ELECTIONS A N D TRANSFERENCES O F MEMBERS

149

Communication on Investigation of Steam Turbine Nozzle and BladYng Efficiency

Received as contribution to the discussion on the paper by F. Dollin (vol. 144, p. 147)
Professor W. J. WALKER, D.Sc., Ph.D., M.I.Mech.E., wrote that some partial explanation at least, for the fact that at the larger expansion ratios the discharge coefficient was appreciably lower than the velocity coefficient was given by the effect of variable specific heat of steam with temperature. The relevant formulae * were : u,=u,{ 2 to mation. a first and close approxisuch theoretical values, when used as a standard of comparison for experimental results, would give a value too low for the velocity coefficient and too high for the discharge coefficient. The magnitude of these discrepancies varied with absolute temperature, and Professor Walker in his 1924 paper stated that the relative results obtained by the Steam Nozzles Research Committee in tests on the same nozzle with different initial temperatures were consistent with his formula. and Q v = Q c [ l - Z ( 1 tomat,on. a first and close approxiIn his own tests, however, the working fluid was air and the inlet temperature in the region of 60 deg. F. At where u, and Q, were velocity and discharge values this temperature, and below, the value of h for air was under variable specific heat conditions, and uc and Qc doubtful, but was certainly very small, probably about were velocity and discharge values under constant 5 x 10-5. This, in conjunction with the comparatively low value of T occurring in the tests, meant that the specific heat conditions ; x denoted the pressure ratio, and A the rate of change of specific heat with temperadiscrepancy due to calculations assuming constant specific heat was very slight ; even at the critical velocity ture. Normally A had a negative value. The temperature at the upstream side of the nozzle was denoted by TI, it could amount to no more than about +0-05 per cent and the index m was 1.3. on the velocity coefficient and -0.15 per cent on the Whatever might be the magnitude of these effects of discharge coefficient. While the effects were in the right variable specific heat, the fact that the correction factor direction they were small in comparison with the for velocity was less than unity (since h was negative) observed variations. The actual variation of discharge and, for discharge, was greater than unity should have, coefficient as the pressure ratio varied from 0.96 to 0.60 was about ten times the discrepancy resulting from negat least, some bearing on the test results so far obtained. lecting change of specific heat, while on velocity coefficient the disparity was even greater. The primary Mr. F. DOLLIN wrote in reply that the formulae explanation of the fact that increase of air velocity was quoted were based on the assumption of linear variation of specific heat with temperature. The relevant quantities found to be associated with reduction of discharge were defined by the expressions: c* = A + S T ; c coefficient, notwithstanding an increase of velocity co, =B efficient, must therefore be sought elsewhere. Support + S T ; h = SIB; and m = A/B. for the explanation which he himself had suggested was I n stating that A normally had a negative value and furnished by the fact that in certain earlier turbine tests that m was 1.3, Professor Walker presumably referred to on straight and curved nozzles the latter were found to steam. If X was negative, calculations which neglected have the higher discharge coefficients. the variation of specific heat with temperature gave a As regards steam turbines, calculations were normally value too high for the theoretical discharge velocity and based on the steam tables, and automatically took actoo low for the theoretical mass rate of flow. Moreover, count of any variations that might occur in specific heat. * For the derivation of these two formulae, and a discussion Professor Walkers equations, however, might have an thereon, see ,WALKER, W. J., 1922 P h i l .Mag., 6th series, vol. important bearing on gas turbine problems. 43, p. 589, also 1924, vol. 48, p. 703.

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