reaction turbine
Definition
Noun: A reaction turbine is a type of turbine where torque, or rotational force, is generated primarily by the reaction of a fluid (like steam or water) as its pressure drops. The blades are shaped like airfoils, and as the fluid flows over them, it accelerates and loses pressure, pushing the blades forward. This contrasts with an "impulse turbine," where the force comes from the direct impact of a high-speed jet of fluid.
Usage
The term is used in engineering, particularly in power generation and fluid mechanics, to describe a specific turbine design principle. - The power plant uses a modern reaction turbine for its steam cycle. - In a reaction turbine, the pressure drop occurs gradually across both the stationary and moving blades.
Advanced Usage
- Degree of Reaction: This is a key parameter for reaction turbines, describing the proportion of total energy conversion that occurs due to the pressure drop in the rotor (moving blades) versus the stator (stationary blades or nozzles). A pure reaction turbine has a degree of reaction of 1 (or 100%).
Variants and Related Words
- Turbine (n): A general machine for converting the energy of a moving fluid into rotational mechanical energy.
- Impulse Turbine (n): A turbine where the fluid's pressure drop occurs entirely in stationary nozzles, and the rotor is driven by the impulse of high-velocity jets.
- Francis Turbine (n): A common type of reaction turbine used in hydroelectric power generation.
- Steam Turbine (n): A turbine driven by steam, which can be designed on either impulse or reaction principles.
Synonyms
- Pressure-drop turbine: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the key operating principle.
Related Phrases
- Reaction staging: The arrangement of multiple rows of blades (both stationary and moving) in a reaction turbine to efficiently extract energy from the fluid as its pressure decreases in steps.
Noun
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a turbine with blades arranged to develop torque from gradual decrease of steam pressure from inlet to exhaust
