What is a reaction turbine and how it works?

No one can deny the pivotal role of turbines in the field of power generation that drive the world all over. We can’t think of a developed world without the adequate availability of power. It is the electricity which is behind everything today from lighting up homes to product manufacturing. If you remove electricity from our lives, there will no motion left. And it is the magic of turbines that generates power. There are different types of turbines available and reaction turbine is one of them. Let’s understand more about this type of turbine.

A reaction turbine is typically a kind of steam turbine that works on the principle that the rotor spins, as the name suggests, through a reaction force rather than an influence or impulse force. The big difference is that this turbine contains no nozzles to forward the steam like in the impulse turbine. Instead, the rotor blades that direct radially from the exterior edge are designed and mounted in such a way so that the shape between the blades, formed by the cross-section, creates the shape of a nozzle. These blades are attached to the moving part of the rotor and are known as the moving blades.

The immovable blades, which are of the same shape as of revolving blades, are mounted to the outer covering where the rotor revolves and are meant to direct the steam into the moving blades.  You will get a clear idea through the below diagram.

(1)    This is where the steam enters through a section of curved blades in a stable position
(2)    The steam then enters the set of moving blades and generates required force to move them,
(3)    The steam leaves the sec of revolving blades
(4)    It refers to the direction of rotation

Primarily, there are three major forces that work to drive a reaction turbine. The first is the reactive force that is generated on the moving blades as it expands and upsurges in speed as it moves through the nozzle shaped spaces between the blades.  Second, the force from the reactive force formed due to the motion of blades as the steam passes through and changes directions.  The last and the least effective force from the impact force of the steam on the blades that assists in the rotation of the reaction turbine.

These types of turbines are largely used in hydroelectric power and in situations where the water has a medium to low head, and a moderately high flow rate. A reaction turbine manufacturer keeps several points into consideration while providing turbines to a power generation facility. As there are differences in each type of turbine, there is no point in contacting back pressure turbine manufacturers as only a reaction turbine manufacturer can meet your project needs.

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