Steam turbines are turbomachines. In practice, steam turbines are mainly used in power plants to generate electricity. A distinction is made between turbines depending on the flow direction and state of the steam, the working process, and steam supply and discharge. The experimental unit is a single-stage axial impulse turbine with a vertical axis. The steam required is generated by the steam generator. The turbine can be operated with saturated steam or superheated steam. The steam is expanded in the turbine and condensed via the water-cooled condenser. Load is applied to the turbine via an eddy current brake. The turbine has a non-contact labyrinth seal on the shaft with a sealing steam circuit. The turbine is fitted with various safety devices in order to prevent damage such as by excessively high speed or pressure in the system.
Learning Objectives/Experiments
Principle of operation of a steam turbine:
Steam consumption of the turbine
Turbine output at different settings
Investigation of the losses occurring in different turbine components
Power and torque curve
Overall efficiency compared to the theoretical efficiency
Features
Laboratory-scale axial single-stage steam turbine
Variety of safety and monitoring equipment
Design of a complete steam power plant together with the steam generator
Specification
Single-stage axial impulse turbine, mounted in corrosion-resistant, sealed ball bearings
Load on the turbine by eddy current brake
Condenser with water-cooled coiled tube
Steam supply from steam generator
Various safety devices for safe operation
Sensors and digital indicator for speed, temperature, pressure and flow rate
Technical Data
Single-stage axial impulse turbine
rotor inner diameter: 54mm
max. speed: 40000min-1
max. inlet pressure: 9bar abs.
max. outlet pressure: 1bar abs.
nominal power output: 50W
Measuring ranges
pressure:
0…16bar (steam)
0…1,6bar (condenser)
differential pressure: 0…50mbar
flow rate: 0…720L/h (cooling water)
speed: 0…50000min-1
torque: 0…70Nmm
temperature: 0…400°C
230V, 50Hz, 1 phase
230V, 60Hz, 1 phase
120V, 60Hz, 1 phase
