What is Turbine and itsFunction?

Overview

Turbines are important components in various industries, playing a fundamental role in converting energy from one form to another. These devices are particularly popular for their application in power generation, where they use the kinetic energy of a fluid to generate mechanical energy, eventually converted into electrical power. In this article, we will consider the definition, types and functions of turbines, and explore their importance in the field of energy production.

What is a Turbine?

A turbine is a mechanical device designed to extract energy from a fluid such as water, steam, or gas and convert it into rotational mechanical energy. This rotational energy is then used to perform specific tasks, such as running a generator to produce electricity, powering an airplane, or powering industrial machinery.

What are the Types of Turbines?

Turbines come in a variety of types, each designed for specific applications and operating conditions. Major categories include:

• water turbine.
• steam turbine.
• gas turbine.
• wind turbine.

What is water turbine?

Water Turbine: Use of hydropower to generateelectricity.

A water turbine is a mechanical device designed to convert the energy from the movement of water into mechanical energy, which is then used to generate electricity. These turbines play an important role in hydroelectric power systems, harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate clean and renewable energy. Let’s explore how water turbines work and the different types commonly used in this energy conversion process.

How Water Turbines Work:

The basic principle behind the operation of a water turbine is to convert the potential and kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy, and later, into electrical energy. a step-by-step function of water turbine is discussed below:

Water intake: Water is directed to the turbine through a system of pipes or channels. The amount of water and its flow rate depends on the specific design and characteristics of the hydropower plant.

Guide vanes or nozzles: Before reaching the turbine, the water flow may pass through guide vanes or nozzles. These components help control and direct water flow to optimize turbine performance based on factors such as water head and flow rate.

Turbine Runner: The water hits the blades of the turbine runner. The runner is the rotating part of the turbine that captures the kinetic energy of the water. There are different types of runners, each designed for specific conditions and applications.

Rotational motion: As the water hits the turbine blades, it imparts a force that causes the runner to rotate. This rotational motion is the mechanical energy generated by the turbine.

Generator Connection: The rotating shaft of the turbine is connected to the electrical generator. As the turbine rotates, it turns the generator rotor within the magnetic field, which induces an electric current in the generator stator.

Electricity generation: The electrical current is then used as electrical power. This generated electricity is later transmitted through power lines to meet the energy requirements of homes, industries and various other applications.

Types of Water Turbines

Pelton Turbine

• Suitable for high head, low flow conditions.
• One uses a high-speed jet of water on buckets attached to a wheel.

Francis Turbine

• Versatile, suitable for a wide range of head and flow conditions.
• Water enters through spiral-shaped guide vanes and passes through a runner with both fixed and movable blades.

Kaplan Turbine

• Designed for low head, high flow conditions.
• Adjustable blades on a rotating propeller-like runner allow for improved efficiency based on different water flow rates.

Crossflow (or Banky) Turbine

• Suitable for sites with relatively low head and moderate flow rates.
• Water flows through the turbine in a transverse direction, passing both axially and radially through the rotor.

What is steamturbine?

Steam Turbine: Powering industries through efficient energyconversion.

A steam turbine is a mechanical device that converts thermal energy from pressurized steam into mechanical work, which is then used to generate electricity or perform various industrial operations. Steam turbines play an important role in power plants, providing a reliable and efficient means of converting heat energy into electrical power. Let’s explore how steam turbines work and the different types commonly used in different applications.

How Steam Turbines Work:

Steam production

This process starts with the production of steam. This is usually achieved by heating water in a boiler, turning it into high pressure steam. Boilers are fueled by a variety of sources, including coal, natural gas, or nuclear reactors.

Expansion of steam

The high-pressure steam is then directed to a steam turbine. As the steam enters the turbine, it expands, releasing its thermal energy. The expansion of the steam is what drives the turbine blades.

Turbine Blades

Steam flows through a series of blades mounted on a rotor inside the turbine. These blades are designed to capture the kinetic energy of the steam as it expands, causing the rotor to rotate.

Rotational Motion

The kinetic energy of the steam is converted into rotational motion of the turbine rotor. The rotor is connected to a generator, and as it turns, it produces an electric current in the stator of the generator.

Power generation

The induced electric current is then used as electrical power. This generated electricity is then transmitted through power lines for distribution and consumption.

Types of Steam Turbines

Impulse Turbine

In an impulse turbine, steam is forced through nozzles, converting its pressure into kinetic energy. This high-speed steam jet then impacts a series of blades on the turbine rotor, causing it to spin. The most common type of impulse turbine is the de Laval turbine.

Reaction Turbine

Reaction turbines, on the other hand, work on the principle of both motion and reaction. The steam is initially expanded in the nozzles, creating both kinetic and pressure energy. The steam then passes through a series of blades on a rotor, where the excess pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy. The Parsons turbine is a well-known example of a reaction turbine.

Condensing Turbine

A condensing turbine is designed to operate with a vacuum at the turbine exhaust. After passing through the turbine, the steam is dissolved in water. This creates a low-pressure area at the turbine outlet, which improves the overall efficiency of the turbine. it is used in power plants.

Non-Condensing (Back Pressure) Turbine

Non-condensing turbines operate at higher discharge pressures, and the steam leaving the turbine does not condense with water. These turbines are often used in industrial processes where steam is required for heating or other applications.

What is gas turbine?

Gas Turbines: Efficient Engines Powering Modern Industry

A gas turbine or combustion turbine. It is a type of internal combustion engine which is used to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy with the help of the process of combustion. Gas turbines are used in a wide variety of applications, from aircraft propulsion to power generation. In this review, we’ll explore what gas turbines are, how they work, and the different types commonly used in different industries.

How Gas Turbines Work?

Air consumption

The process begins with the use of ambient air in a gas turbine. This air contains oxygen, which is an important ingredient for combustion.

Compression

The incoming air is compressed by the compressor. This increases the pressure and temperature of the air, making it more suitable for combustion. A compressor consists of a series of rotating and stationary blades.

Combustion

High-pressure, high-temperature compressed air is mixed with fuel (usually natural gas, diesel, or aviation fuel) in the combustion chamber. The mixture burns, creating a high-energy stream of hot gases.

Expansion (Turbine)

The hot gases flow through a turbine, where they expand and lose some of their energy. A turbine consists of a set of blades on a rotor. when the hot gases pass over the blades of the turbine which cause rotor to spin.

Power generation or propulsion

A spinning turbine rotor is attached to a shaft that drives different applications depending on the specific use of the gas turbine. In an airplane, it powers the propeller or jet engine. In power generation, it drives a generator to produce electricity.

Exhaust

The exhaust gases, now at lower pressure and temperature, are discharged from the turbine. In some cases, the exhaust gases can be used to generate additional electricity or for other industrial processes.

Types of Gas Turbines

Aero Derivative Gas Turbine

Derived from aircraft engines, these turbines are compact and lightweight. They find applications in power generation, marine propulsion, and mechanical drives in various industries.

Industrial Gas Turbine

These turbines are specifically designed for power generation and mechanical drives in industrial settings. They are generally larger and more powerful than aero-derivative turbines, providing higher power output.

Heavy Duty Gas Turbine

Heavy duty gas turbines are used in large scale power plants to generate electricity. They offer high efficiency and can generate significant amounts of electricity.

Microturbines

These small-scale turbines are suitable for distributed power generation and combined heat and power (CHP) applications. They are compact, modular, and often used in commercial or residential settings.

Open Cycle Gas Turbine

These turbines work with a single cycle of compression, combustion and expansion. They are commonly used in power plants and some industrial applications.

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine

The Combined cycle power plants combined steam and gas turbine together. The heat from the gas turbine is used to generate steam, which then drives the steam turbine, increasing overall efficiency.

What is wind turbine?

A wind turbine is used to convert kinetic energy into electrical power. It consists of a rotor, which is a set of blades that captures the wind, and a generator that converts the rotational energy of the blades into electrical energy. The basic working principle involves wind turning the blades of a turbine, which then spins a shaft connected to a generator, ultimately producing electricity.

Here’s a breakdown of how a typical wind turbineworks.

Rotor Blade: The rotor blade is designed to capture the kinetic energy of the wind. Their shape and angle are important for efficient energy capture.

Nacelle: The rotor is connected to a central hub, and this hub is housed in a structure called a nacelle. Nestlé is situated on top of a tower.

Tower: The tower supports the nacelle and rotor high above the ground. Taller towers allow the turbine to access higher and more consistent wind speeds.

Generator: Movement of the rotor turns a shaft connected to the generator inside the nacelle. A generator converts rotational energy into electricity using electromagnetic induction.

Power System: The generated electricity is then sent through power lines to the electrical grid or local system for distribution and use.

Types of Wind Turbine

There are two commonly used types of wind turbines which are:

• horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT)

• vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

• The most used type.
• The blades are attached to a horizontal shaft.
• The rotor faces the wind, and the entire structure can be rotated to face the wind.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)

• The blades rotate around a vertical axis.
• Less common but gaining interest in some situations due to potential advantages, such as reduced sensitivity to changing wind direction.

Within these categories, there are different designs and configurations. Some turbines have two or three blades, while others may have more. Design selection depends on factors such as wind conditions at the installation site, desired power output, and cost considerations.

What is the Function of Turbine?

function of turbine includes.

• energy conversion
• electricity generation
• propulsion
• mechanical drive

How Wind Turbine Generate Electrical Energy

Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy through a process involving several key components. Here is a more detailed explanation of how a wind turbine performs energy conversion:

Capture of kinetic energy

This process begins when the rotor blades of a wind turbine capture kinetic energy from the moving air. Blade shape and design are important for efficient energy capture.

Rotation of the rotor

As the wind blows, it causes the rotor blades to rotate around the hub. The rotor is usually attached to the hub, and the whole assembly rotates.

Transmission of mechanical energy

The rotation of the rotor results in the rotation of the shaft connected to the hub. This shaft transfers the mechanical energy from the rotating blades to the internal components of the turbine.

Generator Operation

The spinning shaft is connected to a generator, which is placed in the nacelle at the top of the wind turbine tower. A generator is the main component which is responsible for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Within the generator, the rotation of the shaft stimulates the production of electricity through a process called electromagnetic induction. This process involves the movement of conductive wires or coils within a magnetic field.

Electromagnetic Induction

A generator consists of a rotor (rotating part) and a stator (stationary part) with a magnetic field. As the rotor rotates, it cuts the magnetic field lines created by the stator, creating an electromotive force (emf) in the generator coils.

This induced emf produces an electrical current, which is then channeled through the wind turbine’s electrical system.

Converted to usable electricity.

The electricity produced by a generator is usually in the form of alternating current (AC). Before feeding into the electrical grid or local distribution system, AC is often converted to the appropriate voltage and frequency using power electronics.

Integration with Power Grid

The electricity generated by the wind turbine is then transmitted to the electrical grid through power lines. It can be used to provide electricity to homes, businesses and industries.

The entire process of energy conversion in a wind turbine involves the conversion of kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy through the rotating blades and finally into electrical energy through the generator. This electrical energy is then ready for distribution and use.

How Gas Turbine Generates Electricity

Gas turbines generate electricity through a process called the gas turbine power cycle. This cycle involves several steps to convert the energy stored in the fuel into electrical power. Here is a simple explanation of the basic steps involved:

Air intake: This process starts with the intake of ambient air. Gas turbines work on the principle of first compressing air and converting the energy in the fuel into mechanical energy.

Compression: The incoming air is compressed by the compressor, which is the rotating component of the gas turbine. pressure and temperature of the air increase with the compression.

Combustion: Fuel is injected into compressed air and burned in the combustion chamber. The high-pressure, high-temperature gases produced by the combustion process expand rapidly, creating a high-velocity flow.

Turbine: A high velocity flow of hot gases is directed through a series of turbine blades. These blades are connected to the same shaft as the compressor. when the hot gases pass through the turbine it causes the blades of the turbine to rotate.

Mechanical energy: A spinning turbine is connected to a generator. As the turbine spins, it turns the generator, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. A generator produces alternating current (AC) electricity.

Exhaust: After passing through the turbine, the hot exhaust gases are discharged from the system. In some cases, the hot gases can also be used to generate steam in a combined cycle system, where the steam is used to drive a steam turbine to generate additional electricity.

Gas turbine efficiency can be affected by factors such as compression ratio, combustion efficiency, and turbine design. Gas turbines are commonly used in a variety of applications, including power plants, aircraft propulsion, and industrial processes, due to their high power-to-weight ratio and relatively simple design.

It is worth noting that gas turbines are often part of larger power generation systems, and their efficiency can be increased by combining them with other technologies in a combined cycle power plant.

How Steam Turbine Generates Electricity

Steam turbines are a common technology used in power plants to generate electricity. The basic principle behind how steam turbines generate electricity involves the following steps:

Boiler: Water is heated in a boiler to generate steam. Heat can come from a variety of sources, such as the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, or oil), nuclear reactions, or renewable sources such as biomass or geothermal energy.

Steam production: The steam produced is under high pressure and high temperature. The steam is then diverted to the turbine blades.

Turbine: High-pressure steam flows over the blades of a turbine, causing them to rotate. The turbine and generator are brought together.

Generator: As the turbine blades rotate, they turn the rotor of the generator. This rotation stimulates the flow of electrons in the windings of the generator, producing an electric current. A generator produces alternating current (AC) electricity.

Condenser: The steam enters to the condenser after passing through the turbine. In the condenser, the steam passes over tubes or coils and is recirculated back into water that is cooled by a separate source of water. This phase changes from steam to water releases latent heat, which is usually carried away by the cooling water.

Return to boiler: The condensed water is then returned to the boiler to be reheated and reused in the steam generation process. This closed loop system is known as the Rankine cycle.

Steam turbines are widely used for power generation due to their efficiency, reliability, and scalability. They can be used in a variety of power plants, including coal-fired power plants, natural gas power plants, nuclear power plants, and some renewable energy installations.

It is important to note that combined cycle power plants integrate both gas turbine and steam turbine in a sequential manner to increase overall efficiency. The hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine are used to generate steam, which then drives a steam turbine, effectively using the waste heat from the gas turbine. This combined cycle configuration can significantly improve the overall efficiency of power generation.

How Water Turbine Generates Electricity

Water turbines, also known as hydropower turbines, generate electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water. There are different types of water turbines, and the specific design may vary, but the basic principles remain the same. Here is an overview of how water turbines generate electricity:

Water Source: This process starts with a water source, such as a river, runoff from a dam, or a man-made canal. The energy of the flowing water is used to turn the blades of the turbine.

Penstock: Flowing water is directed through a penstock, which is a large pipe or conduit. The penstock directs the water to the turbine, increasing its speed and pressure.

Turbine: High-pressure, high-velocity water is directed onto the blades of a turbine. The force of the water flow causes the turbine blades to rotate. There are different types of water turbines, including impulse turbines and reaction turbines, each designed to capture the energy of flowing water in slightly different ways.

Impulse Turbines: These turbines use the kinetic energy of high-speed water to impel the turbine blades, causing them to rotate. Pelton wheels are a typical example of an impulse turbine.

Reaction turbines: These turbines are submerged in water, and the water pressure causes the blades to move. examples of reaction turbines are:

• Francis Turbine
• Kaplan turbine

Shaft and Generator: The rotating shaft of the turbine is connected to the generator. As the turbine blades turn, they spin the generator’s rotor, creating a flow of electrons in the generator windings which produce electric current in the winding.

Electricity generation: The electricity generated is usually alternating current (AC) and can be sent to the electrical grid for distribution to consumers.

Taylors: After passing through the turbine, the water, now in a low energy state, discharges into a Taylors, which is a waterway that carries the water away from the turbine and into a river or other body of water. returns.

Hydropower is a renewable and environmentally friendly source of electricity, as it depends on the natural movement of water. It can be used at various scales of power generation, from small-scale installations in rivers to large hydropower plants built in dams. The efficiency and capacity of a hydropower system depends on factors such as turbine design, water flow rate, and head (the difference in height between the water source and the turbine).

See Also:

• 10 Largest hydro power plant in the world
• Mangla Dam
• Tarbela Dam

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is a turbine?

Ans: A turbine is a device that converts the energy of a moving fluid (such as water, steam, or gas) into mechanical energy, which can then be used to generate electricity or perform other types of work.

Q: What are the main types of turbines?

Ans: The main types of turbines include steam turbines, gas turbines (or combustion turbines) and water turbines. Water turbines can be further classified into impulse and reaction turbines.

Q: How does a steam turbine work?

Ans: A steam turbine works by using high pressure steam to turn the blades on the rotor. The high-speed rotation of the rotor is then used to generate electricity by an attached generator.

Q: What is the function of a gas turbine?

Ans: A gas turbine converts the energy from burning fuel (such as natural gas or diesel) into mechanical energy by compressing air, mixing it with fuel, burning the mixture, and then forcing hot gases to turn the turbine. Involves using speed flow.

Q: How does a water turbine generate electricity?

Ans: A water turbine generates electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing water. The high-pressure water flow turns the blades of a turbine, which is connected to a generator, producing electrical energy.

Q: what are the dissimilarities in an impulse and reaction turbine?

Ans: Impulse turbines use the kinetic energy of a moving fluid to drive the turbine blades, while reaction turbines are immersed in a fluid, and the pressure of the fluid causes the blades to move

Q: What is the main purpose of a turbine in a power station?

Ans: In a power plant, turbines are used to convert various forms of energy (steam, gas, or water flow) into mechanical energy, which is then used to produce electricity by an attached generator.

Q: How efficient are turbines in generating electricity?

Ans: The efficiency of turbines can vary, but they are generally known to be efficient at converting energy. Gas turbines typically have a high power-to-weight ratio, while steam and water turbines are known for their reliability and efficiency in converting thermal and hydro energy.

Q: What is a combined cycle power plant?

Ans: A combined cycle power plant combines the use of a gas turbine and a steam turbine in a sequential manner to maximize overall efficiency. The hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine are used to generate steam, which then drives the steam turbine.

Q: Are there environmental concerns with turbine-based power generation?

Ans: Environmental issues include emissions from combustion in gas turbines and the environmental impact of dam construction for hydropower turbines. However, compared to many other forms of electricity generation, turbines can be relatively environmentally friendly, especially when using renewable energy sources such as water or wind.