbine is started,
the governor valve is wide
open. As the shaft starts to
turn, the force of the spring
prevents the flyballs from
moving apart.

As the shaft approaches operating

speed, spring tension is overcome by
the force of spinning (centrifugal force),
and the flyballs move away from each
other.

As the flyballs separate, the governor valve is

closed. When the turbine reaches operating
speed, the governor valve allows less steam
in than at startup, and the turbine stops
accelerating.

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When an increased load on the turbine slows the

turbine down, the flyballs are pulled in toward each
other and the governor valve is opened so that the
turbine speeds up. If the load is suddenly removed,
the turbine:
Speeds up.
Stops completely.

Answer

If the inlet steam pressure

is suddenly reduced, turbine
speed decreases and the
governor valve must
open. If the exhaust
pressure rises, the turbine
speed decreases. As the
load is removed from a
fully-loaded turbine, speed
increases.

Narrow Governors
If a governor could compensate completely for this change in speed, the speed at zero
load would be the same as the speed at full load. With no difference between the
speeds at full and no load, regulation would be zero.
A narrow governor is designed to keep changes in speed as small as possible. A
governor with zero regulation is an extremely narrow governor. Most narrow governors
do not maintain zero regulation, but keep the drift in speed as low as 4%. A governor
with 4% regulation is still a narrow governor.
To find the speed drift, multiply the rated speed by the percentage of regulation.

To find the speed at no load, add the speed drift to the rated speed.

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If a turbine's rated speed at full load is 3,000 RPM

and its governor has 4% regulation, its speed at no
load can be as high as _______ RPM.

Answer

A narrow, direct-acting flyball governor keeps turbine speed changes small.

Friction in the governor mechanism tends to resist movement of the governor
itself. The governor must overcome the resistance of this friction and the unbalanced
forces of steam pressure and steam flow in the governor valve.
For slight speed changes on turbines equipped with a narrow flyball governor, the
governor must first overcome friction and any unbalanced forces before it can move the
governor valve.
The flyballs cannot control the speed within a small range, because the forces opposing
the governor cause the valve to overtravel. When correcting for load change, the
governor moves the valve too far.
Over-shooting constantly, the governor never precisely finds the operating speed. The
turbine is continually speeding up or slowing down a little. This alternate speeding and
slowing is called hunting, meaning that the governor hunts for the correct setting.
A narrow flyball governor correcting small changes in
turbine speed is more likely to hunt than a broad
governor.
True.
False.

Answer

A broad governor does not

move the valve as far to
correct a small change in
speed as a narrow governor
does. Only a large speed
change causes the broad
governor to move the valve
from the opened to the
closed position.

Broad Governors
For a given speed change, the broad governor moves its valve a shorter distance than
the narrow governor, and does not overshoot the correct valve setting. The broad

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governor does not tend to hunt.

A broad governor usually has an operating speed range as broad as 10%. As the load
is decreased from full load to no load, turbine speed increases by 10% of full load
speed.
If a turbine's rated speed at full load is 3,500 RPM,
with 10% regulation, its speed at no load can be as
high as _______ RPM.

Answer

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Hydraulic Governor

To regulate turbine speed, the

hydraulic governor uses an oil pump in place of flyballs. When the turbine is not
running, the oil pump puts no pressure into the hydraulic piping and the valve remains
open. As the shaft turns, oil is pumped into the piping to the valve. Most of the oil
passes out of the leak-off and returns to the reservoir to provide a constant supply of
oil to and from the oil pump.
The governor valve is connected to a flexible diaphragm and changes in oil pressure
adjust the valve.
Temperature affects the viscosity (thickness) of the oil, so a change in oil temperature
may affect the governor valve setting.
Temperature must be carefully controlled. If too much hot, thin oil passes through the
oil leak-off, then sufficient oil pressure does not build up in the system and the turbine
operates at too high a speed.

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Cold, thick oil pumps very well, but not enough of it passes through the leak-off. This
causes pressure in the hydraulic system to become too great and tends to close the
governor valve.
If oil pressure in the hydraulic system is lost, the
governor valve:
Does not react.
Moves to a fully-open position.
Closes completely.

If the hydraulic system fails

while the turbine is running,
the turbine overspeeds.

Answer

A change in temperature changes:

The governor valve setting.
The turbine speed setting.
Both of the above.

Answer

Because hydraulic governors are well suited to high-speed use, a high-speed turbine
works best with a hydraulic governor.
Hydraulic governors are usually:
Narrow governors.
Broad governors.

Answer

Since temperature changes

can affect the adjustment of
the hydraulic governor,
hydraulic governors are
usually broad governors.

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Oil-Relay Governor
The oil-relay governor combines the features of
the hydraulic and the flyball governors:

Oil pressure operates a piston.

The spring keeps the piston in place
until a change in oil pressure acts on
the piston.
Flyballs position the pilot valve that
controls the oil flow through the oil
relay's inlet and outlet.

Unless the inlet is fully open or fully closed, oil

constantly circulates through the relay system,
regardless of the setting. Oil from the outlet
connection is returned to an oil reservoir to be
pumped into the hydraulic system again.
If oil pressure is suddenly lost (through failure
of the oil pump, for example), the spring forces
the piston to close the valve. With the oil-relay
governor, loss of oil pressure does not cause
the turbine to overspeed as with the hydraulic
governor.
The oil-relay governor uses hydraulic force to
move the valve so that it has more power than
a flyball governor by itself.
In some turbines, the oil relay is not operated
by a set of flyballs. Instead, an electric
generator attached to the turbine shaft adjusts
the oil relay. Changing the speed of the
generator changes its output of electric
current. Changes in electric current adjust the
pilot valve, which opens and closes the inlet
and outlet openings.

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The oil-relay governor is a:

Broad governor.
Narrow governor.

Answer

The oil-relay governor

easily maintains narrow
control by overcoming
friction and the unbalanced
forces of steam and does
not tend to hunt. Of the
available governors, the oilrelay governor is superior in
maintaining a narrow range
of speed.

A change in oil temperature _______ the turbine

speed setting.
Will affect.
Will not affect.

Answer

Since the flyballs adjust the

speed setting, a change in
oil temperature does not
affect the turbine speed
setting.

Overspeed Trip

The governor regulates the

turbine under normal conditions, but sometimes abnormal conditions occur. For
example, if a load is suddenly removed from a fully-loaded turbine, the turbine may
overspeed. Sometimes the governor reacts too slowly or fails to respond at all. If the
steam is not shut off promptly, the turbine overspeeds until it flies apart.
A trip pin in the turbine shaft is used to shut off the steam flow in an emergency.

21

The drawing shows a trip pin in the shaft. The pin consists of an unbalanced weight
held in the shaft by a spring.
At normal speeds, the trip pin remains inside the shaft. If the turbine overspeeds, the
pin is ejected from the shaft by centrifugal force (force of rotation).

The overspeed trip mechanism will reset

automatically.
True.
False.

Answer

Unlike governors (which are

self-correcting), the
overspeed trip mechanism
must be manually reset
after the turbine stops.

Overspeed Trip Function

Once the trip pin is ejected from
the shaft, it triggers the trip valve
to close. When the trip valve
closes, it cuts off the steam flow to
the steam chest and the turbine
stops.
Other overspeed safety devices are
used on turbines. On one type of
small turbine, the rotor is equipped
with a brake rim that is activated
when the turbine overspeeds.
The brake acts like the brake of a
car. When the rotor overspeeds,
centrifugal force stretches or expands it until its rim rubs on the walls of the casing and
slows down the rotor. If the brake-rim rotor does overspeed, some damage may occur
to the wheel and the rotor might have to be repaired after overspeeding.

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Large Trip Valves

Large trip valves use oil under
pressure to open them and hold
them open. The spring-loaded valve
is held open by the pressure of the
oil.
As with the direct-acting trip, the
mechanism must be reset after the
turbine has slowed
down. Overspeed trip pins are set
to act at speeds 10 to 15% over the
maximum turbine speed.

If the turbine overspeeds 8% over the maximum, will

the pin be ejected from the shaft?
Yes.
No.

Answer

Single- and Multi-Valve Governors

Steam released into the steam chest by the governor valve is directed at the buckets
by the nozzles.
When the load on the turbine is reduced from full to partial load, less steam is needed
to keep the turbine up to speed. The governor valve closes and pressure in the steam
chest decreases. For optimum efficiency, maximum pressure should be maintained in
the steam chest. Any steam pressure less than the optimum is less efficient.

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When less thermal energy is used by

the turbine and more thermal energy
passes out with the exhaust steam,
efficiency is lowered. Closing some
nozzles in the nozzle row creates a
smaller area for the steam to flow
through and the steam pressure in the
steam chest can be held close to
optimum.
When the turbine is at full load, all or
most of the nozzles are open. But,
when the load is reduced, some nozzles
should be closed by the hand
valves. At partial load, closing some
nozzles maintains more efficient steam
pressure in the steam chest.
In this example, a single valve governor is at partial load. Operating a hand valve to
close off one of the nozzle openings will maintain the efficiency of the turbine.

Hand Valves
Only single-valve governors use
hand valves to close off
nozzles. Larger turbines use
multi-valve governors to open
and close off nozzles in the
steam chest.
The governor controls all the
governor valves by operating the
lift bar. The lift bar determines
how many valves will be opened
or closed.
At full load, all or most of the
valves are open. As the load is
reduced, the governor closes
some of the valves.
Each valve supplies steam to just one section of the row of nozzles. The governor
regulates speed by automatically admitting or closing off steam to a section of the
nozzle row. The position of the valve depends on the position of the nut on the valve
stem.
As the governor bar lifts, the valve with the highest nut setting opens last. Only one
valve remains partially open or closed as the turbine is throttled. The rest of the valves
are either fully open or fully closed.
More force is needed to operate a multi-valve than a single-valve system.

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The multi-valve governor is a(n):

Oil-relay governor.
Direct-acting flyball governor.
Hydraulic governor.

Since the oil-relay governor

produces more force than
the direct-acting flyball
governor, the multi-valve
governor is an oil-relay
governor.

Answer

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Glossary

Close

Atmospheric Pressure
Pressure caused by the weight of the atmosphere. Normally 14.7 PSIA (101.3 kPaa) at sea level.
Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases (above sea level), and increases as altitude
decreases (below sea level). Also known as barometric pressure.

Axial Motion
Motion along the axis of a shaft; motion that occurs in a straight line, or end-to-end motion.

Bearings
A device that supports, guides, and reduces the friction of motion between fixed and moving
machine parts.

Boiling Point
The temperature at which a substance boils, or when the liquid is converted into vapor. The boiling
point of a substance increases if pressure is raised and decreases if pressure is lowered. The
corresponding term for mixtures that exhibit a boiling range is "bubble point."

Broad Governor
Governor that has an operating speed range as broad as 10%; not as sensitive to changes in speed
as a narrow governor.

Built-Up Rotor
Rotor made in two parts, then shrunk together.

Centrifugal Force
Force that pushes outward from a center of rotation.

Compressor
Rotating equipment used to increase gas pressure and move a process gas. The compressor takes
in gas at one pressure (suction pressure), and discharges it at a higher pressure (discharge
pressure). Compressor types include centrifugal or reciprocating.

Condensate
Liquid formed as a result of cooling or compressing a vapor. Also refers to the light hydrocarbon
liquid formed when hydrocarbon vapor is cooled. Condensed steam is also referred to as

26

condensate.

Condensation
The process by which gas or vapor changes to a liquid.

Condenser
A heat exchanger which removes heat from a vapor, causing it to condense into a liquid or twophase mixture.

Condensing Turbine
Type of turbine with a condenser installed at the exhaust to remove heat and further reduce
pressure.

Corrosion
Complex chemical or electrochemical process by which metal is worn away and destroyed through
reaction with its environment. Rust on steel is a product of corrosion.

Differential Pressure
Refers to the difference between two measured pressures.

Direct-Acting Flyball Governor

A governor that uses centrifugal force and spring tension to control turbine speed.

Discharge Pressure
Pressure of a fluid on the downstream side of a pump or compressor. Discharge pressure is higher
than suction pressure, reflecting the work done on it.

Driver
Equipment that provides the force for setting process fluids in motion.

Dump Valve
A valve that opens and releases (dumps) when a predetermined variable is exceeded.

Ejector
A device that uses steam to create suction for pulling non-combustible gases out of a vessel or a
line, creating a vacuum.

27

Emulsion
A suspension of two liquids which are not miscible, such as oil and water. Fine particles of one of
the liquids are so thoroughly dispersed in the other liquid that they do not coalesce to form a
separate phase. Oil-in-water emulsions have fine droplets of oil dispersed in a water phase. Waterin-oil emulsions have fine droplets of water dispersed in an oil phase.

Energy
The capacity to do work or cause heat to flow.

Erosive
Capable of gradually disintegrating or wearing away a surface.

Expansion
Increasing in size or volume.

Flexible-Shaft Turbine
A turbine that must pass through a critical speed before reaching the operating speed; the critical
speed is below its operating speed.

Flow
Fluid movement from one place to another caused by pressure differences.

Flyballs
Part of a governor that uses angular momentum to control the speed of a turning device.

Frequency
The number of cycles of an oscillation (vibration, wave, current, etc.) per unit of time, usually
expressed in Hertz (Hz).

Friction
The force that resists motion between bodies in contact with one another.

Governor
A device used to keep an engine or turbine running at a constant speed by opening and closing the
governor valve.

28

Governor Linkage
Mechanical linkage that sets the maximum speed (pressure) of the turbine.

Governor Regulation
The amount of action a governor must take to control the changes in turbine speed.

Governor Valve
Valve that regulates the amount of steam allowed into a turbine, or the fuel-air mixture allowed in an
engine, and the amount of mechanical work produced.

Heat
Form of energy. Measure of the kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance.

Hunting
A condition in which the turbine is continually speeding up or slowing down a little, hunting for the
correct setting. Occurs with narrow governor settings.

Hydraulic
Moved or operated by a fluid, especially water, under pressure.

Hydraulic Governor
Type of governor that regulates turbine speed by the action of a fluid, typically oil, rather than
flyballs.

Impulse Turbine
A turbine driven by high velocity jets of water or steam that are directed from a nozzle onto blades or
buckets attached to the rotor.

Instruments
Devices that are used to sense, measure, and control process variables.

Journal Bearing
Bearing used to restrict radial motion.

29

Labyrinth Seal
A set of metal rings or teeth that encircle, but do not contact, the shaft; used between the shaft and
the diaphragm to prevent leakage.

Lubricant
A substance, such as grease or oil, that reduces friction when applied as a surface coating to
moving parts.

Mechanical Energy
Energy associated with motion, position, and deformation of objects. The energy acquired by
objects upon which work is done.

Mil
One one-thousandth of an inch (1/1000").

Multi-Stage Turbine
A turbine in which steam pressure is reduced in more than one stage.

Multi-Valve Governor
An oil-relay governor that opens and closes nozzles in the steam chest to maintain turbine
efficiency.

Narrow Governor
A governor that is set to keep turbine speed changes small; 4% and under.

Needle Valve
A small valve with a small end-tapered stem which serves as a gate. It is used for throttling a small
flow to a fine regulation.

Non-Condensing Turbine
Type of turbine without a condenser installed at the exhaust. The exhaust pressure tends to be
higher than in condensing turbines.

Oil-Relay Governor
Type of governor that combines features of hydraulic and flyball governors, using oil pressure to
operate the piston and flyballs to position the pilot valve.

30

Overspeed Trip
Safety device used to shut down an engine or turbine if it overspeeds.

Packing (Compressor)
Metal rings that prevent compressed gas from leaking along the piston rod.

Packing Box
Pump component that prevents leakage where the shaft passes into the pump casing; filled with a
ring-shaped flexible packing material that presses around the shaft.

Piston
A sliding piece that receives and transmits motion.

Pressure
Energy that is exerted in all directions, and is measured in terms of force per unit of area: pounds
per square inch or newtons per square meter.

Pressure Accumulator
A vessel that stores a volume of fluid under pressure. As the system demands fluid, the vessel
supplies it, maintaining system pressure.

Pressure Drop
The decrease in pressure due to frictional losses which occurs when a liquid or gas passes through
a pipe, vessel, orifice plate, control valve, or other piece of equipment.

Pump
Equipment used to transfer liquids by increasing the pressure on the liquid.

Radial Motion
Describes the up and down vibration caused by an unbalanced impeller or off-center shaft.

Reaction Turbine
A turbine that operates by reacting to the pressure or weight of a fluid. The nozzles that discharge
fluid are attached to the rotor. As the fluid leaves the nozzles, it creates a reaction force, causing
the rotor to turn in the opposite direction of the fluid.

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Relief Valve
A type of valve installed to prevent over-pressure conditions in equipment or piping. A relief valve is
set to open (relieve) at a certain operating or differential pressure.

RPM
Abbreviation for revolutions per minute.

Sentinel Valve
A valve that whistles if pressure in the casing rises too high.

Set Point
The desired control setting for individual control elements, such as flow rate, temperature, pressure,
or level. The controller reacts to deviations from the desired set point and makes the appropriate
adjustment to keep the control loop within the desired range. Set points can also be used to indicate
operating problems by triggering an alarm if the measured variable is outside of the normal range of
operations.

Single-Stage Turbine
A turbine in which pressure is reduced in one stage only.

Single-Valve Governor
Type of governor requiring a hand valve for closing off nozzles in the steam chest to maintain
turbine efficiency.

Sleeve Bearing
Type of bearing that reduces friction or prevents radial motion, using a sliding motion rather than a
rolling motion. They are often self-lubricating, and usually use a film of oil or air to provide the
clearance between the moving and stationary parts.

Solid Rotor
A rotor that consists of a shaft and wheel made as one unit.

Speed Drift
Percentage of the change in speed between a load and no-load condition in a governor. It is
calculated by multiplying the rated speed by the % regulation.

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Stage
The area into which steam expands. Steam pressure is decreased in a stage.

Steam Chest
The compartment through which steam is dispensed to a cylinder.

Steam Trap
Device on a steam line designed to trap air and water condensate. It automatically bleeds the air
and drains the water from the system with a minimum loss of steam pressure.

Steam Turbine
Machine that changes thermal energy to mechanical energy.

Temperature
An indication of the average thermal/internal energy in a substance. Temperature is often reported
in degrees Fahrenheit ( F) or degrees Celsius ( C).

Thermal Energy
Heat energy. A form of a substance's energy related to temperature.

Throttling
Partially closing or pinching a valve.

Thrust Bearing
Bearing designed to prevent axial motion.

Turbine Amplitude
Refers to the distance a vibrating shaft or bearing moves.

Turbine Critical Speed

When a shaft rotates at a speed equal to its natural frequency.

Turbine Diaphragm
A stationary part mounted to the casing that separates two stages and holds the nozzles.

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Turbine Extraction
Removing steam at an intermediate stage and using it for other processes.

Turbine Induction
Steam fed into a turbine at the pressure of an intermediate stage.

Turbine Rotor
Blades or buckets mounted on a shaft; high velocity steam striking the buckets turns the rotor and
produces mechanical work.

Valve
An in-line device used to impede the flow of gases, liquids or solids in the closed position, and allow
flow in the open position.

Vapor Pressure
The pressure exerted by a liquids vapor when the liquid and vapor are at equilibrium. A measure of
a liquid's tendency to vaporize at a given temperature. The vapor pressure of a substance
increases with temperature.

Velocity
Measurement of the speed of flow; usually specified in units of feet per second (meters per second).

Vent
An opening for a gas or liquid to escape, or for pressure relief.

Viscosity
A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. A fluid with a high viscosity has a high resistance to flow.

Volume
The amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by a substance.

Work
Calculation of force times distance.

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