Reaction Turbine

In the reaction turbine, the rotor blades themselves are arranged to form convergent nozzles. This type of turbine makes use of the reaction force produced as the steam accelerates through the nozzles formed by the rotor. Steam is directed onto the rotor by the fixed vanes of the stator. It leaves the stator as a jet that fills the entire circumference of the rotor. The steam then changes direction and increases its speed relative to the speed of the blades. A pressure drop occurs across both the stator and the rotor, with steam accelerating through the stator and decelerating through the rotor, with no net change in steam velocity across the stage but with a decrease in both pressure and temperature, reflecting the work performed in the driving of the rotor.

Impulse and reaction turbine

IMPULSE TURBINE STAGING

NOZZLE MOVING BLADE FIXED BLADE MOVING BLADE

PRESSURE
1ST STAGE NOZZLE & MOVING BLADE VELOCITY 2ND STAGE FIXED & MOVING BLADE

REACTION TURBINE STAGING

NOZZLE MOVING BLADE FIXED BLADE

MOVING BLADE

PRESSURE

1ST STAGE NOZZLE & MOVING BLADE

VELOCITY

2ND STAGE FIXED & MOVING BLADE

Difference between Impulse & Reaction Turbines

Impulse Turbine
Power is obtained only due to the impulsive force of the incoming steam

Reaction Turbine
Power is obtained due to impulsive force of incoming steam as well as reaction of exit steam

Suitable for small capacity of power Suitable for medium & high capacity generation & occupies less space per power generation and occupies more unit power space per unit power

Efficiency is lesser Compounding is necessary to reduce speed

Efficiency is higher Compounding is not necessary

Degree of reaction
In Reaction turbines, the pressure drop takes place in both the fixed and moving blades. Thus the ratio of the enthalpy or heat drop in the moving blades to the total enthalpy drop in the stage Energy input to the blades in a stage E= total enthalpy drop E= Enthalpy drop over the fixed blades+ Enthalpy drop over the moving blades The effect of expansion of steam over the moving blades is to increase the relative velocity at the exit. Therefore the relative velocity at the exit is always greater than the relative velocity at the inlet In terms of velocities, the enthalpy drop over the moving blades is given by:

The enthalpy drop in the fixed blades, with the assumption that the velocity of steam entering the fixed blades is equal to the velocity of steam leaving the previously moving blades is given by:
where V0 is the inlet velocity of steam in the nozzle