The process of generating power depends on several energy-conversion processes, starting with the chemical energy in fossil fuels or the nuclear energy within the atom. This energy is converted to thermal energy, which is then transferred to the working fluid, in our case, steam. This thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy with the | CHAPTER 58 STEAM TURBINES William G. Steltz Turboflow International Inc. Orlando Florida HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 1765 Turbine Stage Designs Stage Performance 1782 THE HEAT ENGINE AND Characteristics 1784 ENERGY CONVERSION Low-Pressure Turbine PROCESSES 1767 Design Flow Field Solution 1788 SELECTED STEAM Techniques 1790 THERMODYNAMIC Field Test Verification PROPERTIES 1772 of Flow Field Design Blade-to-Blade Flow 1791 BLADE PATH DESIGN 1775 Analysis 1796 Thermal to Mechanical Blade Aerodynamic Energy Conversion 1776 Considerations 1796 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The process of generating power depends on several energy-conversion processes starting with the chemical energy in fossil fuels or the nuclear energy within the atom. This energy is converted to thermal energy which is then transferred to the working fluid in our case steam. This thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy with the help of a high-speed turbine rotor and a final conversion to electrical energy is made by means of an electrical generator in the electrical power-generation application. The presentation in this section focuses on the electrical power application but is also relevant to other applications such as ship propulsion. Throughout the world the power-generation industry relies primarily on the steam turbine for the production of electrical energy. In the United States approximately 77 of installed power-generating capacity is steam turbine-driven. Of the remaining 23 hydroelectric installations contribute 13 gas turbines account for 9 and the remaining 1 is split among geothermal diesel and solar power sources. In effect over 99 of electric power generated in the United States is developed by turbomachinery of one design or another with steam turbines carrying by far the greatest share of the burden. Steam turbines have had a long and eventful life since their initial practical development in the late 19th .
