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THERMAL POWER PLANTS

What is Power Plant?

A power plant or a power generating station, is basically an industrial location
that is utilized for the generation and distribution of electric power in mass scale, usually in
the order of several 1000 Watts. These are generally located at the sub-urban regions or
several kilometers away from the cities or the load centers, because of its requisites like
huge land and water demand, along with several operating constraints like the waste
disposal etc. For this reason, a power generating station has to not only take care of
efficient generation but also the fact that the power is transmitted efficiently over the
entire distance. And thats why, the transformer switch yard to regulate transmission
voltage also becomes an integral part of the power plant.

Types of Power Station

A power plant can be of several types depending mainly on the type of fuel used. Since
for the purpose of bulk power generation, only thermal, nuclear and hydro power comes
handy, therefore a power generating station can be broadly classified in the 3 above
mentioned types. Let us have a look in these types of power stations in details.

1. THERMAL POWER PLANTS

2. HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
3. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Thermal Power Station

A thermal power station or a coal fired thermal power plant is by far, the most
conventional method of generating electric power with reasonably high efficiency. It uses
coal as the primary fuel to boil the water available to superheated steam for driving the
steam turbine. The steam turbine is then mechanically coupled to an alternator rotor, the
rotation of which results in the generation of electric power.

The steam turbine is then mechanically coupled to an alternator rotor, the rotation
of which results in the generation of electric power. Generally in India, bituminous coal or
brown coal are used as fuel of boiler which has volatile content ranging from 8 to 33 % and
ash content 5 to 16 %. To enhance the thermal efficiency of the plant, the coal is used in the
boiler in its pulverized form. In coal fired thermal power plant, steam is obtained in very
high pressure inside the steam boiler by burning the pulverized coal. This steam is then
super heated in the super heater to extreme high temperature. This super heated steam is
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then allowed to enter into the turbine, as the turbine blades are rotated by the pressure of
the steam.
The turbine is mechanically coupled with alternator in a way that its rotor will
rotate with the rotation of turbine blades. After entering into the turbine, the steam
pressure suddenly falls leading to corresponding increase in the steam volume. After
having imparted energy into the turbine rotors, the steam is made to pass out of the
turbine blades into the steam condenser of turbine. In the condenser, cold water at ambient
temperature is circulated with the help of pump which leads to the condensation of the low
pressure wet steam. Then this condensed water is further supplied to low pressure water
heater where the low pressure steam increases the temperature of this feed water, it is
again heated in high pressure. This outlines the basic working methodology of a thermal
power plant.

Advantages of Thermal Power Plants

Fuel used i.e coal is quite cheaper.

Initial cost is less as compared to other generating stations.
It requires less space as compared to hydro-electric power stations.

Disadvantages of Thermal Power Plants

It pollutes atmosphere due to production of smoke & fumes.

Running cost of the power plant is more than hydro electric plant.

Nuclear Power Station

The nuclear power generating stations are similar to the thermal stations in more
ways than one. How ever, the exception here is that, radioactive elements like uranium and
thorium are used as the primary fuel in place of coal. Also in a Nuclear station the furnace
and the boiler are replaced by the nuclear reactor and the heat exchanger tubes. For the
process of nuclear power generation, the radioactive fuels are made to undergo fission
reaction within the nuclear reactors. The fission reaction, propagates like a controlled
chain reaction and is accompanied by unprecedented amount of energy produced, which is
manifested in the form of heat. This heat is then transferred to the water present in the
heat exchanger tubes. As a result, super heated steam at very high temperature is
produced. Once the process of steam formation is accomplished, the remaining process is
exactly similar to a thermal power plant, as this steam will further drive the turbine blades
to generate electricity.

Hydro-Electric Power Station

In Hydro-electric plants the energy of the falling water is utilized to drive the turbine which
in turn runs the generator to produce electricity. Rain falling upon the earths surface has
potential energy relative to the oceans towards which it flows. This energy is converted to
shaft work where the water falls through an appreciable vertical distance.
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Advantages of Hydro Electric Power Station

It requires no fuel , water is used for generation of electrical energy.

It is neat and clean energy generation.
Construction is simple , less maintenance is required.
It helps in irrigation and flood control also.

Disadvantages Hydro Electric Power Station

It involves high capital cost due to dam construction.

Availability of water depends upon weather conditions.
It requires high transmission cost as the plant is located in hilly areas.

Layout of steam power plant:

The layout of the steam power plant is shown in figure below. It consists of four main
circuits. These are:

Coal and ash circuit.

Air and flue gas circuit
Water and steam circuit and
Cooling water circuit

Coal and ash circuit:

Coal from the storage yard is transferred to the boiler furnace by means of coal
handling equipment like belt conveyor, bucket elevator, etc., ash resulting from the
combustion of coal in the boiler furnace collects at the back of the boiler and is removed to
the ash storage yard through the ash handling equipment.
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Ash disposal :

The indian coal contains 30% to 40% ash. A power plant of 100MW 20 to 25 tonnes of hot
ash per hour. Hence sufficient space near the power plant is essential to dispose such large
quantities of ash.

Air and flue gas circuit:

Air is taken from the atmosphere to the air preheater. Air is heated in the air preheater by
the heat of flue gas which is passing to the chimney. The hot air is supplied to the furnace of
the bolier.

The flue gases after combustion in the furnace, pass around the boiler tubes. The flue gases
then passes through a dust collector, economizer and pre-heater before being exhausted to
the atmosphere through the chimney. By this method the heat of the flue gases which
would have been wasted otherwise is used effectively. Thus the overall efficiency of the
plant is improved.

Air pollution:

The pollution of the surrounding atmosphere is caused by the emission of objectable gases
and dust through the chimney. The air pollution and smoke cause nuisance to people
surrounding the planet.

Feed water and steam circuit:

The steam generated in the boiler passes through super heater and is supplied to the steam
turbine. Work is done by the expansion of steam in the turbine and the pressure of steam is
reduced. The expanded steam then passes to the condenser, where it is condensed.

The condensate leaving the condenser is first heated in a l.p. water heater by using the
steam taken from the low pressure extraction point of the turbine. Again steam taken from
the high pressure extraction point of the turbine is used for heating the feed water in the
H.P water heater. The hot feed water is passing through the economizer, where it is further
heated by means of flue gases. The feed water which is sufficiently heated by the feed water
heaters and economizer is then fed into the boiler.

Cooling water circuit:

Abundant quantity of water is required for condensing the steam in the condenser. Water
circulating through the condenser may be taken from various sources such as river or lake,
provided adequate water supply is available from the river or lake throughout the year.
If adequate quantity of water is not available at the plant site, the hot water from the
condenser is cooled in the cooling tower or cooling ponds and circulated again.
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Advantages of thermal power plants

1. Initial cost is low compared with hydro-plant.

2. The power plant can be located near load center, so the transmission losses are
considerably reduced.
3. The generation of power is not dependent on the natures mercy like hydro plant.
4. The construction and commissioning of thermal plant requires less period of time
than a hydro plant.

Ideal Rankine Cycle

Principles of thermodynamics are useful for power cycle for of electrical power generation
(i.e net power output) and to study refrigeration & heat pump which requires input of net
power. Classification of thermodynamics power cycles can be done into two types:

Vapor cycle working fluid exists in liquid phase during one part of the cycle (i.e from
condenser outlet to Boiler) and mixed phase wit in the steam boiler and in vapor
phase at the Boiler outlet.
Gas cycle working fluid during the cycle remains in gas phase.

Steam power generation units run on vapor power cycle using water as the working fluid.
Under this section attempt is made to familiarize the readers with the concepts of ideal
vapor cycle called Rankine cycle.
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Typical Power Plant Cycle

Electrical power is generated by using vapor cycle power plants by using Coal, Lignite,
Diesel, Heavy furnace oil as fuel depending upon the availability and cost. The flow scheme
of the vapor power cycle is given below: The entire power plant can be broken down into
following sub-systems.

Sub-system A: Classified as main-components of power plant (Turbine, Condenser,

Pump, Boiler) for power generation.
Sub-system B: Classified as stack/chimney, from where the waste gases are
exhausted to atmosphere.
Sub-system C: Classified as electric generator for converting the mechanical energy
to electrical energy.
Sub-system D: Classified as Cooling water system for absorbing the heat of the
rejected steam in the condenser and helping in changing the phase of the steam to
liquid (condensate).

The focus is to study sub-system a which deals Rankine cycle. Many of the practical
limitations related with the Carnot cycle can be conveniently overcome in Rankine cycle.

Typical Ideal Rankine Cycle

In a vapor cycle if the working fluid in a vapor cycle passes through various components of
the power plant without irreversibility and frictional pressure drop, then the cycle is called
as Ideal Rankine Cycle. The Rankine cycle is the basic operating cycle for all power plants
where an working fluid is continuously changing its phase from liquid to vapour and vice-
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versa. The (p-h) and (T-s) diagrams are

useful in understanding the working of Rankine cycle along with the description given

below: 1-2-3 Isobaric Heat

Transfer or Constant pressure heat addition in a boiler Boiler is a large heat exchanger
where heat liberating fuel like coal, lignite or oil transfers the heat indirectly to water at
constant pressure. Water enters the steam boiler from boiler feed pump as a compressed
liquid at state-1 and is heated to the saturation temperature as shown in the T-s diagram as
state-3. The energy balance in the boiler is or energy added in steam generator, q in= h3-h1
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3-4 Isentropic Expansion or Isentropic expansion in a turbine Vapor from the boiler
outlet enters the turbine at state 3, where it expands isentropically over the turbine fixed
and moving blade to produce work done in the form of mechanical rotation of the turbine
shaft which in turn is connected to the electrical generator.

Work delivered by turbine, (Neglecting heat transfer with the surroundings) Wturbine out= h3-
h4 4-5 Isobaric Heat Rejection or Constant pressure heat rejection in a condenser At
state-4 vapor enters the condenser and the change of phase occurs as vapor is condensed
to liquid at constant-pressure in the condenser by transferring the heat of the steam to the
circulating water flow through the tubes of the condenser. Change of phase occurs in
condenser and the working fluid leaving the condenser is in liquid state and marked as
point 5. Energy rejected in the condenser, qout= h4-h5 5-1 Isentropic Compression or
Isentropic compression in a pump Water exits the condenser at state 5 and enters the
pump. This pump raises the pressure of the water by imparting work during the processes.
In units of smaller size and because of low specific volume this small work can be neglected
when compared to work-output of steam turbine. Work done on pump, per kg of water,
W51= h5-h1

The thermal efficiency of the Rankine cycle is given by,

OR

Boiler or more specifically steam boiler is an essential part of thermal power plant.

Boiler
Steam boiler or simply a boiler is basically a closed vessel into which water is heated until
the water is converted into steam at required pressure. This is most basic definition of
boiler.

Working Principle of Boiler

The basic working principle of boiler is very very simple and easy to understand. The
boiler is essentially a closed vessel inside which water is stored. Fuel (generally coal) is
bunt in a furnace and hot gasses are produced. These hot gasses come in contact with water
vessel where the heat of these hot gases transfer to the water and consequently steam is
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produced in the boiler. Then this steam is piped to the turbine of thermal power plant.
There are many different types of boiler utilized for different purposes like running a
production unit, sanitizing some area, sterilizing equipment, to warm up the surroundings
etc.

Steam Boiler Efficiency

The percentage of total heat exported by outlet steam in the total heat supplied by the fuel
(coal) is called steam boiler efficiency.

It
includes with thermal efficiency, combustion efficiency & fuel to steam efficiency. Steam
boiler efficiency depends upon the size of boiler used. A typical efficiency of steam boiler
is 80% to 88%. Actually there are some losses occur like incomplete combustion, radiating
loss occurs from steam boiler surrounding wall, defective combustion gas etc. Hence,
efficiency of steam boiler gives this result.

Types of Boiler
There are mainly two types of boiler water tube boiler and fire tube boiler. In fire tube
boiler, there are numbers of tubes through which hot gases are passed and water
surrounds these tubes. Water tube boiler is reverse of the fire tube boiler. In water tube
boiler the water is heated inside tubes and hot gasses surround these tubes. These are the
main two types of boiler but each of the types can be sub divided into many which we will
discuss later.

Fire Tube Boiler

As it indicated from the name, the fire tube boiler consists of numbers of tubes through
which hot gasses are passed. These hot gas tubes are immersed into water, in a closed
vessel. Actually in fire tube boiler one closed vessel or shell contains water, through which
hot tubes are passed. These fire tubes or hot gas tubes heated up the water and convert the
water into steam and the steam remains in same vessel. As the water and steam both are in
same vessel a fire tube boiler cannot produce steam at very high pressure. Generally it can
produce maximum 17.5 kg/cm2 and with a capacity of 9 Metric Ton of steam per hour.

Types of Fire Tube Boiler

There are different types of fire tube boiler likewise, external furnace and internal furnace
fire tube boiler. External furnace boiler can be again categorized into three different types-

1. Horizontal Return Tubular Boiler.

2. Short Fire Box Boiler.
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3. Compact Boiler.

Again, internal furnace fire tube boiler has also two main categories such as horizontal
tubular and vertical tubular fire tube boiler. Normally horizontal return fire tube boiler is
used in thermal power plant of low capacity. It consists of a horizontal drum into which
there are numbers of horizontal tubes. These tubes are submerged in water. The fuel
(normally coal) burnt below these horizontal drum and the combustible gasses move to the
rear from where they enter into fire tubes and travel towards the front into the smoke box.
During this travel of gasses in tubes, they transfer their heat into the water and steam
bubbles come up. As steam is produced, the pressure of the boiler developed, in that closed
vessel.

Advantages of Fire Tube Boiler

1. It is quite compact in construction.

2. Fluctuation of steam demand can be met easily.
3. It is also quite cheap.

Disadvantages of Fire Tube Boiler

1. As the water required for operation of the boiler is quite large, it requires long time
for rising steam at desired pressure.
2. As the water and steam are in same vessel the very high pressure of steam is not
possible.
3. The steam received from fire tube boiler is not very dry.

Water Tube Boiler

A water tube boiler is such kind of boiler where the water is heated inside tubes and the
hot gasses surround them.
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This is the basic

definition of water tube boiler. Actually this boiler is just opposite of fire tube boiler where
hot gasses are passed through tubes which are surrounded by water.

Types of Water Tube Boiler

There are many types of water tube boilers, such as

1. Horizontal Straight Tube Boiler.

2. Bent Tube Boiler.
3. Cyclone Fired Boiler.

Horizontal Straight Tube Boiler again can be sub - divided into two different types,

1. Longitudinal Drum Water Tube Boiler.

2. Cross Drum Water Tube Boiler.

Bent Tube Boiler also can be sub divided into four different types,

1. Two Drum Bent Tube Boiler.

2. Three Drum Bent Tube Boiler.
3. Low Head Three Drum Bent Tube Boiler.
4. Four Drum Bent Tube Boiler.
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Advantages of Water Tube Boiler

There are many advantages of water tube boiler due to which these types of boiler are
essentially used in large thermal power plant.

1. Larger heating surface can be achieved by using more numbers of water tubes.
2. Due to convectional flow, movement of water is much faster than that of fire tube
boiler, hence rate of heat transfer is high which results into higher efficiency.
3. Very high pressure in order of 140 kg/cm2 can be obtained smoothly.

Disadvantages of Water Tube Boiler

1. The main disadvantage of water tube boiler is that it is not compact in construction.
2. Its cost is not cheap.
3. Size is a difficulty for transportation and construction.

It is a water tube boiler used in steam power plants. In this, water is circulated inside the
tubes and hot gases flow over the tubes.

Construction of Babcock and Wilcox Boiler (water tube

boiler)
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The Babcock and Wilcox Boiler consists of

1. Steam and water drum (boiler shell)

2. Water tubes
3. Uptake-header and down corner
4. Grate
5. Furnace
6. Baffles
7. Super heater
8. Mud box
9. Inspection door
10. Damper

Steam and water drum (boiler shell):

One half of the drum which is horizontal is filled up with water and steam remains on the
other half. It is about 8 meters in length and 2 meter in diameter.

Water tubes:
Water tubes are placed between the drum and furnace in an inclined position (at an angle
of 10 to 15 degree) to promote water circulation. These tubes are connected to the uptake-
header and the down-comer as shown.

Uptake-header and down-corner (or downtake-header)

The drum is connected at one end to the uptake-header by short tubes and at the other end
to the down-corner by long tubes.

Grate: Coal is fed to the grate through the fire door.

Furnace : Furnace is kept below the uptake-header.

Baffles: The fire-brick baffles, two in number, are provided to deflect the hot flue gases.

Superheater: The boiler is fitted with a superheater tube which is placed just under the
drum and above the water tubes

Mud box: Mud box is provided at the bottom end of the down comer. The mud or
sediments in the water are collected in the mud box and it is blown-off time to time by
means of a blow off cock.

Inspection doors: Inspection doors are provided for cleaning and inspection of the boiler.
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Working Babcock and Wilcox Boiler:

Coal is fed to the grate through the fire door and is burnt.

Flow of flue gases:

The hot flue gases rise upward and pass across the left-side portion of the water tubes. The
baffles deflect the flue gases and hence the flue gases travel in the zig-zag manner (i.e., the
hot gases are deflected by the baffles to move in the upward direction, then downward and
again in the upward direction) over the water tubes and along the superheater. The flue
gases finally escape to atmosphere through chimney.

Water circulation:

That portion of water tubes which is just above the furnace is heated comparatively at a
higher temperature than the rest of it. Water, its density being decreased, rises into the
drum through the uptake-header. Here the steam and water are separated in the drum.
Steam being lighter is collected in the upper part of the drum. The water from the drum
comes down through the down comer into the water tubes.

A continuous circulation of water from the drum to the water tubes and water tubes to the
drum is thus maintained. The circulation of water is maintained by convective currents and
is known as natural circulation.

A damper is fitted as shown to regulate the flue gas outlet and hence the draught.

The boiler is fitted with necessary mountings. Pressure gauge and water level indicator are
mounted on the boiler at its left end. Steam safety valve and stop valve are mounted on the
top of the drum. Blow-off cock is provided for the periodical removed of mud and
sediments collected in the mud box.

Salient features of Babcock and Wilcox Boiler:

1. Its overall efficiency is higher than a fire tube boiler.
2. The defective tubes can be replaced easily.
3. All the components are accessible for inspection even during the operation.
4. The draught loss is minimum compared with other boiler.
5. Steam generation capacity and operating pressure are high compared with other
boilers.
6. The boiler rests over a steel structure independent of brick work so that the boiler
may expand or contract freely.
7. The water tubes are kept inclined at an angle of 10 to 15 degree to promote water
circulation.
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Advantages and disadvantages of water tube boilers over fire

tube boilers:
Advantages water tube boilers

1. Steam can be generated at very high pressures.

2. Heating surface is more in comparison with the space occupied, in the case of water
tube boilers.
3. Steam can be raised more quickly than is possible with a fire tube boiler of large
water capacity. Hence, it can be more easily used for variation of load.
4. The hot gases flow almost at right angles to the direction of water flow. Hence
maximum amount of heat is transferred to water.
5. A good and rapid circulation of water can be made.
6. Bursting of one or two tubes does not affect the boiler very much with regard to its
working. Hence water tube boilers are sometimes called as safety boilers.
7. The different parts of a water tube boiler can be separated. Hence it is easier to
transport.
8. It is suitable for use in steam power plants (because of the various advantages listed
above).

Disadvantages of water tube boilers

1. It is less suitable for impure and sedimentary water, as a small deposit of scale may
cause the overheating and bursting of tubes. Hence, water treatment is very
essential for water tube boilers.
2. Maintenance cost is high.
3. Failure in feed water supply even for a short period is liable to make the boiler
overheated. Hence the water level must be watched very carefully during operation
of a water tube boiler.

Cochran boiler (fire tube boiler)

It is a multi-tubular vertical fire tube boiler having a number of horizontal fire tubes. T is
the modification of a simple vertical boiler where the heating surface has been increased by
means of a number of fire tubes.
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It consists of

1. Shell
2. Crate
3. Fire box
4. Flue pipe
5. Fire tubes
6. Combustion chamber
7. Chimney
8. Man-hole

Shell
It is hemispherical on the top, where space is provided for steam.

Grate
It is placed at the bottom of the furnace where coal is burnt.

Fire box (furnace )

It is also dome-shaped like the shell so that the gases can be deflected back till they are
passed out through the flue pipe to the combustion chamber.

Flue pipe:
It is a short passage connecting the fire box with the combustion chamber.
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Fire tubes:
A number of horizontal fire tubes are provided, thereby the heating surface is increased.

Combustion chamber:
It is lined with fire bricks on the side of the shell to prevent overheating of the boiler. Hot
gases enter the fire tubes from the flue pipe through the combustion chamber.

Chimney:
It is provided for the exit of the flue gases to the atmosphere from the smoke box.

Manhole:
It is provided for inspection and repair of the interior of the boiler shell.

Normal size of a Cochran boiler:

Shell diameter 2.75 meters:
Height of the shell 6 meters.

Working of the Cochran boiler:

Coal is fed into the grate through the fire hole and burnt. Ash formed during burning is
collected in the ashpit provided just below the grate and then it is removed manually.

The host gases from the grate pass through the flue pipe to the combustion chamber. The
hot gases from the combustion chamber flow through the horizontal fire tubes and transfer
the heat to the water by convection.

The flue gases coming out of fire tubes pass through the smoke box and are exhausted to
the atmosphere through the chimney.
Smoke box is provided with a door for cleaning the fire tubes and smoke box.

The following mountings are fitted to the boiler:

Pressure gauge: this indicates the pressure of the steam inside the boiler.

Water gauge: this indicates the water level in the boiler. The water level in the boiler
should not fall below a particular level, otherwise the boiler will be over heated and the
tubes may burn out.

Safety valve: the function of the safety valve is to prevent an increase of steam pressure in
the boiler above its normal working pressure.

Steam stop valve: it regulates the flow of steam supply to requirements.

Blow-off cock: it is located at the bottom of the boiler. When the blow-off cock is opened
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during the running of the boiler, the high pressure steam pushes (drains) out the
impurities like mud, sand, etc., in the water collected at the bottom.

Fusible plug: it protects the fire tubes from burning when the water level in the boiler falls
abnormally low.

Salient features of Cochran boiler:

1. The dome shape of the furnace causes the hot gases to deflect back and pass through
the flue. The un-burnt fuel if any will also be deflected back.
2. Spherical shape of the top of the shell and the fire box gives higher area by volume
ratio.
3. It occupies comparatively less floor area and is very compact.
4. It is well suited for small capacity requirements.

Steam Turbine
Definition

A Steam Turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized
steam and transforms it into mechanical work. Because the turbine generates rotary
motion, it is particularly suited to driving electrical generators about 90% of all electricity
generation in the United States (1996) is by use of steam turbines [1]. Sir Charles A. Parsons
invented the first modern turbine, a reaction turbine, in 1884. Connected to a dynamo, the
turbine produced 7.5 KW of electricity. During Parsons lifetime, this generation capacity
increased 10,000 times over. Steam turbines range from <0.75 KW units to 1.5 GW units.
Large turbines are used to generate electricity.

As the name implies, a steam turbine is powered by steam. As hot, gaseous steam flows
past the turbine' spinning blades, steam expands and cools, giving off most of the energy it
contains. This steam spins the blades continuously. The blades thus convert most of the
steam's potential energy into kinetic energy. The turbine is then used to run a generator,
producing electricity.

The basic parts of stream turbines are blades and rotors. A set of blades is known as a
stage. They also have steam inlets (usually a set of nozzles) and outlets. Two independent
mechanisms, known as governors, are used to ensure safe operation of the turbine.

Two basic types of steam turbines are

Impulse turbine:The rotating blades are like deep buckets. High-velocity jets of
incoming steam from carefully shaped nozzles kick into the blades, pushing them
around with a series of impulses, and bouncing off to the other side with a similar
pressure but much-reduced velocity[2].
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In an impulse turbine, a fast-moving fluid is fired through a narrow nozzle at

the turbine blades to make them spin around. The blades of an impulse turbine are
usually bucket-shaped so they catch the fluid and direct it off at an angle or
sometimes even back the way it came (because that gives the most efficient transfer
of energy from the fluid to the turbine). In an impulse turbine, the fluid is forced to
hit the turbine at high speed.

Water turbines are often based around an impulse turbine (though some do
work using reaction turbines). They're simple in design, easy to build, and cheap to
maintain, not least because they don't need to be contained inside a pipe or housing
(unlike reaction turbines).

Reaction Turbine: In a reaction turbine, there is a second set of stationary blades

attached to the inside of the turbine case. These help to speed up and direct the
steam onto the rotating blades at just the right angle, before the steam dissipates
with reduced temperature and pressure. [2]

In a reaction turbine, the blades sit in a much larger volume of fluid and turn
around as the fluid flows past them. A reaction turbine doesn't change the direction
of the fluid flow as drastically as an impulse turbine: it simply spins as the fluid
pushes through and past its blades. Wind turbines are perhaps the most familiar
examples of reaction turbines.

If an impulse turbine is a bit like kicking soccer balls, a reaction turbine is

more like swimmingin reverse. Let me explain! Think of how you do freestyle
(front crawl) by hauling your arms through the water, starting with each hand as far
in front as you can reach and ending with a "follow through" that throws your arm
well behind you. What you're trying to achieve is to keep your hand and forearm
pushing against the water for as long as possible, so you transfer as much energy as
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you can in each stroke. A reaction turbine is using the same idea in reverse: imagine
fast-flowing water moving past you so it makes your arms and legs move and
supplies energy to your body! With a reaction turbine, you want the water to touch
the blades smoothly, for as long as it can, so it gives up as much energy as possible.
The water isn't hitting the blades and bouncing off, as it does in an impulse turbine:
instead, the blades are moving more smoothly, "going with the flow."

Differences between Impulse and Reaction Turbines:

S.No Impulse Turbine Reaction Turbine

In impulse turbine all hydraulic energy is

In reaction turbine only some amount of the
converted into kinetic energy by a nozzle
1 available energy is converted into kinetic
and it is is the jet so produced which strikes
energy before the fluid enters the runner.
the runner blades.

Both pressure and velocity changes as fluid

The velocity of jet which changes, the
2 passes through a runner. Pressure at inlet is
pressure throughout remaining atmosphere.
much higher than at outlet.

Water-tight casing is not necessary. Casing

has no hydraulic function to perform. It only The runner must be enclosed within a
3
serves to prevent splashing and guide water watertight casing.
to the tail race.

4 Water is admitted only in the form of jets.

Water is admitted over the entire
There may be one or more jets striking equal
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number of buckets simultaneously. circumference of the runner.

Water completely fills at the passages between

The turbine doesnt run full and air has a
5 the blades and while flowing between inlet and
free access to the bucket.
outlet sections does work on the blades.

Reaction turbine are generally connected to the

The turbine is always installed above the tail tail race through a draft tube which is a
6
race and there is no draft tube used. gradually expanding passage. It may be
installed below or above the tail race.

The flow regulation in reaction turbine is

Flow regulation is done by means of a needle carried out by means of a guide-vane assembly.
7
valve fitted into the nozzle. Other component parts are scroll casing, stay
ring runner and the draft tub.

Examples of reaction turbine are Francis

8 Example of impulse turbine is Pelton wheel. turbine, Kaplan and Propeller Turbine, Deriaz
Turbine, Tubuler Turbine, etc.

Impulse turbine have more hydraulic

9 Reaction turbine have relatively less efficiency.
efficiency.

Impulse turbine operates at high water Reaction turbine operate at low and medium
10
heads. heads.

Water flow is tangential direction to the Water flows in radial and axial direction to
11
turbine wheel. turbine wheel.

12 Needs low discharge of water. Needs medium and high discharge of water.

Degree of reaction is more than zero and less

13 Degree of reaction is zero.
than or equal to one.

Impulse turbine involves less maintenance Reaction turbine involves more maintenance
14
work. work.
 23

COMPOUNDING OF STEAM TURBINES

In order for the steam to give up all its kinetic energy to the moving blades in an
impulse turbine, it should leave the blades at zero absolute velocity. This condition will
exist if the blade velocity is equal to one half of the steam velocity.

Therefore, for good efficiency the blade velocity should be about one half of the
steam velocity. If the steam was expanded from initial entry pressure down to final exhaust
pressure in a single set of nozzles (single stage) then the velocity of the steam leaving the
nozzles might be in the order of 1100 m per second. In order to have good efficiency the
blade velocity would have to be of about 550 m per second, which would require
excessively high rev/mm of the turbine rotor and failure due to centrifugal force could
result.

In addition to this, excessively high steam velocity will cause high friction losses in
nozzles and blading. A large pressure ratio in a vapour cycle will result in high thermal
efficiency. But, when expansion of steam takes place from the high initial pressure to the
exhaust pressure in only one stage, the velocity of it will be very high and this will set up
excessively blade velocities. Further the lost velocity or the leaving loss namely; kinetic
energy of the fluid leaving the turbine will also be high.
Therefore, in order to restrict the rotational speed of the turbine and also to
minimize the leaving loss, the exhaust steam from the first ring of moving blades is
diverted to a second ring of moving blades with the help of a ring of stationary blades.
There may be two or more rings of moving blades keyed to a common shaft and in between
two rings of moving blades there will be a ring if stationary blades usually anchored to the
turbine casing. This way of reducing rotor speed is known as compounding.

There are three number of methods of compounding.

1. Pressure compounding
2. Velocity compounding.
3. Pressure-velocity compounding.
Velocity Compound Impulse Turbine:
In velocity compound impulse turbine, moving and fixed blades are placed
alternately. Moving blades are fitted with the wheel while the fixed blades are fitted with
the casing.

The steam is expanded in the nozzle from the boiler pressure to condenser pressure, to a
high velocity. It is then passed over the first ring of moving blades. Only a portion of the
high velocity of steam jet is absorbed by this blade ring, the remainder being exhausted
on to the next ring of fixed or guide blades. These fixed blades change the direction of
steam jet.

The jet is then passed on to the next ring of moving blades. A further portion of the steam
velocity is now absorbed by this second moving blade ring. The process is then repeated
as the steam flows over the remaining pairs of blades until practically all the velocity of
 24

the jet has been absorbed and the kinetic energy is converted into mechanical work.

It should be noted that the entire pressure drop takes place in the nozzle itself, the
pressure remaining constant, as the steam flows over the blades. Hence the turbine is an
impulse turbine. The Curtis turbine is an example of velocity compound impulse turbine.

Pressure compound impulse turbine:

In this type the expansion of steam takes place in more than one set of nozzles and
each set of nozzles is followed by a set of moving blades. The total pressure drop of the
steam does not take place in the first set of nozzles, but is divided up equally between all
the sets of nozzles.
The steam at the boiler pressure enters the first set of nozzels and expanded
partially. The kinetic energy of the steram thus obtained is absorbed by moving blades.
The steam is then expanded partially I nthe second set of nozzels where its pressure again
falls and the velocity increase the kinetic energy so obtained is basorbed by second
moving blades.

Pressure velocity compounding:

In this type of compunding the combination of the pressure as well as velosity
compounding is used. The total drop in the steam pressure is divided into stages and the
velocity obtained in each stage is also compunded. The rings of the nozzels are fixed at
the beginning of each stage. The turbine employing this method of compuding may be
said to combine may of the advantages of both pressure and velocity staging by allowing
a bigger pressure drop in each stage, less number stages aren ecessary and hence a shorter
turbine will be obtained for a given pressure drop