De La Salle University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

TERM PROJECT

EXAMINING THE PERFORMANCE OF A STEAM TURBINE

GROUP NO. : 2
CHUA, MIKKO ARVIN U. (mikko_chua@dlsu.edu.ph)

Group Members:
CANTO, JOHN BRYAN D. (john_bryan_canto@dlsu.edu.ph)
DIONISIO, AARON JOHN A. (aaron_john_dionisio@dlsu.edu.ph)
VILVESTRE, MARIA ISABELLA M. (maria_isabella_vilvestre@dlsu.edu.ph)

COURSE CODE/SECTION : LBYME4C/EE3

DATE PERFORMED : JULY 23, 2024

DATE DUE : AUGUST 2, 2024

DATE SUBMITTED : AUGUST 2, 2024

ACADEMIC TERM : TERM 3 AY 2023-2024

PROFESSOR : Dr. Archie B. Maglaya

 I. Objectives
To determine the following performance parameters of a steam turbine:
1. Steam turbine inlet and outlet pressure (mPa)
2. Steam turbine inlet and outlet temperature (℃)
3. Steam turbine actual work output and heat added to the boiler (kJ/kg)
4. Work net and rankine cycle thermal efficiency (kJ/kg and %)

II. Materials and Equipment

Material Description Illustration

Steam turbine This is the main apparatus

of the experiment.

Pressure gauge This device measures the

amount of pressure in a
steam turbine, boiler, and
condenser

Temperature gauge This device measures the

amount of temperature in a
steam turbine, boiler, and
condenser
 Timer Used for recording time at
different testing trials.

III. Experimental Setup

Figure 3.1:RankineCycler Steam Turbine Apparatus image taken from:

(RankineCyclerTM Steam Turbine System | Turbine Technologies, n.d.)

What we have here is a RankineCycler Steam Turbine apparatus that is ready to

operate like a micro power plant and equipped with a data acquisition system. It contains
the essential components in a rankine cycle such as the boiler, turbine, condenser and
pump. Sensors are installed at the important points of the apparatus to measure the
amount of pressure, temperature, fuel-flow, and energy output. This RankineCycler
Steam Turbine apparatus allows students to learn the basics of thermodynamics and
powerplant engineering.
 Figure 3.2: Data Acquisition System of Rankine Cycler image taken from:
(RankineCyclerTM Steam Turbine System | Turbine Technologies, n.d.)

IV. Theory

The majority of steam power plants, including those that produce electricity, run
on the basic thermodynamic cycle known as the Rankine Cycle. This cycle is the most
common of all power generation cycles and was created in 1859 by Scottish engineer
William J.M. Rankine and is widely used in a variety of power plants, including
waste-to-energy facilities, nuclear reactors, coal-fired power plants, and geothermal and
solar thermal plants. The four fundamental components of the Rankine Cycle are the
boiler, turbine, condenser, and pump. High-pressure steam is created in the boiler by
heating water and this high-pressure steam is extended to the turbine then the steam loses
energy when it leaves the turbine and condenses back into liquid water in the condenser.
To complete the cycle, the condensed water is eventually fed back into the boiler after
being pressured by a pump.

Figure 4.1: Rankine Cycle Schematic Diagram taken from (Marketer, 2024)
 The purpose of the Rankine cycle is to utilize the features of the working fluid,
water. In a boiler (State 2, Figure 4.2), the cycle starts, wherein the water is heated under
steady pressure until it reaches saturation. Following saturation, more heat transfer occurs
at a steady temperature until the working fluid reaches 100% quality (State 3, Figure 4.2).
At this level, shaft work is produced by expanding the high-quality vapor isentropically
via an axially bladed turbine stage. Afterwards, the steam then emerges from the turbine
(State 4, Figure 4.2). The working fluid is then routed through a condenser, where the
steam is condensed into liquid (State 1, Figure 4.2), while being at low pressure and
having a very good quality at State 4. Furthermore, the cycle is finished when the liquid
is returned to the boiler, usually through a mechanical pump.

Figure 4.2: P-V Diagram of a Simple Ideal Rankine Cycle taken from
(RankineCyclerTM Steam Turbine System | Turbine Technologies, n.d.)

To add, the primary purpose of a steam turbine is to convert thermal energy from
pressurized steam into mechanical work, which is then used to generate electricity. The
turbine transforms the thermal energy of the steam into rotational motion, which
facilitates the conversion process and powers electrical generators. Through this process,
the kinetic energy of the steam is transferred to the turbine's shaft, causing it to revolve.
After that, power can be generated by utilizing this spin to run a generator. Nevertheless,
the following parameters should be considered in order to effectively evaluate the
performance and efficiency of a steam turbine:

ℎ1 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 (𝑃1, 𝑇1)

ℎ2 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡(𝑃2, 𝑇2)
ℎ3 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑟 (𝑃𝑐)
ℎ4 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟 (𝑃𝐵)
 Steam turbine actual work output:
𝑊𝑇 = ℎ1 − ℎ2

Work done by pump:

𝑊𝑃 = ℎ4 − ℎ3

Net work:
𝑊𝑁𝐸𝑇 = 𝑊𝑇 − 𝑊𝑃

Heat added to boiler:

𝑄𝐼𝑁 = ℎ1 − ℎ4

Rankine cycle thermal efficiency:

𝑊𝑁𝐸𝑇
η𝑡ℎ = 𝑄𝐼𝑁

V. Experimental Procedures
1. Start up the boiler which will supply steam to the steam turbine.
2. With steam supplied to the steam turbine, start the steam turbine by opening the
top valves until the rotor begins to rotate.
3. Turn off the stop valve quickly and then turn on gently to a point which will
control the steam turbine at the correct speed.
4. Warm up the steam turbine by allowing it to run slowly for about ten minutes.
5. Ensure that the right load on the steam turbine is at a specific braking rotational
speed at constant turbine brake load.
6. At that load, record the steam turbine inlet and outlet pressure (mPa) and steam
turbine inlet and outlet temperature (℃) in the data sheet.
7. After the test, shut down the steam turbine by turning off the stop valve.

VI. Experimental Data

Table 6.1: Steam Turbine Pressure and Temperature, Boiler and Condenser Pressure
Parameters

Time Steam Steam Steam Steam Boiler Condenser

min Turbine Turbine Turbine Turbine Pressure Pressure
Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet (Pb) (Pc) mPa
Pressure Pressure Temperature Temperature mPa
 (P1) mPa (P2) mPa (T1) ℃ (T2) ℃

10

15

Ave

Table 6.2: Enthalpy Values

Time min Enthalpy of Enthalpy of Enthalpy of Enthalpy of

Steam Steam Water at Water at
Turbine Inlet Turbine Condenser Boiler (h4)
(h1) kJ/kg Outlet (h2) (h3) kJ/kg kJ/kg
kJ/kg

10

15

Ave

VII. Sample Computations

ℎ1 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 (𝑃1, 𝑇1)

ℎ2 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡(𝑃2, 𝑇2)
ℎ3 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑟 (𝑃𝑐)
ℎ4 = 𝐸𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟 (𝑃𝐵)

Example: Assuming 𝑇1 = 500℃ , 𝑃1 = 10 𝑚𝑃𝑎 , 𝑇2 = 30℃, 𝑃2 = 0. 1 𝑚𝑃𝑎

Using steam table values we obtain:
ℎ1 = 3375 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
ℎ2 = 2510 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
 ℎ3 = 125 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
ℎ4 = 125 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Steam turbine actual work output:

𝑊𝑇 = ℎ1 − ℎ2
𝑊𝑇 = 3375 − 2510 = 865 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Work done by pump:

𝑊𝑃 = ℎ4 − ℎ3
𝑊𝑃 = 125 − 125 = 0 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Net work:
𝑊𝑁𝐸𝑇 = 𝑊𝑇 − 𝑊𝑃
𝑊𝑁𝐸𝑇 = 865 − 0 = 865 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Heat added to boiler:

𝑄𝐼𝑁 = ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝑄𝐼𝑁 = 3375 − 125 = 3250 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔

Rankine cycle thermal efficiency:

𝑊𝑁𝐸𝑇
η𝑡ℎ = 𝑄𝐼𝑁
865
η𝑡ℎ = 3250
= 0. 266 𝑜𝑟 26. 6%

VIII. Results and Analysis

Table 8.1: Work Done by Steam Turbine, Pump, Net Work, Heat Added to Boiler
and Rankine Cycle Thermal Efficiency

Time min Work Done Work Done Net Work Heat Rankine
by Steam by (Wnet) Added into Cycle
Turbine Pump(Wp) kJ/kg Boiler Thermal
(Wt) kJ/kg kJ/kg (Qin) kJ/kg Efficiency
(nth) %

5
 10

15

Ave

Additional Requirements:
A. Plot the graphs for the following:
a. Work done by steam turbine and pump over time
b. Net work and efficiency over time
c. Heat added into boiler and efficiency over time
B. Comparative analysis of graphs and tables:
a. Compare graphs a, b, and c
b. Compare the effect of net work and heat added to the thermal efficiency

IX. Conclusions and Recommendations

In this experiment on the performance test of a steam turbine several key conclusions can
be made. Firstly, it was observed that the net work generated by the pump and steam turbine, as
well as the heat supplied to the boiler, all have a major impact on the Rankine cycle's thermal
efficiency. As the ratio of net work production to heat input rises, the cycle's efficiency increases.
The heat that is added to the boiler is very important because, if the heat energy is successfully
transformed into work, a higher heat absorption by the working fluid might result in a higher
potential work output in the turbine. High thermal efficiency requires efficient boiler operation to
reduce heat losses, as well as routine maintenance and technological advancements for the pump
and turbine. Therefore, maximizing net work and optimizing heat addition in the boiler are
crucial to the thermal efficiency of the Rankine cycle, and continuous advancements and
optimizations in these areas are required for power generation to continue.

For this experiment, it is recommended that a number of important changes be

implemented. To reduce external influences, make sure all measurement devices are accurately
calibrated and that constant, regulated working conditions are maintained. To understand the
behavior of the turbine in various circumstances, gather thorough data under a variety of
operating conditions. For accurate results and to avoid damage, use premium dry steam. To
guarantee repeatability and dependability, repeat tests in the same settings and maintain thorough
records of all steps taken and observations made. Additionally, establish strict safety procedures
to safeguard people and property, and consult with authorities in related domains to improve the
design and analysis of the experiment. To get consistent results, all equipment including the
turbine needs to undergo regular maintenance.

X. Questions and Answers

1. Enumerate the types of blades suitable for steam turbines?
A. Fixed Blades - the structure of the blades ensure that there is enough steam at the
right direction to the moving blades. The design of the nozzle affects the
expansion factor for the steam from high pressure to low pressure. This helps
minimize energy losses.
B. Moving Blades - moving blades are attached to the rotor with angled blades
facing to the direction of the steam flowing. The steam’s energy is affected by the
blades as the steam gives its energy to the rotor to convert from thermal energy to
mechanical energy for steam.

2. What is the purpose of the casing for the turbine?

It is the shell that seals the parts of the turbine and contains the steam undergoing
expansion. This casing is responsible for the reduction of heat losses from steam to
suffice the energy for the turbine.

3. A reaction steam turbine runs at 300 rev/min and its steam consumption is 16500 kh/hr.
The pressure of steam at a certain pair is 1.765 bar (abs.) and its dryness fraction is 0.9.
and the power developed by the pair is 3.31 kW. The axial velocity of flow is 0.72 of the
mean moving blade velocity. Find the steam flow rate through the blades.
Solution:
16500
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑠 = 0. 92 𝑥 3600
= 4. 2167 𝑜𝑟 4. 22 𝑘𝑔/𝑠

4. The turbine work and the pump work in a Rankine cycle are 1200 kJ/kg and 30 kJ/kg.
What is the efficiency of the Rankine cycle if the heat generated by the generator is 2500
kJ/kg?
Solution:
𝑊𝑁𝐸𝑇 1200−30
η𝑡ℎ = 𝑄𝐼𝑁
= 2500
= 0. 468 𝑜𝑟 46. 8%

5. Steam that enters a turbine stage has an enthalpy of 3700 kJ/kg and a velocity of 80 m/s,
and it leaves with an enthalpy of 2864 kJ/kg and a velocity of 128 m/s. Solve the work
done in kW given that the rate of a steam flow through the turbine is at 0.44 kg/s.
Solution:
ℎ1 + 𝐾𝐸1 = ℎ2 + 𝐾𝐸2 + 𝑊
2 2
(80 𝑚/𝑠) (128 𝑚/𝑠)
3700 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔 2000
= 2864 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔 2000
+𝑊
𝑊 = 831 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑊 = (0. 44 𝑘𝑔/𝑠)(831 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔) = 365. 64 𝑘𝑊
XI. References

Marketer, A. P. |. P. (2024, January 25). How to calculate thermal efficiency of rankine Cycle.

Medium.

https://medium.com/@ashwinpalo/how-to-calculate-thermal-efficiency-of-rankine-cycle-

37a7dbcadc12

RankineCyclerTM Steam Turbine System | Turbine Technologies. (n.d.).

https://www.turbinetechnologies.com/educational-lab-products/steam-turbine-engine-lab

Steam Turbine Experiment. (n.d.). RankineCycler - an Educational, Micro-Electric

Power-Generating Station.

https://www.turbinetechnologies.com/Portals/0/pdfs/RankineCycler_tech_sheets/Ohio-N

orthern-University-Lab50A14.pdf

Turbine Technologies, LTD. (2017, March 1). RankineCycler Steam Turbine Power System

[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSIzkTzPg6M

Understanding Power Production. (n.d.). RankineCycler Curriculum.

https://www.turbinetechnologies.com/Portals/0/pdfs/RankineCycler_tech_sheets/Rankine

Cycler%20Curriculum.pdf