Impulse Turbine: Difference Between Impulse Turbine and Reaction Turbine

An impulse turbine or reaction turbine can be used in a power plant to produce electricity. Both turbines are different in design so you have to select the right one.

The selection of the turbine depends on power plant size and other parameters.

The selection of a proper turbine is a very critical issue and expert people in engineering can take the right decision only.

Hence I will like to share some differences between impulse turbines and the reaction turbines with you.

impulse turbine working

The turbine is a prime mover in which a rotary motion is obtained by centrifugal force brought into action by changing the direction of the jet of a fluid escaping from a nozzle at high velocity.

The most important and common division is with respect to the action of the steam and they are as below,

A) Impulse Turbine

B) Reaction Turbine

C) A combination of Impulse and Reaction Turbine.

impulse turbine vs reaction turbine
  • Difference between Impulse Turbine and Reaction Turbine

In an impulse design of a steam turbine, there is an attempt to attain no expansion of steam within the moving blades. And as such its pressure remains constant while passing over the blades.

The expansion of steam, however, takes place in a set of stationary nozzles. Which lowers its pressure but imparts a high velocity to it. The velocity attained in a properly designed nozzle depends upon the pressure drop through it.

Impulse turbine design may be classified as the single-stage or multi-pressure stage. And also a multi-velocity stage, and a combination of multi-pressure and velocity stage.

The term pressure stage refers to a unit of nozzles combined with moving blades. In which the energy of the steam resulting from each pressure drop is utilized.

The velocity stage refers to the number of moving blades. In which the energy of the steam in each pressure drop is absorbed.

While in the case of a reaction turbine, the steam expands as it flows over the blades which, therefore act as nozzles. In fact, it is this drop in pressure that gives a reaction and hence motion to the rotor.

A pure reaction turbine comprises two or more radial tubes. These tubes rotate and communicate with another pipe through which steam is supplied to a nozzle.

Which is screwed into the ends of the radial pipes and arranged with their axis in the tangential direction.

Besides this information, you are suggested to read something more from below engineering books

 

To get the more details about the topic, I further recommend reading

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