Steam Nozzles and Types
Nozzle is a duct by flowing through which the velocity of a fluid increases at the expense of pressure
drop. if the fluid is steam, then the nozzle is called as Steam nozzle.
The flow of steam through nozzles may be taken as adiabatic expansion. The steam possesses very high
velocity at the end of the expansion, and the enthalpy decreases as expansion occurs. Friction exists
between the steam and the sides of the nozzle; heat is produced as the result of the resistance to the
flow. The phenomenon of super saturation occurs in the steam flow through nozzles. This is because of
the time lag in the condensation of the steam during the expansion.
The area of such duct having minimum cross-section is known as throat.
A fluid is called compressible if its density changes with the change in pressure brought about by the
flow.
If the density changes very little or does not changes, the fluid is said to be incompressible. Generallythe
gases and vapors are compressible, whereas liquids are incompressible.
Types of Nozzles:
There are three types of nozzles
1. Convergent nozzle
2. Divergent nozzle
3. Convergent-divergent nozzle. Convergent Nozzle:
A typical convergent nozzle is shown in the Fig.1. In a convergent nozzle, the cross sectional area
decreases continuously from its entrance to exit. It is used in a case where the back pressure is equal to
or greater than the critical pressure ratio.
Fig 1. Convergent nozzle Divergent
nozzle:
The cross sectional area of divergent nozzle increases continuously from its entrance to exit. It is used in
a case where the back pressure is less than the critical pressure ratio.
Fig 2. Divergent nozzle
Convergent – Divergent nozzle:
In this condition, the cross sectional area first decreases from its entrance to the throat and then again
increases from throat to the exit. This case is used in the case where the back pressure is less than the
critical pressure. Also, in present day application, it is widely used in many types of steam turbines.
Fig 3. Convergent-Divergent nozzle
Flow of steam Through Nozzle
Supersaturated flow or metastable flow of in Nozzles: As steam expands in the nozzle, the pressure and
temperature in it drop, and it is likely that the steam start condensing when it strikes the saturation line.
But this is not always the situation. Due to the high velocities, the time up to which the steam resides in
the nozzle is small, and there may not be sufficient time for the needed heat transfer and the formation
of liquid droplets due to condensation. As a result, the condensation of steam is delayed for a while. This
phenomenon is known as super saturation, and the steam that remains in the wet region without
holding any liquid is known as supersaturated steam. The locus of points where condensation occurs
regardless of the initial temperature and pressure at the entrance of the nozzle is called the Wilson line.
The Wilson line generally lies between 4 and 5 percent moisture curves in the saturation region on the h-
s diagram in case of steam, and is often taken as 4 percent moisture line. The phenomenon of super
saturation is shown on the h-s chart below:
Fig 4. The h-s diagram for the expansion of steam in the nozzle Effects
of Supersaturation:
The following are the effects of supersaturation in a nozzle.
1. The temperature at which the steam becomes supersaturated will be less than the saturation
temperature corresponding to that pressure. Therefore, supersaturated steam will have the
density more than that of equilibrium condition which results in the increase in the mass of
steam discharged.
2. Supersaturation causes the specific volume and entropy of the steam to increase.
3. Supersaturation reduces the heat drop. Thus the exit velocity of the steam is reduced.
4. Supersaturation increases the dryness fraction of the steam. Effect of Friction on Nozzles:
1. Entropy is increased.
2. The energy available decreases.
3. Velocity of flow at the throat get decreased.
4. Volume of flowing steam is decreased.
5. Throat area required to discharge a given mass of steam is increased.
Continuity and steady flow energy equations through a certain section of the nozzle:
Where m denotes the mass flow rate, v is the specific volume of the steam, A is the area of cross-section
and C is the velocity of the steam.
For steady flow of the steam through a certain apparatus, principle of conservation of energy states:
h1 + C12/2 + gz1 + q = h2 + C22/2 + gz2 + w
For nozzles, changes in potential energies are negligible, w = 0 and q = 0.
h1 + C12 /2 = h2 + C22 /2 which is the expression for the steady
state flow energy equation.
