The Curtis Turbine & The Parson Turbine

P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department

Options for Economically Viable

Speeds

Compounding of impulse turbine

Compounding is done to reduce the rotational speed of the
impulse turbine to practical limits.
Compounding is achieved by using more than one set of
nozzles, blades, rotors, in a series, keyed to a common shaft; so
that either the steam pressure or the jet velocity is absorbed by
the turbine in stages.
Three main types of compounded impulse turbines are:
a) Pressure compounded Steam Turbine : The Rateau Design
b) velocity compounded Steam Turbine : The Curtis Design
c) pressure and velocity compounded Impulse turbines : The
Rateau-curtis Design.

Multistage Impulse Turbine : GE Product

Pressure compounded impulse turbine

Impulse Turbines with pressure stages

Multistage turbines with pressure stages have found a wide field of

usage in industry as prime movers (~ 10 MW).
The number pressure stages vary from 4 to 5.
The distribution of enthalpy drop in a large number of pressure stages
enables the attainment of lower velocities for the steam flowing
through the system of moving blades.
As a result more advantageous values of blade speed ratio and blade
friction factor are obtained

Selection of Number of Stages

Impulse Turbines with pressure stages

Total enthalpy drop available for mechanical power
n

htotal hi

Va1,i Vo 2 hi

i 1

cos 2,i

U Va1,i cos 1,i U kb ,i

Pb ,i m

cos 1,i

cos 2,i
1
cos 1,i

d ,i 2i cos 1,i i kb ,i

cos 2,i
2i cos 1,i i kb ,i
1

cos 1,i
i 1

d
htotal

Variation of Diameter along a stages

Diameter
d

Stage 1

Stages

Stage Z

The Curtis Design

A System of Velocity Triangles for Curtis Turbine

Va2

Vr1

Va1

Vr2

2Va2

2
2

2
3

Va2

Vr2
U

Va1

1
3Vr2

Vr1

2
3

Va1

Vr1

The Curtis Impulse Turbine

Total enthalpy drop available for mechanical power

Va1,i Va 2,i 1 i 1

Va1,1 Vo 2 htotal

cos 2,i

U Va1,i cos 1,i U kb ,i

Pb ,i m

cos 1,i

d ,i 2i cos 1,i i kb ,i

2 cos
i 1

1,i

cos 2,i
1
cos 1,i

i kb ,i

htotal

cos 2,i
1
cos 1,i

Curtis Turbine With 2 Rotors

cos 2,1

Pb ,1 mU Va1,1 cos 1,1 U kb ,1

1
cos 1,1

cos 2, 2
Pb , 2 m U Va1, 2 cos 1, 2 U kb , 2
1

cos 1, 2

Total power with similar blading

cos 2

Pb ,t mU kb ,1
1 Va1,1 cos 1,1 U Va1, 2 cos 1, 2 U
cos 1

Va1, 2

Va1,1 cos 1,1 U

cos

sin 2

cos 1
2 ,1

U
1Va2

1
1

Vr2

Va1

Vr1

Efficiency of two rotor Curtis Turbine

curtis

cos 2
U kb ,1
m
1 Va1,1 cos 1,1 U Va1, 2 cos 1, 2 U
cos 1

Va2,1
m
2

curtis

U
cos 2
U Va1, 2
U
kb ,1
2
1 cos 1,1
cos 1, 2

Vai ,1
cos 1
V
V
V

ai ,1
ai ,1

a1,1

Va1, 2
Va1,1

U
cos

1,1

Va1,1

cos

sin 2

cos 1
2 ,1

Efficiency of two rotor Curtis Turbine

The most powerful steam turbine-generator in the

world at the time of it's construction:1903
Built in 1903, the 5,000-kilowatt
Curtis steam turbine-generator was
the most powerful in the world. It
stood just 25 feet high, much
shorter than the 60 feet
reciprocating engine-generator of a
similar capacity

Efficiency of Multi Rotor Curtis Turbine

For a three rotor Curtis Turbine:
curtis

U
cos 2
U Va1, 2
U Va1,3
U

2
kb ,1
1 cos 1,1
cos 1, 2
cos 1,3

Vai ,1
cos 1
V
V
V
V
V

ai ,1
a1,1
a1, 2
a1,1
a1, 2

Va1,3
Va1, 2

U
cos

1, 2

Va1, 2

cos 1

sin

cos 1
2, 2

For a n-rotor Curtis Turbine:

curtis

n 1 V

U
cos 2
U
U
a1,i 1
kb ,1
2
1 cos 1,1
cos 1,i 1

Vai ,1
cos 1
V
V
V
i 1
ai ,1
a1,i
a1,i

Va1,i 1
Va1,i

U
cos

1, 2

Va1,i 1

cos

sin 2
1
cos
2 ,i 1

The Curtis-Rateau Design

Compound Impulse-Reaction turbine

The shape of the blade improves considerably.
The blade sizes varyies at a uniform rate, thus
contributing to more economic designs.
As a result of enthalpy drop occurring in the moving
blades, there is a considerable amount of pressure is
exerted on the rotor.
This is transmitted to thrust bearing.
To void large axial thrust it is usual to allow:
Low degree of reaction in high pressure stages.
In large steam turbines (>300 MW), it is now usual to
allow 60 70% of degree of reaction in low pressure
stages.

Customization of DoR
Irreversible Flow Through A Stage
Steam
Thermal
Power

Steam
kinetic
Power
Nozzle Losses

Isentropic efficiency of
Nozzle

Blade
kinetic
Power

Stage Losses
Moving Blade
Losses

Blade Friction Factor

Losses in Nozzles
Losses of kinetic energy of steam while flowing through
nozzles or guide blade passages are caused because of
Energy losses of steam before entering the nozzles,
Frictional resistance of the nozzles walls,
Viscous friction between steam molecules,
Deflection of the flow,
Growth of boundary layer,
Turbulence in the Wake and
Losses at the roof and floor of the nozzles.
These losses are accounted by the velocity coefficient, .

Losses in Moving Blades

Losses in moving blades are caused due to various factors.
The total losses in moving blades are accounted for by the
load coefficient, .
These total losses are comprised of the following:
Losses due to trailing edge wake.
Impingement losses.
Losses due to leakage of steam through the annular space
between stator and the shrouding.
Friction losses.
Losses due to the turning of the steam jet in the blades
Losses due to shrouding.

Stage with General Value of Degree of Reaction

The static enthalpy drop in the moving blades

The drop in total enthalpy per stage

First law for fixed blades:

Va21 Va20
h0 h1
2

First law for relative flow through

moving blades:
Vr22 Vr21
h1 h2
2
Va21 Va20 Vr22 Vr21
h0 h2

2
2

Va21 Va20 Vr22 Vr21

h0 h2

2
2

True Available Enthalpy

h00 h20

Va20
Va22

h0
h2
2
2

h00 h20

Va21 Va20 Vr22 Vr21 Va20 Va22

2
2
2
2
h00 h20

Va21 Va22 Vr22 Vr21

2
2