MARINE
STEAM
TURBINES
RANKINE CYCLE
The Rankine cycle is an ideal
thermodynamic cycle involving a
constant pressure heat engine
which converts heat into
mechanical work.
The heat is supplied externally in this
cycle in a closed loop, which uses
either water or any other organic
fluids (Pentane or Toluene) as a
working fluid.
This cycle is the basic principle of
Steam turbines.
STEAM PLANT
Turbine
Boiler
Condenser
Pump
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A
STEAM PLANT
1. BOILER
2. STEAM TURBINE
3. CONDENSER
4. FEEDWATER PUMP
BOILERS
Boiler is an apparatus used to
generate steam. Thermal energy
released by combustion of fuel is
transferred to water, which vaporizes
and gets converted to steam at the
desired temperature and pressure.
The performance of a boiler is
measured in terms of its evaporative
capacity which is also called as “Boiler
Power”. It is defined as the amount of
steam produced in kg/hour.
TYPES OF BOILER
BOILERS CAN BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO
THE FLOW OF WATER AND HOT GASES:
1. Fire-tube Boilers
the most common type, and
they work by heating the water
in a vessel that is surrounded by
hot gases from a burner.
2. Water-tube Boilers
work in a similar way, but the
water is heated inside the tubes
that are surrounded by hot
gases.
STEAM
TURBINES
Steam turbines are
used as prime movers
where the conversion
of heat energy into
mechanical rotary
motion is required.
Applications of steam
turbines include large
power stations, ship
propulsion,
compressors, and even
small pumps.
TYPES OF STEAM TURBINES
Steam turbines can be classified as either impulse, reaction, or a mixture of both; a
large steam turbine will almost always have both impulse and reaction stages.
1. IMPULSE TURBINE
➢ Is a type of steam turbine where the rotor
derives its rotational force from the impact
force, or the direct push of steam on the
blades.
➢ Consists of a rotor mounted on a shaft that
is free to rotate. Attached to the rotor are
a set of curved blades. Nozzles then direct
the high pressure and high temperature
steam towards the blades of the
turbines. The blades catch the impact
force of the rapidly moving steam and
rotate from this force.
The diagram of IMPULSE turbine blades
shows:
(1) The steam first enters the impulse
turbine through a fixed nozzle.
(2) The steam strikes the blades that are
free to rotate with a strong enough force
to move the blades.
(3) The steam exits the blades towards the
condensing system of the steam turbine
generator system.
(4) The direction of the blades due to the
force of steam.
2. REACTION TURBINE
➢ A reaction turbine is a type of steam
turbine that works on the principle that the
rotor spins, as the name suggests, from a
reaction force rather than an impact or
impulse force.
➢ In a reaction turbine there are no nozzles
to direct the steam like in the impulse
turbine. Instead, the blades that project
radially from the outer edge of the rotor
are shaped and mounted so that the
shape between the blades, created by
the cross-section, create the shape of a
nozzle.
The diagram of REACTION turbine blades
shows:
(1) The steam enters through a section of
curved blades in a fixed position.
(2) The steam then enters the set of
moving blades and creates enough
reactive force to rotate them,
(3) The steam exits the section of rotating
blades.
(4) The direction of rotation.
CONDENSERS
Sometimes called
‘surface condensers’,
are large heat
exchangers used to
cool exhaust steam
back into condensate;
They are usually
installed directly
beneath the turbine
but may be installed
axially in some
instances.
FEED WATER PUMP
A specific type of pump used to
pump feedwater into a steam
boiler.
These pumps are normally high-
pressure units that take suction
from a condensate return system
and can be of the centrifugal
pump type or positive
displacement type.
EXAMPLE
OF A
MARINE
STEAM
TURBINE
The Cross
Compound
Double
Reduction
Turbine
The steam is supplied
from the ship’s boiler
and passes into the
high-pressure turbine,
(HP) expanding
through the blades
and exiting into the
low-pressure turbine.
The high-pressure
and low-pressure
turbines are separate
turbines having their
own drive shafts,
which are coupled to
a double reduction
gearbox that
decreases their
revolutions from
several thousand to
about 100 RPM, the
normal operating
propeller shaft speed.
A common lube oil
system is used to
lubricate the various
components and keep
them cool by pumping
the oil through a
cooler. The oil is drawn
from the drain tank a
through a set of
magnetic strainers by
the lube oil pump into
a set of duplex filters,
then onto the main
lube oil cooler before
supplying oil under
pressure to the turbine
white metal bearings,
gearbox, gearbox
sprays, and thrust
block.
An overhead tank,
usually positioned at
the top of the
engine-room, is also
supplied by the
pump.
The reason for the
header tank is in the
event of a black-out
or loss of a lube-oil
pump, the header
tank has the capacity
to keep the turbine
bearings supplied
with oil until the
turbine stops rotating.
IMPORTANCE OF DRAINING WATER
INSIDE THE TURBINE CASING
Steam is expanded at various stages of fixed and moving blades. So, there
is a chance of condensation of steam particularly during starting and low
load condition.
Erosion of intermediate and low-pressure blades is usually caused by water
in the steam. Operation below design inlet steam temperature or at low
load can cause condensation in these stages, leading to erosion problems.
Carbon dioxide or other acidic species present in the condensate can
accelerate the damage.
Accumulation of condensate inside a turbine can damage the turbine.
That’s why it is required to drain out this condensate. For this reason, drain
points are provided at the turbine lower casing. Also, drain points are
provided at the gland portion and emergency stop valve.
