Design Characteristics of Radial Turbines — Lesson 3

This lesson covers the design and characteristics of radial flow turbines. It delves into the issues related to the overall characteristics of radial flow turbines and the process of designing them. The lesson explains that radial flow turbines are robust machines with a few limitations. It discusses the difference between radial flow turbines and axial flow turbines, and the reasons why radial flow turbines are often preferred. The lesson also covers the characteristic features of radial inflow turbines and the primary design considerations. It further explains the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for fine-tuning the design of these turbines. For instance, the lesson uses the example of a micro gas turbine to illustrate the application of radial flow turbines in real-world scenarios.

Video Highlights

03:07 - Explanation of the design considerations for a radial inflow turbine.
09:01 - Analysis of the relationship between the efficiency and speed of a radial inflow turbine.
22:35 - Explanation of the impact of the number of vanes in an impeller on the efficiency of a radial turbine.
44:50 - Presentation of a special case of a micro gas turbine using radial inflow turbine.

Key Takeaways

- Radial flow turbines are robust machines with certain limitations. They are often preferred over axial flow turbines due to their ability to produce more work per unit mass flow.
- The design of radial flow turbines involves considering various factors such as flow parameters, geometrical parameters, and the number of vanes in the impeller.
- The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can help in fine-tuning the design of radial flow turbines.
- The lesson provides an example of a micro gas turbine to illustrate the application of radial flow turbines in real-world scenarios.
- The lesson also discusses the potential future use of cooling technology in radial flow turbines to increase their work capability.