Radial Flow Turbine Generator

A lot of turbine types in the world, one of turbine types is classified according to fluid flow like radial flow turbine generator. Radial flow turbine generator is the turbine which has direction of fluid flow perpendicular to axis of turbine shaft. In the radial flow turbine generator, expansion fluid from initial pressure to the last pressure occurs in all of rotating blades.

Radial flow turbine is generally used for small flow rate. The advantageous of radial flow turbine generator are radial flow turbine is cheaper and simpler for manufacturing than axial flow turbine generator. For example are small gas turbine installations in the field of automotive and fire pump that can be removable. Figure 1 below shows the characteristic of radial flow turbine generator.

Figure 1: Characteristic of Radial Flow Turbine generator

Axial Flow Turbine Generator

Turbine generator has some types of turbines, one of them is type turbine based on fluid flow such as axial flow turbine generator. Axial flow turbine generator is the turbine which has direction of fluid flow parallel to axis of turbine shaft. Axial flow turbine is generally used for large capacity and power because it has more advantageous than radial flow turbine generator as follows:

1. Axial flow turbine has better efficiency than radial flow turbine.
2. Comparison of pressure (rp) can be made higher.
3. Construction of axial flow turbine generator is lighter and does not require large room.

Figure 1: Axial Flow Turbine Generator
(Source: Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook - Meherwan P. Boyce)

Axial flow turbine can be classified based on energy conversion system as follow:

1. Axial reaction turbine

Axial reaction turbine is axial turbine which has expansion process not only occur in motion blade but also expanded evenly so decrease in heat content is distributed evenly on all level.

2. Axial action (impulse) turbine

Axial action (impulse) turbine is axial turbine which has expansion process occur only in stationary blade and velocity energy is converted into mechanism energy in turbine blades without occurrence of expansion in motion blade.

Types of Turbines

There are some types of turbines in the world. Types of turbines can be classified as follow:

1. Type turbine based on working cycle:

1.      Open cycle turbine generator

2.      Closed cycle turbine generator

3.      Combined cycle turbine generator

2. Type turbine based on construction

1.      Single shaft turbine generator

2.      Multi shaft turbine generator

3. Type turbine based on fluid flow

1.      Axial flow turbine generator

2.      Radial flow turbine generator

4. Type turbine based on working fluid

1.      Gas turbine generator

2.      Steam turbine generator

3.      Water turbine generator

5. Type turbine based on pressure

1.      Low pressure turbine generator

2.      Middle pressure turbine generator

3.      High pressure turbine generator

4.      Very high pressure turbine generator

5.      Supercritical pressure turbine generator

6. Type turbine based on amount of cylinder:

1.      Single cylinder turbine generator

2.      Double cylinder turbine generator

3.      Triple cylinder turbine generator

4.      Multi cylinder turbine generator

7. Type turbine based on amount level of pressure:

1.      Single level pressure or some levels speed turbine generator.

2.      Impulse and many levels turbine generator

8. Type turbine based on method of setting:

1.      Turbine generator with throttling setting method

2.      Turbine generator nozzle setting method

3.      Turbine generator with by-pass governing method

9. Type turbine based on use:

1.      Turbine generator with constant / stationer rotation which is used to drive alternator.

2.      Turbine generator with flexible and has variable of speed to drive turbo power, pump, etc.

3.      Turbine generator non stationery which is used to steam machine, ship and locomotive.