Velocity Triangle for Turbo-machinery

BY

P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
I I T Delhi

U
Vai

Vai
Vri

Inlet Velocity Triangle

U
Vae

Vre
Vre

Exit Velocity Triangle

Vri

e
Vae

Vre

e
Vai

Vai: Inlet Absolute Velocity

Vri: Inlet Relative Velocity
Vre: Exit Relative Velocity
Vae:Exit Absolute Velocity
i: Inlet Nozzle Angle.
i: Inlet Blade Angle.
e: Exit Blade Angle.
i: Exit Nozzle Angle.

Vri

Vf

Vr

Vrc
Vw

Va
U

Flow through Blades

Vre
U
Vni
Vri
U
Vai

U
Vae

Fluid Dynamics of Blades

e
Vae

Vre

e
Vai

Vri

The stream is delivered to the wheel at an angle i and velocity Vai.

The selection of angle i is a compromise.

An increase in i, reduces the value of useful component (Absolute

circumferential Component).
This is also called Inlet Whirl Velocity, Vwi = Vai cos(i).

An increase in i, increases the value of axial component, also called as flow

component.
This is responsible for definite mass flow rate between to successive blade.
Flow component Vfi = Vai sin(i) = Vri sin(i).
The absolute inlet velocity can be considered as a resultant of blade velocity
and inlet relative velocity.
The two points of interest are those at the inlet and exit of the blade.

e
Vae

Vre

e
Vai

Vri

If the stream is to enter and leave the blades without shock or much
losses, then relative velocity should be tangential to the blade inlet tip.
Vri should enter at an angle i, the inlet blade angle.
Similarly, Vre should leave at e, the exit blade angle.
A blade is said to be symmetric if i = e.
The flow velocities between two successive blade at inlet and exit are
Vfi & Vfe.
The axial (basic useful) components or whirl velocities at inlet and
exit are Vwi & Vwe.

Impulse Turbine

e
Vae

Vre

e
Vai

Vri

Newtons Second Law for an Impulse Blade:

The tangential force acting of the jet is:
F = mass flow rate X Change of velocity in the tangential direction
Tangential relative velocity at blade Inlet : Vri cos(i).
Tangential relative velocity at blade exit : -Vre cos(e).
Change in velocity in tangential direction: -Vre cos(e) - Vri cos(i).

-(Vre cos(e) + Vri cos(i)).

FA mVre cos e Vri cos i

The reaction to this force provides the driving thrust on the wheel.

The driving force on wheel FR mVre cos e Vri cos i

Power Output of the blade,

Pb m U Vre cos e Vri cos i

Diagram Efficiency or Blade efficiency:

Power ouput
d
Kinetic
Power of inlet steam

m U Vre cos e Vri cos i

d

m Vai2

2U kVri cos e Vri cos i

d
Vai2
2UVri k cos e cos i
d
Vai2
e
Vae

Vre

Vai cos i U Vri cos i

e
Vai

Vri

Vai cos i U
Vri
cos i

cos e
2U Vai cos i U k
1
cos i

d
Vai2

cos e
2U Vai cos i U k
1
cos i

d
Vai2

2
U
U
d 2
cos i

Vai
Vai

cos
k
1
cos i e

Define Blade Speed Ratio,

d 2 cos i

cos e
k
1
cos i

For a given shape of the blade, the efficiency is a strong function of

For maximum efficiency:

d d
0
d

cos e
2 cos i 2 k
1 0
cos i
cos i
cos i 2 0
2

d ,max

cos i
2 cos i cos i

cos e
k
1
cos i

d ,max cos i

2

cos e
k
1
cos i

Impulse-Reaction turbine

This utilizes the principle of impulse and reaction.

There are a number of rows of moving blades attached to the rotor and
equal number of fixed blades attached to the casing.
The fixed blades are set in a reversed manner compared to the moving
blades, and act as nozzles.
The fixed blade channels are of nozzle shape and there is a
comparatively small drop in pressure accompanied by an increase in
velocity.
The fluid then passes over the moving blades and, as in the pure
impulse turbine, a force is exerted on the blades by the fluid.
There is further drop in pressure as the fluid passes through the
moving blades, since moving blade channels are also of nozzle shape.
The relative velocity increases in the moving blades.

e
Vae

Vre

e
Vai

Vri

The reaction effect is an addition to impulse effect.

The degree of reaction

The enthalpy drop in the moving blades

The enthalpy drop in the stage

p
va

vr

First law for fixed blades:

h0 h1

V12 V02
2

First law for moving blades:

h1 h2

V r22 Vr21
2

2
Va2

1
Vr2

2
Va1

Vr1

If the stream is to enter and leave the blades without shock or much
losses, then relative velocity should be tangential to the blade inlet tip.
Vr1 should enter at an angle 1, the inlet blade angle.

Similarly, Vr2 should leave at 2, the exit blade angle.

In an impulse reaction blade, Vr2 > Vr1.

h1 h2

V r22 Vr21
2

The flow velocities between two successive blade at inlet and exit are
Vf1 & Vf2.

The axial (basic useful) components or whirl velocities at inlet and

exit are Vw1 & Vw2.

2
Va2

1
Vr2

2
Va1

Vr1

Newtons Second Law for an Impulse-reaction Blade:

The tangential force acting of the jet is:
F = mass flow rate X Change of velocity in the tangential direction
Tangential relative velocity at blade Inlet : Vr1 cos(2).
Tangential relative velocity at blade exit : -Vr2 cos(2).
Change in velocity in tangential direction: -Vr2 cos(2) Vr1 cos(1).

-(Vr2 cos(2) + Vr1 cos(1)).

FA mVr 2 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1

The reaction to this force provides the driving thrust on the wheel.

The driving force on wheel FR mVr 2 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1

Power Output of the blade,

Pb m U Vr 2 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1

Diagram Efficiency or Blade efficiency:

Power ouput
d
Kinetic
Power of inlet steam

m U Vr 2 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1

d

m Va21

First law for fixed blades:

h0 h1

V12 V02
2

First law for moving blades:

h1 h2
h0 h2

V r22 Vr21
2

V12 V02
2

V r22 Vr21
2

2
2
Va21 V02 V r 2 Vr1
h0 h2

2
2

The enthalpy drop in the moving blades

The enthalpy drop in the stage

h1 h2
h0 h2

V r22 Vr21

h1 h2
2
h0 h2 Va1 V02 V r22 Vr21

Vr 2

2
2
V r1
Va1 V0
1

Vr 2

2
2
V r1
V

V
a1
0
1

2U Vr 2 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1

d
Va21

2
2
Va1 V0
1

V r 2 V r21

Va1 cos 1 U Vr1 cos 1

Va1 cos 1 U
Vr1
cos 1

Losses in nozzle, Nozzle blade loss factor,

Va1
Actual absolute inlet velocity

Isoentropic Velocity at nozzle exit Vn ,iso

stage

2U Vr 2 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1

2
Vn ,iso

2U

stage

2
2
V r1
Va1 V0 cos 2 Vr1 cos 1
1

Va21

Va1 cos 1 U
Vr1
cos 1

2U 2

stage

Va1 cos 1 U
Va1 cos 1 U
2
2

cos 1
Va1 V0 cos 2
cos 1
cos 1

Va21

U
cos 1
Va1

cos 1

U 2
2
Va1

V0

Va1

stage

U
cos 1
Va1
cos 1

cos 2

cos
1

Va21

U 2
2
Va1

U
cos 1
Va1
cos 1

stage

V0

Va1

U
cos 1
Va1
cos 1

cos 2

Va21

cos
1

For a given shape of the blade, the efficiency is a strong function of U/Va1
For maximum efficiency:

d stage

d
Va1