Steam turbines may be classified into different categories depending on their construction, working pressures, size and many other parameters. But there are two basic types of steam turbines:
- impulse turbines
- reaction turbines.
The main distinction is the manner in which the steam is expanded as it passes through the turbine.
Main Differences of Impulse & Reaction Turbines:
Impulse turbine
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Reaction turbine
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01. Steam expands completely in the nozzle.
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01. Steam expands partially in the moving blades and partially in the fixed blades.
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02. Pressure of steam remains constant during its flow through the blade passages.
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02. Pressure of steam is not constant during its flow through moving and fixed blade passages.
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03. Steam flow over the blades is uniform due to symmetrical blade profile.
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03. Steam flow over the blades varies due to aerofoil section (unsymmetrical) blade profile.
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04. Due to complete pressure drop in the nozzle, steam velocity and rotor speed are very high, resulting in centrifugal stresses acting on the blades. This may result in blade failure.
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04. Since pressure drop occurs partially in the fixed blades, steam velocity and rotor speed are not high. Hence stresses developed are less.
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05. The initial and final velocity of steam over the blades is constant or the final relative velocity can never be greater than the initial value, i.e. Vr₁ ≥ Vr₂
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05. The initial and final relative velocities over the blades are not constant and the final relative velocity is always greater than the initial relative velocity.
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06. As pressure drop in each stage is large, number of stages required is less. Hence turbine is compact.
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06. Due to small pressure drop in each stage, it requires large number of stages. Hence size of turbine is bigger.
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07. Part load efficiency of turbine is poor.
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07. Part time efficiency of the turbine is good due to more efficient blades.
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08. Speed of turbine is very high and hence requires compounding.
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08. Speed of turbine is low and hence does not require compounding.
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09. Turbine is compact and hence occupies less space.
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09. Turbine is bigger and hence requires more space.
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10. It is installed in small capacity power plants.
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10. It is generally used in medium and large capacity power plants.
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