Study and Analysis of Stress and Strain on a Steam Turbine shaft due to Mechanical Loading– Review

Abstract

A steam turbine is a mechanical device that converts thermal energy in pressurized steam into useful mechanical work. The steam turbine derives much of its better thermodynamic efficiency because of the use of multiple stages in the expansion of the steam. Steam turbines are made in a variety of sizes ranging from small 0.75 kW units used as mechanical drives for pumps, compressors and other shaft driven equipment, to 150 MW turbines used to generate electricity. Steam turbines are widely used for marine applications for vessel propulsion systems. A typical turbine rotor is considered. The model of turbine rotor is prepared by using CAD software and analysis is done by using FEM software.

Along with the thermal stress the turbine rotor is also subjected to the mechanical load due to dynamic action of steam on the rotor and centrifugal load due to the rotation of turbine shaft. The mechanical load includes tangential and axial load.