TURBOMACHINES 17ME53

MODULE 01 UNIT 01
Prepared & Delivered by:
Vinayaka G.P
Asst.Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering & Technology
 SYLLABUS:

■ Definition of turbo machine, parts of turbo machines,

■ Comparison with positive displacement machines,
■ Classification.
■ Dimensionless parameters and their significance,
■ Effect of Reynolds number,
■ Unit and specific quantities,
■ Model studies.
 INTRODUCTION
■ Energy consumption of mankind has been steadily increasing.
■ Production of mechanical energy from the basic sources of energy, and consuming this
energy to run the devices to make life simpler require various systems.
■ These systems have different components with varied functions & complexities.
■ Some of these systems which involves interaction with the fluid to cause the energy
conversion are termed ‘Fluid Machines’.
■ Thus, Fluid machine is a “device which converts the energy stored by a fluid into
mechanical energy or vice versa” .
– Energy stored in the fluid exits in the form of Potential/Kinetic/Intermolecular
– Mechanical energy is transmitted by a rotating shaft
■ Fluid machines is a vast field and to correctly locate the ‘Turbomachines’ amongst the
fluid machines, classification of them is required.
Classification of Fluid Machines

Turbomachines Positive
Miscellaneous
(Rotodynamic Displacement
Devices
Machines) Machines (PDMs)

Energy from Fluid energy to

Fluid to Rotor mechanical Pump Devices
(Turbines) energy (Motors)

Energy from Mechanical

Rotor to the energy to fluid Brake Devices
fluid(Pumps) energy (Pumps)
Turbomachine
■ Turbomachine is a device in which energy exchange is accomplished by hydrodynamic forces
arising between a moving fluid and the rotating & stationary elements of the machine. – Daily.
■ A turbomachines is a device characterized by dynamic energy exchange between one or
several rotating elements and a rapidly moving fluid.- Wislicenus.
■ A turbomachine is a device that’s characterized by dynamic action between a fluid and one or
more rotating elements. – Binder.

Dynamic
Action Energy
Exchange

Fluid &
Rotating
Elements

Turbomachine
 What is a Turbomachine ?
■ A Turbomachine is a device in which energy transfer occurs between a flowing fluid and a
rotating element due to dynamic action resulting in change in pressure and momentum of
the fluid.
OBSERVATIONS:
i. It’s a machine that can be detailed with a sketch & imagined.
ii. It involves transfer of energy that is continuous.
iii. Energy transfer is between two entities (rotor with vanes and fluid).
iv. There is dynamic action
v. Fluid isn’t getting confined in a limited space
vi. Net result of the process is, change n the energy of the fluid in the form of variation in
pressure and or momentum.
Classification of Turbomachines
Basis of Classification Types Examples
Direction of Fluid Flow Radial Flow Machines Centrifugal Pump
Mixed Flow Francis Turbine
Axial Flow Kaplan Turbine
Tangential Flow Pelton Wheel

Types of Fluid being Hydraulic Turbines Pelton Wheel

handled Thermal Turbines Single & Multistage Turbines

Types of Dynamic Action Impulse Turbine Pelton Wheel

Reaction Turbine Kaplan Turbine

Direction of Energy Flow Energy from Fluid to Rotor Turbines

Energy from Rotor to Fluid Compressor
Pumps
Fan & Blower
Review Questions
■ What is a fluid machine ?
■ How are fluid machines classified ?
■ Define Turbomachine and classify them.
■ Examples for Radial Flow; Axial Flow; Mixed Flow and Tangential Flow
Turbomachines.
■ Difference between ‘Impulse’ and ‘ Reaction’ turbines.
 Positive Displacement Machines
■ Positive displacement machines are those which handle the fluid in confined spaces
■ It takes fresh charge at the beginning of each cycle and discharges at the end of cycle.
■ During energy transfer, fluid expansion or compression may occur without an
appreciable movement of the mass center of gravity of the fluid.
■ The action is static compared to the turbomachine where the action is fast, dynamic
and energy transfer occurs without the necessity of a confining boundary.
 Comparison of Turbomachine & a Positive
Displacement machine
Distinguishing Turbomachine Positive Displacement Machine
Features
Mechanism of energy Dynamic action and Continuous Energy transfer is by
transfer expansion/compression in confined
space with moving boundaries.
Features of Mechanical High rotational speeds and simple Low speed and complex mechanical
construction design Design
Light in weight Heavy weight
No valve to operate Employ valves for operation
Less costly High cost
Operating features Rotors are well balanced and because of Because of reciprocating parts, friction
purely rotating parts vibrations are and vibrations are more, speeds are
almost nil and hence fluid handling limited and fluid handling capacity is
capacity is high. less
Volumetric Efficiency High volumetric efficiency Low volumetric efficiency
Fluid Phase change & No Complexity in handling fluid phase Complexity increases to handle fluid
Surging change, Surging doesn’t exists phase change, Surging exists
Turbomachine- Applications
Field Name Turbine Pump or Compressor Application area

Aerospace Vehicle Gas Turbines Compressors, • Power and propulsion of aircrafts

application Pumps, Propellers • Helicopters, UAV, aircrafts Missiles
• Liquid rocket engines
Marine applications Gas Turbines Compressors, • Power and propulsion for submarines
and Steam Pumps, Propellers • Underwater vehicles
Turbines • Hydrofoil boats, Naval surface ships,
Hovercrafts
Land Vehicle Gas Turbines Centrifugal com- • high speed trains
application pressor and radial • Racing Cars
turbine • High load carrying trucks
Energy Harnessing Hydraulic & Compressors, Pumps • Hydro-electric plants
Steam • Gas turbine plants
Turbines
Miscellaneous - Pumps • Heart assist devices
• Automotive torque converters
• Hydraulic brakes
PARTS OF TURBOMACHINE
 PARTS OF TURBOMACHINE
■ ROTOR: it’s a generalized name of the rotating element of
the turbomachine, in case of work producing
turbomachines they are known as ‘RUNNER’ and in case
of work absorbing machines they are known as
‘IMPELLER’.
■ SHAFT: it’s a solid cylindrical member that is keyed to the
rotor or coupled to the generator/motor. Its subjected to
rotation and is coupled to a motor incase of power
absorbing turbomachines, and coupled to a generator in
case of power producing turbomachines.
■ STATOR: is a fixed entity, whose function is to guide the
fluid flow and control the fluid direction and facilitate the
energy conversion process.
■ HOUSING: its an enclosure whose function is to restrict
the fluid flow to a given space & prevent its escape in the
unwanted directions. A turbomachine with a housing is
‘Enclosed’ type and without a housing is ‘Extended’ type.
FLUID FLOW TYPES
■ Turbomachines are classified on the basis of fluid flow direction as
1. Axial Flow
2. Radial Flow
2.1 Radial Inward (Centripetal)
2.2 Radial Outward (Centrifugal)
3. Tangential Flow
4. Mixed Flow
■ AXIAL FLOW TURBOMACHINES: the fluid flows along the axis of the turbomachine. They
can accommodate large fluid flow rates and possess higher efficiency compared to radial
flow turbomachines. They are expensive as they difficult to manufacture.

Fig: Axial Flow Turbomachine

■ RADIAL FLOW TURBOMACHINES: the fluid flows radially.
– If the fluid enters the turbine at the outer periphery and flows outside subjecting the rotor
to a centripetal force, its called inward radial flow turbomachine.
– If the fluid enters the center of the rotor and flows outward subjecting the rotor to
centrifugal forces, then its called outward radial flow turbomachine.

Inward Radial Flow

Outward Radial Flow
■ TANGENTIAL FLOW: the fluid flows tangentially and is directed by a set of nozzles onto the
buckets that are milled on the outer periphery of the runner wheel.
■ MIXED FLOW TTURBOMACHINE: the fluid enters axially and exits radially or vice-versa.
Exercise Problem : Identify the flow types
 COMPRESSIBLE & INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
MACHINES
■ COMPRESSIBLE FLOW MACHINES: Pressure, temperature and density changes occurring
in fluids passing through the machines are appreciable.
■ Finite change in temperature of the working fluid is the typical characteristic of this class of
turbomachine, and hence also referred to as thermal turbomachines.
■ The design and operation of these machines are influenced by compressible flows, high
temperature & speed.
■ Examples: Steam Turbines, Propellers
■ IN-COMPRESSIBLE FLOW MACHINES: In these machines the fluid is incompressible giving
a constant volume flow rate for a give mass in steady operation.
■ Majority of such devices work in near ambient conditions and are comparatively low
speed& low temperature machines.
■ Turbomachines dealing with gases over a small pressure difference also are incompressible
flow machines. (Fans/Blowers/Windmills/Air-screws).
 InCompressible Flow Machine
Compressible Flow Machine
 SOME TYPICAL TURBOMACHINES
■ TURBINE:
– It’s a power generating turbomachine that reduces the head or energy level of the working
fluid passing through it.
– They are coupled to power absorbing machines such as generators/pumps/compressors.
– Based on the working fluid, they are classified as hydraulic/ steam /gas/ wind & solar
turbines.
■ PUMPS/COMPRESSSOR:
– they are the head or pressure producing machines that increase the pressure of the fluids
passing through them.
– They are driven by prime movers such as turbines and electric motors for supplying the
power required to increase the energy level of the fluid.
■ FANS & BLOWERS:
– A fan is a turbomachine that moves a mass of the air/gas/vapor at the desired velocity by the
action of its rotor.
– A blower is a fan that’s used to increase the pressure of the gas/air flowing through it.
SOME TYPICAL TURBOMACHINES
 STAGES IN TURBOMACHINES
■ Energy transfer in turbomachines is established by means of stages.
■ A turbomachinery stage comprises of a row of fixed blades/ guide vanes called stator blades
and a row of rotating blades called rotor blades.
■ A turbine stage comprises of ring of fixed nozzle blades followed by rotor blade ring. The
principal element in transfer of energy is rotors and a single rotor on its own may also form a
stage in the turbine.
■ A compressor or a blower stage consists of rotor followed by a diffuser blade ring, it might
have an ring of inlet guide vanes too.
 REVIEW QUESTIONS
■ Difference between Incompressible & Compressible Turbomachines
■ Why a Drag turbine is considered a positive displacement machine ?
■ Difference between a radial inward and outward flow turbomachines
■ Is Wankel engine (Rotary Engine) a Turbomachine ? Discuss.
■ Why radial gas turbines cannot be used for large power applications ?
 INTRODUCTION TO DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
■ Dimensional analysis in turbomachines identifies the variable involved and groups them into a
non-dimensional numbers/quantities.
■ These dimensionless quantities/numbers are varied in experimentation instead of the variables,
thereby reducing the cost and time of experimentation.
■ Dimensionless numbers gives an idea of the type of the machine and its range of operation.
■ The fundamental quantities (primary quantities) includes the Mass (M), Length (L), Time (T) and
Temperature (θ), these are called primary as all these are independent of each other and not
related to each other.
■ Quantities derived by these are called ‘Derived quantities’, examples include: viscosity, density,
conductivity, energy etc.
■ Any equation used in the analysis of turbomachines shall be dimensionally homogeneous, i.e. the
entities on the LHS and RHS shall have the same dimensions.
■ In the equation , F =m.a , Force (F) as the SI unit of Newtons(N) and the dimensional unit is MLT-2,
whereas the product of mass (m) and acceleration (a) as the SI units of kg and ms-2 respectively,
and their product as the SI Unit of kgms-2 and dimensional unit is MLT-2, thus the equation is said
to be dimensionally homogeneous.
Numericals on Dimensional Homogeneity

■ Check if the following equations are Dimensionally homogeneous:

1. Q = A.V (Q: Flow rate in m3s-1, A: area in m2 and V is the velocity in ms-1 )
32 𝜇𝑈𝐿
2. ∆p = (μ is Dynamic viscosity, U is the velocity, L is the length and
𝐷2
D is the diameter, ∆p is change in pressure).
3. Determine the Dimension of ‘C’ in Chezy’s equation V = C. 𝑅. 𝑆𝑏
(V: velocity, R is radius, Sb is dimensionless, C is resistance co-efficient).
Write the dimensions of the following variables

Symbol Variable SI unit

ω Angular Velocity Rads-1
μ Dynamic Viscosity Pa.s
h Enthalpy Joules
η Kinematic Viscosity m2s-1
Q Discharge m3s-1
σ Surface Tension ms-2
E Modulus of Elasticity Nm-2
 METHODS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
■ The Dimensional analysis can be executed by adopting the three methods of
1. Rayleigh Method
2. Buckingham’s Method
3. Bridgeman Method
1. RAYLEIGH METHOD
■ Rayleigh’s method is used when a maximum of three or four variables are involved.
■ Consider a variable ‘X’ that is dependent on the independent variables X1,X2, X3, X4
■ Then mathematically it can be expressed as X = f( X1,X2, X3, X4 )
■ To achieve the dimensional homogeneity, the dimensions of the powers on the LHS & RHS should be
the same. i.e.,
X = K( Xa1,Xb2, Xc3, Xd4 )
Where, K is a non dimensional constant and a,b,c & d are the powers of the respective variables X1,X2,
X3, X4.
■ The expression of the dependent variable ‘X’ is obtained by the comparison of the powers of the
fundamental dimensions on both side of the equation.
 NUMERICALS ON REYLEIGH METHOD

1. The resistance force ‘Fd’ of a falling sphere in the viscous liquid is dependent on its diameter
(D), fall velocity (V) and viscosity of the fluid (μ). Using the Rayleigh’s method obtain the
relation for Fd.
2. Find an expression for the drag force Fd on a moving body through a fluid which depends on
mass density of the fluid (ρ), viscosity of the fluid (μ) , body reference length (l) and body
velocity (v).
3. The critical depth yc in a triangular channel depends on the discharge ‘Q’ and acceleration
due to gravity ‘g’. Determine their relation using methods of dimension.
4. The time period (T) of a simple pendulum depends on the length of the pendulum (L) and
acceleration due to gravity (g). Obtain an expression for ‘T’ by Rayleigh’s method.
 2.BUCKINGHAM π-THEROEM METHOD
■ The π theorem states that , “ if there are ‘n’ variables (dependent
and independent) in a dimensionally homogeneous equation
containing ‘m’ fundamental dimensions, the greatest number of
non-dimensional groups or numbers (known as π terms) that can
be grouped is given by : π =n-m”.
■ Consider three dependent variables (y1,y2,y3) and five
independent variables (x1,x2,x3,x4,x5).
y1,y2,y3 = f (x1,x2,x3,x4,x5)

■ If three primary dimensions M, L & T are involved, then the π

theorem yields, 5 dimensionless groups.
π =n-m
π = (3+5)-3 = 5
Steps In Buckingham Π-theorem Method
■ Write the given data with the functional relationship
■ Write the equation in general form
■ Choose ‘m’ repeating variables and write expressions for π-terms
■ Repeating variables are written in exponential form
■ Using dimensional homogeneity, determine the values of the exponent terms
■ Substitute the values of these exponents in the π-terms and write the functional
relationship in the required form.
■ In selection of repeating variables, following points must be considered:
– No two variables shall have the same dimension
– It shouldn’t be a dimensionless parameter
– Try avoiding the selection of a dependent variable as a repeating variable.
 Numericals on Buckingham π-Theorem Method
1. Capillary rise ‘h’ depends on the density ‘ρ’, acceleration due to gravity ‘g’, surface tension ‘σ’, radius of
ℎ 𝜎
the tube ‘r’, Show by π-theorem that =( 2 )Φ.
𝑟 𝜌𝑔𝑟
2. The resistance force ‘R’ to the motion of a supersonic aircraft of length ‘l’, moving with a velocity of ‘V’
in a air of density ‘ρ’ depends on viscosity ‘μ’, bulk modulus ‘K’. Use the π-theorem and obtain an
𝜇 𝐾
expression for ‘R’ as 𝑅 = 𝜌𝐿2 𝑉 2 2
𝜌𝐿𝑉 𝜌𝑉

3. Prove that the frictional Torque ‘T’ of a disc of diameter ‘D’ rotating at a speed ‘N’ in a fluid of viscosity
𝜇
‘μ’ and density ‘ρ’ in a turbulent flow is given by: 𝑇 = (𝐷2 𝑁 2 𝜌) 𝜙 𝐷2 𝑁𝜌 .

4. The force ‘P’ of a lubricating oil ring depends on the inner diameter of the ring ‘D’, shaft speed ‘N’, oil
discharge ‘Q’, density ‘ρ’, viscosity ‘μ’, surface tension ‘σ’ and specific weight ‘w’ of the fluid. Find a
functional relationship in terms of dimensionless parameters using π-theorem.
 Analysis of Incompressible Flow Machines
■ The dependent variable in the incompressible flow
turbomachines are the Head (gH), Power (P) and
efficiency (η). These are the functions of the variables:
1. Rotor speed(N)
2. Rotor diameter (D)
3. Discharge (Q)
4. Fluid density (ρ)
5. Fluid Viscosity (μ)
𝑠 ℎ
6. Length ratios ( , ) (where ‘h’ is the blade height, ‘s’
𝑙 𝑙
is the blade pitch, ‘l’ is the blade length )
𝑠 ℎ
Thus, we have : gH, P, η = f(N,D, , ,Q, ρ, μ)
𝑙 𝑙

Since the non-dimensional parameters aren’t considered in

𝑠 ℎ
application of π-theorem, the parameters η, , are ignored.
𝑙 𝑙