Chapter 17: Velocity Diagrams for Turbines

Basic Vector Diagrams

In a turbine, steam is directed at high velocity onto moving blades attached to a spinning rotor. The direction of steam flow is roughly parallel to the direction of blade movement, but it has an axial component so the steam can progress through the turbine. Blades redirect the steam flow giving it a velocity component in the opposite direction to the blade motion. If blade entry and exit velocities are the same (relative to the blades). the absolute steam velocity is reduced as it passes through the blades. Thus the steams kinetic energy is reduced as it passes through the rotor, and a force is applied on the moving blades, doing work by applying a torque to the rotating shaft. To analyse the above processes, we use vector diagrams. In these, we need to determine both absolute and relative velocities of the steam. By absolute velocity, we mean the velocity a stationary observer would detect (i.e. steam velocity relative to the frame of the turbine). The relative velocity is the velocity relative to a particular moving observer (e.g. relative to the moving blades). The velocity vector diagram shows the magnitude and direction of the steam velocities and the rotor blade speed. ub represents the speed of the rotor blades (perpendicular to the shaft). c1 represents the absolute velocity of the steam, as it leaves the nozzles or fixed blades, and enters the moving blade passage. 1 is the angle at which steam leaves the nozzles or fixed blades before entering the rotor blade passages. Note the convention used giving all angles relative to the (downstream) turbine shaft. v1 represents the velocity of steam entering the moving blade passage relative to the blades, and the angle of entry is 1. Similarly, c2 and v2 represent the absolute and relative velocities of the steam leaving the moving blades, at angles . and . 2 2 respectively. The two velocity vector diagrams can be combined to show a complete velocity vector diagram across a row of moving blades. There are two directions of movement to consider in a turbine stage: (i) the rotation in the whirl direction; (ii) the movement in the axial direction. It is possible to separate the absolute velocities of the steam into its whirl and axial components.

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As a result, velocities in the vector diagram can be separated into whirl and axial components, as shown in the diagram. Cw.is the sum of the absolute velocities of the steam in the whirl direction (direction of rotation), and:
Cw = C sin + C sin 1 1 2 2

Also,
Cw = Vw

therefore:

Vw = V sin + V sin 1 1 2 2

c1a and c2a are the components of the absolute velocities in the axial direction, and:
C = C cos 1a 1 1

and

C = C cos 2a 2 2

Finally, the blade speed can be calculated from the velocity vector diagram by:
U = C sin V sin B 1 1 1 1 = V sin C sin 2 2 2 To find other information on the vector diagram, we use the sine and cosine rules.

Sine Rule: Cosine Rule:

a = b = c sin A sin B sinC

2 2 2 cos A = b + c a 2bc

Specific velocity vector diagram can be developed for impulse and reaction turbines.

Velocity Vector Diagrams for Impulse Turbines

In impulse turbines, there is no pressure drop across the moving blades. Both the fixed and moving blades are symmetrical. Therefore, the blade angles are equal, that is: = 1 2 As there is no pressure drop across the blades, there is no increase in the velocity relative to the blades, i.e.: V =V 1 2 In the axial direction, we have: C = C cos = V cos 1a 1 1 1 1 C = C cos = V cos 2a 2 2 2 2 therefore axial components of the absolute velocities are the same: C =C 1a 2a Also, Vw = V sin + V sin 1 1 2 2
= 2V sin

Velocity Vector Diagrams for Reaction Turbines

In reaction turbines, there is a pressure drop as steam flows through the moving blades, so the steam accelerates relative to the blades as it passes through the rotor. The fixed blades are the same size as the moving blades, but reversed in curvature. With a pressure drop in the blades, both fixed and moving blades act as nozzles. The angles become:
= 1 2
TF209 Chapter 18 Rankine Cycle

= 2 1
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and therefore:

C =V 1 2 C =V 2 1

Also, from symmetry:

C =C 1a 2a

Power Output of a Turbine Stage

The power output of a turbine stage P is the rate of work done in a turbine stage W and can be written as: P = W = mU Cw = mU Vw (kW or kJ/s) B B is the mass flow rate (kg/s) m where: UB is the speed of the rotor blades (m/s) Cw , Vw are the sum of components of absolute and relative velocities in whirl direction.

Utilisation Factor
Utilisation Factor (also called the Diagram Efficiency) gives an indication of the efficiency of a turbine stage. It is the fraction of the energy available to a stage that becomes work output. Therefore, the utilisation factor is defined as: UF = Rotor Work / Total energy available at inlet to rotor blades The total energy at inlet is equal to the rotor work plus the rejected energy, that is: 1 2 Total energy at inlet = W + 2 mC2 W UF = + 1 mC2 W The utilisation factor becomes: 2 2

Axial Thrust
Axial thrust Ra is the force in the axial direction acting along the rotor. It is important to consider because it may move the rotor in the axial direction, and cause fouling of the rotor blades with the casing blades. Axial thrust arises from two causes: (i) components of the absolute velocities in the axial direction; (ii) pressure drop across the rotor blades (as in a reaction turbine), giving a net force exerted by the steam over the blade area projected in the axial direction. Therefore, the total axial thrust acting on a rotor blade becomes:
Ra = m(C C ) + A(P P ) 1a 2a 1 2

= m(C C ) + AP 1a 2a

In an impulse turbine:
P = 0 across the blades, and
C =C 1a 2a

and therefore:

Ra = 0

In a reaction turbine:
C =C 1a 2a

and therefore:

Ra = AP

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L.C. Spencer 2004

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Review and Reinforce - Chapter 17

17.1. How do we use steam velocities to limit end thrust in a reaction turbine stage? 17.2. Where would you measure this on a turbine vector diagram?

TF209 Chapter 18 Rankine Cycle

L.C. Spencer 2004

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