Category: Steam Engine, Steam And Gas Turbines

Steam turbine is a prime mover, which converts heat energy of steam into mechanical energy by rotating motion of the blade. Total energy conversion involves two types of steam expansion—expansion of steam in nozzle and expansion of steam in turbine blades. The function of steam engine and steam turbine are similar, but steam engine converts… Continue reading STEAM TURBINE

The flow diagram of a steam power plant is shown in Figure 5.7. Figure 5.7 Flow Diagram of Power Plant Suppose Qin Heat supplied to water in turbine Qout Heat librated in condenser Wpump Work done on pump Wturbine Work done by turbine The thermal efficiency of Rankine cycle can be given as

There are four important processes in the Rankine cycle. These states are identified by numbers as shown in Figure 5.6. Figure 5.6 Rankine Cycle Process 1–2 (Pumping Process): The working fluid is pumped from low pressure to high pressure, as the fluid is a liquid at this stage the pump requires some small amount of input energy. Process… Continue reading Four Processes in the Rankine Cycle

The Rankine cycle is the most commonly used cycle in thermal power plants—steam engine and steam turbines. The Rankine cycle is sometimes referred to a practical Carnot cycle because when an efficient turbine is used, the T–s diagram begins to resemble the Carnot cycle. The main difference is that heat addition and rejection are at constant pressure… Continue reading Rankine Cycle

Actual indicator diagram is shown in Figure 5.5. In this diagram, points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 show actual admission pressure, point of cut-off, point of release, point of closing the exhaust port and starting of compression, and point of opening of admission port, respectively. The area of actual indicator diagram is less than the… Continue reading Actual Indicator Diagram

Theoretical indicator diagram for a steam engine is shown in Figure 5.3 without clearance volume and with clearance volume in Figure 5.4. In Figure 5.3, clearance volume is zero. Steam at boiler pressure enters into the cylinder at point 1 and cut-off at point 2. Then the steam expands inside the cylinder isothermally from point 2 to point 3. Point 3… Continue reading Modified Rankine Cycle: Theoretical Indicator Diagram

A steam engine is a reciprocating heat engine that performs mechanical work by using steam as its working fluid. Steam engines are external combustion engines based on modified Rankine cycle, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Water is heated in a boiler until it reaches a high pressure and temperature (superheated… Continue reading STEAM ENGINES AND THEIR WORKING PRINCIPLES

Steam power system is a system in which the heat energy of the steam is used to produce mechanical power. Various types of fuels (coal, diesel, natural gas, geothermal, nuclear, etc.) are used to produce the high quality of steam, i.e., superheated steam and then the thermodynamic expansion process is used to convert the heat… Continue reading INTRODUCTION TO STEAM POWER SYSTEMS