Electrical method to increase power output by improving condensation and flow of steam within the turbine neck and condenser of a steam turbine

Conference · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:389919

Tarelin, A O; Skliarov, V P; Serhienko, Y I ^[1]; Weres, O ^[2]

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1. Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kharkiv (Ukraine). Inst. for Problems of Machinery
2. Sonoma Research Co., Napa, CA (United States)

The power output and energy conversion efficiency of a steam turbine depend upon the turbine backpressure, and backpressure is in turn strongly affected by pressure losses in the turbine neck. The gas phase of the wet steam flowing out of the turbine is supercooled and continues to condense on water drops present in the steam. Practically the entire liquid content of the turbine exhaust consists of relatively few large drops whose radius can exceed 0.001 cm (40 microinches). The surface area available for condensation is thereby small, and the internal condensation process does not reach equilibrium. Therefore, the pressure within the turbine neck is larger than it would be if equilibrium were reached, and the power output of the turbine is decreased. Drops of water in the turbine exhaust are electrically charged. When exposed to a strong electric field produced by suitably disposed electrodes, the charged water drops disintegrate into numerous small droplets, which serve as nuclei for internal condensation. Supersaturation of the steam is decreased, thereby decreasing the amount of water in the vapor phase, the condenser pressure, and the turbine backpressure. Electrostatic forces acting upon the charged droplets decrease turbulence in the wet steam flow, allowing battery recovery of kinetic energy in the turbine neck, and thereby further decreasing backpressure. The result is an increase in energy conversion efficiency and power output at constant fuel rate. This paper is condensed from a longer report, which summarizes detailed information about the technology that is presented in a US Patent Application.

• OSTI ID: 389919
• Report Number(s): CONF-960426--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AUGMENTATION
CAPACITY
STEAM CONDENSERS
STEAM TURBINES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS