Turbomachines

MEE 304

Specific work

The work capacity of a turbomachine per unit mass rate of

flow of fluid is called the specific work (W) of the
turbomachine
It is defined as the difference in the useful energy content per
unit mass rate of flow medium between the two ends namely
pressure and suction ends of the machine
The useful energy content of the flow medium can be
expressed as the sum of pressure, kinetic and gravitational
potential energies
When the change in density is negligible,

Units of W are m2/s2 or J/kg

Specific work is used as a common term for all types of turbo
machines instead of Head or pressure ratio
Head is commonly used for Pumps and hydraulic turbines
Pressure ratio is commonly used for compressors and
steam/gas turbines
The above equation cannot be used for compressible flow as
the density is not constant .Since by definition, W is the useful
energy, it is the work of a the isentropic process

Energy equation

From the first law of thermodynamics we have

(1)

For applications in turbomachines, the energy term will

include internal energy, gravitational potential energy and
kinetic energy.

Change in the energy in a finite process between two states is

given by

Sub. In eqn. (1)

(2)

Dividing throughout by mass m,

(3)

Steady flow energy equation.

For study flow work through turbomachines, the work term

includes the shaft work and flow work
The SFEE can be written as

Since H = U + pV

(4)

In terms of specific quantities

(5)

Eqn. (4) & (5) is the SFEE for control volume or open system
This can be rewritten for various processes in various
turbomachines and their components
Hydro Turbomachines
Here =1/v = Constant , u u and q 0
1
2

So we have from eqn (5)

(6)

Guide blades and draft tubes

These are stationary, so shaft work is zero, then eqn. (6)
becomes

Compressible flow machines

Most of the compressible flow machines such as gas turbines,
compressors and blowers are adiabatic machines, ie. q = 0
In these machines change in PE also negligible as compared to
others, so the eqn .(5) becomes

The shaft work is given by

If the entry and exit velocities are small or the difference

between them is negligible, then the shaft work is given by the
difference between the static enthalpies

Stagnation state & Stagnation

A state defined by the stagnation temperature and pressure is
properties

the stagnation state

The stagnation state of a gas is often used as a reference state.

Stagnation enthalpy

It is defined as the enthalpy of the gas or vapour when it is

adiabatically decelerated to zero velocity

The stagnation enthalpy is constant in a flow process that does

not involve a work transfer or a heat transfer even though
irreversible processes may be present

The stagnation state is represented by the point 01 brought

about by an irreversible deceleration.
For a reversible deceleration the stagnation point would be at
point 01s and the state change would be called isentropic.

Stagnation temperature

The stagnation temperature is defined through stagnation

enthalpy
For a perfect gas we have
and

Where M is the Mach number

The mach no. is defined as the ratio of local velocity of the
gas to the local velocity of sound

Stagnation velocity of sound

Since

Stagnation pressure

It is the pressure of gas or fluid is obtained by decelerating it

in a reversible adiabatic(isentropic) process
The ratio of stagnation and static pressure can be obtained as
follows

When the pressure changes are small, the process can be

assumed to be incompressible. Then stagnation pressure can
be determined from the Bernoulli eqn.