Introduction to Power Plant Engineering

CHAPTER 11

Steam Turbines

11.1 Introduction

The steam turbine, in a very crude form, have been used many centuries ago. However, large scale development work on it has taken place only during the last eighty years. To-day it stands as the most important prime mover in existence. Steam turbines were first employed in power plants early in the twentieth century. They can handle a much larger steam flow, much larger pressure and temperature ratios, and a much larger rotational speed than can reciprocating piston engines. Today virtually all steam power plants in the world employ steam turbines. By definition, a steam turbine may be defined [6] as a form of heat engine in which the heat energy of the steam is transformed into kinetic energy by means ...