In one stage of an impulse turbine the velocity of steam at the exit from the nozzle is 460 m/s, the nozzle angle is 22° and the blade angle is 33°. Find the blade speed so that the steam shall pass on without shock. Also find the stage efficiency and end thrust on the shaft, assuming velocity coefficient = 0.75, and blades are symmetrical.
From triangle ABC (Fig. 6.25):
C_{w1} = C_1 cos 22° = 460 cos 22° = 426.5 m/s
and:
C_{a1} = C_1 sin 22° = 460 sin 22° = 172.32 m/s
Now, from triangle BCD:
BD = \frac{C_{a1}} {\tan (33°)} = \frac{172.32} {0.649} = 265.5
Hence, blade speed is given by:
U = C_{w1} – BD = 426.5 – 265.5 = 161 m/s
From Triangle BCD, relative velocity at blade inlet is given by:
V_1 = \frac{C_{a1}} {\sin (33°)} = \frac{172.32} {0.545} = 316.2 m/s
Velocity coefficient:
k = \frac{V_2} {V_1}, \text{or} V_2 = kV_1 = (0.75) × (316.2) = 237.2 m/s
From Triangle BEF,
BF = V_2 cos (33°) = 237.2 × cos (33°) = 198.9
and
C_{w2} = AF = BF – U = 198.9 – 161 = 37.9 m/s
C_{a2} = V_2 sin (33°) = 237.2 sin (33°) = 129.2 m/s
The change in velocity of whirl:
ΔC_w = C_{w1} + C_{w2} = 426.5 + 37.9 = 464.4 m/s
Diagram efficiency:
η_d = \frac{2UΔC_w} {C^2_1} = \frac{(2) × (464.4) × (161)} {460^2} = 0.7067, or 70.67%.
End thrust on the shaft per unit mass flow:
C_{a1} – C_{a2} = 172.32 – 129.2 = 43.12 N