MME 3154: Turbo Machines

1. Dimensional Analysis of Turbo Machines

1.1 Dimensional analysis of incompressible flow turbo machines (Hydraulic machines)

Q = Volume flow rate (m 3/s)

N = Rotational speed (RPM)
D = Diameter of the impeller (m)
H = Energy per unit mass (J/kg) = gh
h = Head (m)
g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s 2)
P = Power (W)
= Density (kg/m 3)

V = Flow velocity (m/s)

= Absolute viscosity of the fluid (kg/ms)

1.2 Dimensional analysis of compressible flow turbo machines

N = Rotational speed (RPM)

T01 = Stagnation temperature at inlet of turbomachine (K)

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

p01 = Stagnation pressure at inlet of turbomachine (K)

P = Power (W)
= Stagnation Density at inlet of turbomachine
(kg/m 3)

V = Flow velocity (m/s)

= Absolute viscosity of the fluid (kg/ms)

1.3 Affinity laws

1.3.1 Law of corresponding speed ratio

Q1 = Volume flow rate corresponding to a running

speed of N1
Q2 = Volume flow rate corresponding to a running
speed of N2
H1 = Energy per unit mass corresponding to a
running speed of N1
H2 = Energy per unit mass corresponding to a
running speed of N2
P1 = Power corresponding to a running speed of N1
P2 = Power corresponding to a running speed of N2

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1.3.2 Law of corresponding diameter ratio

Q1 = Volume flow rate of a turbomachine having

impeller diameter D1
Q2 = Volume flow rate of a geometrically similar
turbomachine having impeller diameter D2

H1 = Energy per unit mass of a turbomachine having

impeller diameter D1
H2 = Energy per unit mass of a geometrically similar
turbomachine having impeller diameter D2
P1 = Power of a turbomachine having impeller
diameter D1
P2 = Power of a geometrically similar turbomachine
having impeller diameter D2

1.4 Specific speed

Q = Volume flow rate (m 3/s)

N = Rotational speed (RPM)
h = Head (m)
Ns(pump)=Dimensional specific speed of a pump (SI
unit standard)

H = Energy per unit mass (J/kg) = gh

g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s 2)
ns(pump)=Non-dimensional specific speed of a pump
n = Rotational speed (rad/s)

P = Power (kW)
Ns(turbine)=Dimensional specific speed of a turbine (SI
unit standard)
P = Power (W)
= Density (kg/m 3)
ns(turbine)=Non-dimensional specific speed of a turbine

1.5 Unit quantities

Qu = Unit discharge
Q = Volume flow rate (m3/s)
h = Head (m)
Nu = Unit speed
N = Rotational speed (RPM)

Pu = Unit power
P = Power (kW)

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1.6 Efficiency

= Efficiency of pump
= Density (kg/m 3)
Q = Volume flow rate (m 3/s)
g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s 2)
hm = Manometric head (m)
Pin = Power input (W)
= Efficiency of turbine
Pout = Power output (W)
h = Head on turbine (m)

= Efficiency of model
For turbines: = Efficiency of prototype
D1 = Diameter of the model (m)
D2 = Diameter of the prototype (m)
n = Empirical constant
Re1 = Reynolds number of flow for the model
For pumps: Re2 = Reynolds number of flow for the prototype

2. Energy Transfer in Turbomachines

2.1 Euler turbine equation

For power generating turbomachines: Pout = Power output (W)

= Mass flow rate (kg/s)

=Rotor speed at inlet (m/s)

= Rotor speed at exit (m/s)

D1 = Inlet diameter (m)

D2 = Exit diameter (m)
N = Rotational speed (RPM)
C1u = Tangential component of fluid velocity at inlet (m/s)
C2u = Tangential component of fluid velocity at outlet (m/s)
For power absorbing turbomachines:
g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s 2)
C1 = Absolute velocity of fluid at inlet (m/s)
C2 = Absolute velocity of fluid at exit (m/s)
w1 = Relative velocity at inlet (m/s)
w2 = Relative velocity at exit (m/s)
Pin = Power input (W)

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2.2 Degree of reaction

R = Degree of reaction

2.3 General analysis of pumps and compressors

Head Discharge (H - Q) Characteristics of H = Energy per unit mass (J/kg) = gh

centrifugal pumps and compressors: = Exit blade angle (deg)
A2 = Impeller discharge area at its exit (m 2)
Q = Volume flow rate (m 3/s)
= Shut off head (J/kg)

= A combined parameter

Axial flow pumps and compressors: C1a = Axial component of absolute velocity of fluid at
inlet (m/s)
C2a = Axial component of absolute velocity of fluid at
exit (m/s)
= Flow angle at inlet with respect to axial
direction (deg)
= Flow angle at exit with respect to axial
direction (deg)
= Blade angle at inlet with respect to axial
direction (deg)
= Blade angle at exit with respect to axial
direction (deg)

2.4 General analysis of turbines

Utilization factor: = Energy output from turbine per unit mass

(J/kg)
Hav = Available energy per unit mass (J/kg) =
ghav
hav = Head available (m)
= Utilization factor
R = Degree of reaction

Relationship between degree of reaction and

utilization factor:

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3. Thermodynamics of Turbomachines
3.1 Stagnation properties:

T0 = Stagnation (Total) temperature (K)

T = Static temperature (K)
= Ratio of specific heats
M = Mach number of flow
h0 = Stagnation (Total) enthalpy (J/kg)
h = Static enthalpy (J/kg)
V = Velocity of flow (m/s)
p0 = Stagnation (Total) pressure (Pa)
p = Static pressure (Pa)
= Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kgK)

3.2 Thermodynamic efficiencies of an expansion process in a turbine:

= Total to total efficiency

T01 = Stagnation (Total) temperature at the inlet
of turbine (K)
T02 = Stagnation (Total) temperature at the exit
of turbine (K)
T02s = Stagnation (Total) temperature at the exit
of turbine for adiabatic (isentropic) process (K)
= Total to static efficiency
T2s = Static temperature at the exit of turbine for
adiabatic (isentropic) process (K)
= Static to static efficiency
T1 = Static temperature at the inlet of turbine (K)
= Static to total efficiency
= Polytropic efficiency
T1 = Static temperature at the inlet of turbine (K)
T2 = Static temperature at the exit of turbine (K)
p1 = Static pressure at the inlet of turbine (Pa)
p2 = Static pressure at the exit of turbine (Pa)

rp = Stage pressure ratio =

= Ratio of specific heats

= Stage efficiency
rpov = Overall pressure ratio = (rp)N
N = Number of stages
= Overall efficiency
n = Polytropic index

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 Relation between n and :

3.3 Thermodynamic efficiencies of a compression process in a compressor:

= Total to total efficiency

T01 = Stagnation (Total) temperature at the inlet of
compressor (K)
T02 = Stagnation (Total) temperature at the exit of
compressor (K)
T02s = Stagnation (Total) temperature at the exit of
compressor for adiabatic (isentropic) process (K)
= Total to static efficiency
T2s = Static temperature at the exit of compressor for
adiabatic (isentropic) process (K)
= Static to static efficiency
T1 = Static temperature at the inlet of compressor (K)
= Static to total efficiency
Polytropic efficiency
T1 = Static temperature at the inlet of compressor (K)
T2 = Static temperature at the exit of compressor (K)
p1 = Static pressure at the inlet of compressor (Pa)
p2 = Static pressure at the exit of compressor (Pa)

rp = Stage pressure ratio =

= Ratio of specific heats

s = Stage efficiency
rpov = Overall pressure ratio = (rp)N
N = Number of stages
= Overall efficiency
n = Polytropic index

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3.4 Relationship between stage and overall efficiencies

For turbine: RHF = Reheat factor

PHF = Preheat factor

For compressor:

4. Centrifugal Pumps, Fans, Blowers and Compressors

4.1 Centrifugal pump

Static head developed by the pump (J/kg)

=Impeller speed at inlet (m/s)

= Impeller speed at exit (m/s)

D2 = Impeller diameter at exit (m)

D1 = Impeller diameter at inlet (m)
N = Rotational speed (RPM)
C1m = Meridional component of absolute velocity at
inlet (m/s)
C2m = Meridional component of absolute velocity at
exit (m/s)
Blade angle at impeller exit with respect to
tangential direction (deg)
hm = Manometric head (m)
hs= Actual suction head of the pump and is the
distance between the water level to the centerline of
the pump (m)
hd= Actual delivery head of the pump and is the
distance between the centerline of the pump to the
delivery end (m)

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 hfs = The head loss due to friction in the suction pipe
(m).
hfd = The head loss due to the friction in the delivery
pipe (m).
vd = velocity of water in the delivery pipe (m/s)
g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s 2)
p2 = Delivery gauge reading (Pa)
p1 = Suction gauge reading (Pa)
Mechanical efficiency
= Density (kg/m 3)
Q = Volume flow rate (m 3/s)
C1u = Whirl component of fluid velocity at impeller
inlet (m/s)
C2u = Whirl component of fluid velocity at impeller
outlet (m/s)
NPSH = Pin = Power input (W)
Manometric efficiency
Overall efficiency
Volumetric efficiency
QL = Leakage flow rate (m3/s)
Nst = Minimum starting speed (RPM)
k = Blade compensation factor
B1: Impeller width at inlet (m)
B2: Impeller width at exit (m)
C1m = Meridional component of absolute velocity at
impeller inlet (m/s)
Slip factor
= Changed whirl component of fluid velocity at
impeller exit due to slip (m/s)
Z = Number of impeller blades

= Flow coefficient at impeller exit

NPSH = Net positive suction head (m)

patm = Atmospheric pressure (Pa)
vs = Velocity of water in suction pipe (m/s)
pvap = Vapor pressure (Pa)

4.2 Centrifugal fans, blowers and compressors

R = Degree of reaction
h2 = Static enthalpy at impeller exit (J/kg)
h1 = Static enthalpy at impeller inlet (J/kg)
h02 = Stagnation enthalpy at impeller exit (J/kg)
h01 = Stagnation enthalpy at impeller inlet (J/kg)
Blade loading factor
rpo = Stage stagnation pressure ratio
p02 = Stagnation pressure at impeller exit (Pa)
p01 = Stagnation pressure at impeller inlet (Pa)
= Ratio of specific heats

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 Polytropic efficiency

= Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kgK)

T01 = Stagnation temperature at impeller inlet (K)
w1 = Relative velocity at inlet (m/s)
d1 = Impeller diameter at inlet (m)
dh = Hub diameter (m)

5. Axial Flow Compressors

Static pressure rise across rotor (Pa)
= Density (kg/m 3)
Axial component of fluid velocity (m/s)

= Blade angle at inlet with respect to axial

direction (deg)
= Blade angle at exit with respect to axial
direction (deg)
Static pressure rise across stator (Pa)
C1 = Absolute velocity of fluid at rotor inlet (m/s)
C2 = Absolute velocity of fluid at rotor exit (m/s)
C3 = Absolute velocity of fluid leaving the stator
(m/s)
C1u = Whirl component of fluid velocity at rotor inlet
(m/s)
C2u = Whirl component of fluid velocity at rotor outlet
(m/s)
Total static pressure rise across the stage
(Pa)
=Rotor speed (m/s)
= Flow angle at inlet with respect to axial
direction (deg)
= Flow angle at exit with respect to axial
direction (deg)
= Ratio of specific heats
Polytropic efficiency

= Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kgK)

R = Degree of reaction

Flow coefficient =

Actual work in a stage (J/kg)

Work done factor
Blade loading factor

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6. Hydraulic Turbines
6.1 Pelton turbine

= Energy output from turbine per unit mass

(J/kg)
=Bucket speed (m/s)
Velocity of fluid exiting from nozzle (m/s)
= Exit blade angle (deg)
Utilization factor

Blade speed ratio

Maximum utilization factor

Actual turbine work (J/kg)
cb = Bucket surface loss coefficient
Hydraulic efficiency
d = Diameter of jet (m)
g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s 2)
Q = Volume flow rate (m 3/s)
cj = Jet loss coefficient
hav = Head available (m)
Dm = Mean diameter of the runner (m)
N = Runner speed (RPM)
Nsync = Synchronous speed of alternator (RPM)
f = Frequency of the AC current (Hz)
p = Number of poles
m = Jet ratio
z = Number of buckets

6.2 Francis turbine

Flow coefficient
Cm = Meridional component of absolute velocity
(m/s)
p2 = Static pressure at turbine exit (Pa)
C3 = Velocity of water at the exit of draft tube
(m/s)
hfdr = Frictional head loss in the draft tube (m)
hs = Distance between turbine exit and water
level in the tail race (m)
C2 = Absolute velocity of fluid at runner exit
(m/s)
C3 = Absolute velocity of fluid at draft tube exit
(m/s)
Draft tube efficiency

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6.3 Kaplan turbine

Flow coefficient
Blade speed ratio
D = Diameter of the impeller (m)
dh = Hub diameter (m)

7. Steam Turbines
7.1 Single stage impulse turbine

Actual velocity of fluid exiting from nozzle (m/s)

Efficiency of nozzle
h0 = Enthalpy at the inlet of nozzle (J/kg)
h1s = Isentropic enthalpy at the exit of the nozzle (J/kg)
h1 = Actual enthalpy at the exit of the nozzle (J/kg)
Rotor efficiency
=Rotor speed (m/s)
w1 = Relative velocity at inlet (m/s)
cb = Blade surface loss coefficient
= Exit blade angle (deg)
Velocity of fluid exiting from nozzle (m/s)

7.2 Two stage impulse turbine (Curtis stage)

Total work transfer in two stages (J/kg)

C1u = Whirl component of fluid velocity at rotor inlet (m/s)
Utilization factor

Blade speed ratio

= Flow angle at inlet (deg)

7.3 Reaction turbine (50 % reaction)

Maximum utilization factor

Velocity of fluid at rotor exit (m/s)

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