STEAM NOZZLES

Definition
• A steam nozzle is a passage of varying cross section, which converts heat
energy of steam into kinetic energy.

• The main use of a steam nozzle is in steam turbine, which produces a jet of
steam with high velocity.

• The smallest section of the nozzle is called throat. It may be noted that the
steam enters the nozzle with a high pressure and negligible velocity. But
leaves the nozzle with a high velocity and small pressure. The pressure, at
which the steam leaves the nozzle is known as back pressure.
Applications of Nozzle
Types of Nozzles
Nozzle Efficiency
Effect of Friction in Nozzle
Exit Velocity from a Nozzle
Exit Velocity from a Nozzle
 Steam Nozzles -Problems

1. Steam enters a nozzle at 1.4 MPa and 250 ⁰C with negligible velocity and expands
to 150 kPa with a dryness fraction of 0.97, determine the exit velocity of the nozzle.
Solution:
• Initial Pressure, P1 = 1.4MPa = 14 bar
• Initial Temperature, T1 = 250⁰C
• Final Pressure, P2 = 150 kPa = 1.50 bar
• Dryness fraction of steam at exit, x = 0.97
• Initial Velocity, V1 = 0
• From steam tables,
At 14 bar & 250⁰C, h1=2927.2 kJ/kg
At 1.50 bar, hf=467.11 kJ/kg, hfg=2226.5 kJ/kg
Enthalpy of steam at exit
h2 = h1+x.hfg
= 467.11 +(0.97x2226.5)
= 2626.81kJ/kg

Exit velocity of steam from the Nozzle,

V2 = √2x1000xηNx(h1-h2)+V12
= √2x1000x1x(2927.2-2626.81)+02
V2 = 775 m/s
 Steam Nozzle – Problem
2. Dry saturated steam at 10 bar pressure expands isentropically in a
nozzle to 1 bar. The mass-flow rate of steam is 0.10 kg/s. Determine
(i) Quality of steam at exit (ii) Exit velocity of steam and (iii) Exit
area of the nozzle
Solution • From steam tables
• Initial pressure of steam, P1= 10 bar
at 1 bar pressure,
• Initial condition of steam = Dry saturated
hf =417.5 kJ/kg,
• Final pressure of steam, P2= 1 bar
hfg=2257.9 kJ/kg,
• From steam tables at 10 bar pressure, sf=1.303 kJ/kgK,
h1=hg=2776.2 kJ/kg, sfg=6.057 kJ/kgK,
s1=sg=6.583 kJ/kgK vg=1.6938 m3/kg
 Steam Table - Problem
• The expansion of steam through the nozzle is isentropic,
therefore the entropy of steam remains constant throughout
the nozzle.
S1=S2
• Assume the condition of steam leaving the nozzle is wet
steam.
S1=S2
= Swet
6.583 = 1.303+x6.057
Therefore, the dryness fraction of steam at exit, x=0.871,
since x is less than 1, the condition of steam leaving the
nozzle is wet (confirmed).
The enthalpy of steam at the exit of nozzle,
h2=hwet=hf+xhfg = 417.5+(0.871x2257.9)
= 2384.1 kJ/kg
Therefore, the velocity of steam leaving the nozzle,
V2 = √2x1000xηN x(h1-h2)
= √2x1000x1x(2776.2-2384.1)
V2 = 885.5 m/s
Mass flow-rate of steam, m = A2V2/v2
Exit area of the nozzle, A2 = mv2/V2 = 0.10x1.6938/885.5
= 0.0001912 m2 or
A2 = 1.912 x 10-4 m2
Convergent-Divergent Nozzle
Maximum discharge through a Nozzle
Maximum discharge through the Nozzle
 Critical Pressure ratio

The mass flow-rate of steam through a convergent-divergent nozzle is

maximum at the throat where the cross section A 2 is minimum. The value of
pressure ratio P2/P1 at the throat is called the Critical pressure ratio.
P2/P1 = Throat Pressure/Inlet Pressure = (2/n+1) n/n-1

Values of Critical pressure ratio

(i) If the steam at the nozzle inlet is Dry saturated, P 2/P1=0.577
(ii) If the steam at the nozzle inlet is Superheated, P 2/P1=0.545
(iii) If the steam at the nozzle inlet is Wet, P 2/P1=0.582
(iv) For Air or Gases, P2/P1=0.528
Significance of Critical Pressure ratio
It is the pressure ratio which gives maximum discharge through the nozzle.
 Convergent-Divergent Nozzle - Problem
1. In a convergent-divergent nozzle, the steam enters at 15 bar
and 300⁰C and leaves at 2 bar. The inlet velocity to the nozzle is
50m/s. Find the required throat and exit areas for a mass flow
rate of 1 kg/s. Assuming 10% frictional loss in the divergent
part of the nozzle only.
Solution
Inlet conditions: P1=15bar, T1=300C
Exit conditions: P3 = 2 bar
Critical Pressure ratio, P2/P1 = 0.546 (for superheated steam at inlet)
Throat Pressure, P2 = 0.546xP1 = 0.546x15 = 8.19 bar
From Mollier diagram,
h1=3020 kJ/kg, h2=2900 kJ/kg, v2 = 0.3 m3/kg, h3=2640 kJ/kg
 Velocity of steam at throat, V2 = √2x1000xηNx(h1-h2)+V12
= √2x1000x1x(3020-2900)+1502
V2= 512.3 m/s
Throat Area, A2 = mv2/V2 = 1x0.3/512.3 = 0.000585 m2 or 585 mm2

Velocity of steam at exit of the nozzle,

V3 = √2x1000xηN x(h1-h3)+V12
= √2x1000x0.9x(3020-2640)+1502
V3 = 840.5 m/s
Mass flow-rate of steam, m = A3V3/v3
Exit area of the nozzle, A3 = mv3/V3
= 1x0.85/840.5
= 0.00101 m2 or
A3 = 1.01 x 10-3 m2
2. Steam at a pressure of 10 bar and 0.95 dry expands in a
convergent-divergent nozzle. The back pressure of the
nozzle is 0.85 bar. The throat area of the nozzle is 2.4 cm2.
Find the maximum discharge and the required exit area.
Assume the index of expansion as 1.35 throughout.
Solution
Maximum discharge through the nozzle,
mmax = A2√2n/n+1xP1/v1x(2/n+1)2/n-1
=
2.4√(2x1.35/1.35+1)x(10x105/0.95x0.19430)x(2/1.35+1)2/1.35-1

= 0.377 kg/s
Critical Pressure ratio, P2/P1 = 0.582 (for wet steam at inlet)
Throat Pressure, P2 = 0.582xP1 = 0.582x10 = 5.8 bar
From Mollier diagram,
h1=2680 kJ/kg, h2=2590 kJ/kg, v2 = 0.28 m3/kg, h3=2280
kJ/kg, v3=1.75m3/kg

Velocity of steam at throat, V 2 = √2x1000xηNx(h1-h2)+V12

= √2x1000x1x(2680-2590)+0
V2= 424 m/s
Throat Area, A2 = mv2/V2 = 0.377x0.28/424
= 0.000248 m2 or 248 mm2
Velocity of steam at exit of the nozzle,
V3 = √2x1000xηN x(h1-h3)+V12
= √2x1000x1x(2680-2280)+0
V2 = 894 m/s
Mass flow-rate of steam, m = A3V3/v3
Exit area of the nozzle, A3 = mv3/V3
= 0.377x1.75/894
= 0.000737 m2 or
A3 = 0.737 x 10-4 m2
Super-saturated flow in a Steam Nozzle
 Effect of Super-saturated flow

• The temperature at which the steam becomes supersaturated will be

less than the saturated temperature corresponding to that pressure.
Therefore supersaturated steam will have high density than that of
equilibrium condition which results in the increase in the mass of steam
discharged.
• Specific volume of the steam is increased due to super saturation.
• Entropy of the steam is increased
• Super saturation reduces the heat drop. Thus the exit velocity of the
steam is reduced.
• Supersaturation increases the dryness fraction of the steam
 Steam Turbines

• A steam turbine is a device that extracts thermal energy from

pressurized steam and uses it to do mechanical work on a rotating
output shaft.

• A steam turbine is a prime mover in which the potential energy

of the steam is transformed into kinetic energy and later converted
into mechanical energy of rotation of turbine shaft.
Steam Turbines
 Classification of Steam Turbines

• According to the action of steam:

• Impulse turbine: In impulse turbine, steam coming out
through a fixed nozzle at a very high velocity strikes the
blades fixed on the periphery of a rotor. The blades change
the direction of steam flow without changing its pressure. The
force due to change of momentum causes the rotation of the
turbine shaft. Ex: De-Laval, Curtis and Rateau Turbines.
• Reaction turbine: In reaction turbine, steam expands both
in fixed and moving blades continuously as the steam passes
over them. The pressure drop occurs continuously over both
moving and fixed blades.
• Combination of impulse and reaction turbine
According to the number of pressure stages:

• Single stage turbines: These turbines are mostly used for

driving centrifugal compressors, blowers and other similar
machinery.
• Multistage Impulse and Reaction turbines: They are made
in a wide range of power capacities varying from small to large.
• According to the type of steam flow:

Axial turbines:

In these turbines, steam flows in a direction parallel to the axis of

the turbine rotor.

Radial turbines:

In these turbines, steam flows in a direction perpendicular to the

axis of the turbine, one or more low pressure stages are made axial.
According to the method of governing:

Turbines with throttle governing:

In these turbines, fresh steam enter through one or

more (depending on the power developed) simultaneously operated
throttle valves.

Turbines with nozzle governing:

In these turbines, fresh steam enters through one or

more consecutively opening regulators.
Steam Turbine - Types
Impulse Vs Reaction Turbines
Compounding of Steam Turbines
Types of Compounding
Velocity Compounding
Velocity Compounding – Merits and Demerits
Pressure Compounding
Pressure-Velocity Compounding
Pressure-Velocity Compounding
Steam Turbines – Governing Methods
Throttle Governing
Nozzle Control Governing
Steam Turbine – Velocity Triangle
Impulse Turbines-Velocity Diagram
Velocity Triangle
 Purpose of Velocity Triangle
• The three velocity vectors namely, blade speed, absolute velocity
and relative velocity in relation to the rotor are used to form a
triangle called Velocity Triangle.
• Velocity triangles are used to illustrate the flow of steam in the
blades of turbine rotor.
• Changes in the flow direction and velocity are easily understood
with the help of velocity triangles
• The various forces (axial and tangential) acting on the turbine
rotors can be calculated and based on which the turbine rotor can
be balanced
• The work done by the turbine, turbine efficiency can be calculated
with the help of velocity triangles
Performance of Steam Turbines using Velocity Diagrams

Work done by the Turbine, W = VbVw/1000 kJ/s

Power developed by the Turbine = mVbVw/1000
kW
Blade Efficiency, ηb = work done on the blade/Energy
supplied to the blade

= mVbVw /1/2mVi2
= 2VbVw / Vi2 x100
Stage Efficiency, ηst = work done on the blade/Energy
supplied per stage

= VbVw /Δh x 100

= blade efficiency x
nozzle efficiency
Losses in Steam
Turbines
• Residual velocity loss
• Loss due to steam leakage
• Loss due to mechanical friction
• Loss in regulating valves
• Loss due to wetness of steam
• Radiation loss
Reaction Turbines
• A turbine in which steam pressure decreases
gradually while expanding through the moving
blades as well as the fixed blades is known as
reaction turbine.
• It consists of a large number of stages, each
stage consisting of set of fixed and moving
blades. The heat drop takes place throughout in
both fixed and moving blades. No nozzles are
provided in a reaction turbine. The fixed blades
act both as nozzles in which velocity of steam
increased and direct the steam to enter the ring
of moving blades.
• The fixed blades are attached to the casing
whereas moving blades are fixed with the rotor.
• It is also called Parson’s reaction turbine.
Degree of Reaction
• Degree of Reaction is defined as the
ratio between enthalpy drop in
moving blades and enthalpy drop in
stage.
Degree of Reaction, R = ΔhMB/
ΔhMB + ΔhFB

For simple impulse turbine, R=0

For pure reaction turbine, R=1
For Parson’s reaction turbine, R=0.5