Steam turbine
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I would like to ask the experts here: in our production process, we have an acrylic refrigeration compressor that uses 40 kilograms of steam as the supply steam, with a back pressure of 15 kilograms of steam. When the supply pressure is below 38 kilograms, the steam consumption increases suddenly by about 10 tons. What’s going on here?
For every 1 kilogram decrease in steam pressure, consumption increases by 10%.
Steam is used to generate power in turbines, and both the temperature and pressure of the steam affect the efficiency of the turbine… The set speed of the turbine unit is fixed; in order to reach this speed, the throttle valves are opened wider to increase the amount of steam entering the turbine, all with the aim of achieving the desired speed!
Is there anyone who knows what the principle behind this is?
Normally, our steam output is around 39 kilograms, and the flow rate doesn’t change significantly with pressure. However, when the pressure drops below 38 kilograms, the steam consumption increases suddenly; it seems that 38 kilograms is a critical point. What is the reason for this?
In production, there are slight fluctuations in steam pressure, flow rate, and rotational speed. When the pressure drops below 38 kilograms, the rotational speed decreases significantly while the flow rate increases noticeably. What is the reason for this? Is there a principle related to a critical point in the work done by the turbine?
This is because your crew did not fully take into account conditions at pressures below the design pressure during the design phase! It can be driven too! It just uses a bit more steam!
Since the energy remains constant and the temperature stays the same, a decrease in pressure results in a decrease in the energy of steam of the same mass. As the work that needs to be done remains constant, more steam will be consumed!