Fluid Machines

• A fluid machine is a device which converts the energy

stored by a fluid into mechanical energy or vice versa .

• The energy stored by a fluid mass appears in the form

of potential, kinetic and intermolecular energy.
• Turbomachines
• Positive Displacement Machines

• In positive-displacement machines, fluid is directed into a

closed volume. Energy transfer to the fluid is accomplished
by movement of the boundary of the closed volume

• In dynamic machines or turbomachines, there is no closed

volume, rotating blades supply or extract energy to or
from the fluid.
Turbomachines and its Principal Components
• A turbomachine is a device in which energy transfer
takes place between a flowing fluid and a rotating
element due to the dynamic action, and results in the
change of pressure and momentum of the fluid.
The following are the principal components of turbomachine: (i) Rotor, (ii) Stator
and (iii) Shaft.

 Rotor is a rotating element carrying the rotor blades or vanes.

 Different names runner, impellers etc.
 Energy transfer occurs between the flowing fluid and the rotating element
due to the momentum exchange between the two.

 Stator is a stationary element carrying the guide vanes or stator blades.

 It is also named as guide blades or nozzle
 These blades usually control the direction of fluid flow during the energy
conversion process.

 Shaft is transmitting power into or out of the machine depending upon the
particular machine. For power generating machines, it may call as output
shaft and for power absorbing machines; it may called as input shaft.
 Modes Positive-displacement Machine Turbomachine

(a) It creates thermodynamic and (a) It creates thermodynamic

mechanical action between a nearly static and dynamic interaction
fluid and a relatively slowly moving between a flowing fluid and
surface. rotating element.
Action (b) It involves a change in volume or a (b) It involves change in pressure
displacement of fluid. and momentum of the fluid.
(c) There is a positive confinement of the (c) There is no positive
fluid in the system. confinement of the fluid at any
point in the system.
(a) It involves a reciprocating motion of the (a) It involves a purely rotary
mechanical element and unsteady flow of motion of mechanical element
the fluid. and steady flow of the fluid.

(b) Entrapped fluid state is different from the (b) The fluid state will be the
Operation
surroundings when the machine is stopped, same as that of the
if heat transfer and leakages are avoided. surroundings when the machine
is stopped.
 (a) Because of the reciprocating masses, (a) Rotating masses can be
vibrations are more. Hence low speeds are completely balanced and
adopted. vibrations eliminated. Hence
high speeds can be adopted.

Mechanical (b) Heavy foundations are required. (b) Light foundations

Features sufficient.
(c) Mechanical design is complex because (c) Design is simple.
of valves.

(d) Weight per unit output is more. (d) Weight per unit output is
less.
(a) High efficiency because of static energy (a) Efficiency is low because of
Efficiency of transfer. dynamic energy transfer.
conversion
(b) The efficiencies of the compression and (b) The efficiency of the
process
expansion processes are almost the same. compression process is low.
 (a) Much below that of a (a) It is almost 100%.
turbomachine because of
Volumetric efficiency valves.
(b) Low fluid handling capacity (b) High fluid handling capacity
per unit weight of machine. per unit weight of machine.
(a) Causes cavitation in pumps
and turbines. Therefore leads to
erosion of blades.
(b) Surging or pulsation leads to
Fluid phase change No such serious problems are
unstable flow. And also causes
and surging encountered.
vibrations and may destroy the
machine.
(c) These factors deteriorate the
performance of the machine.
 Performance of a turbomachine for incompressible flow and
hydraulic machines can be expressed as a function of:
i) density of the fluidρ

ii) Speed of the rotorN

iii) Characteristic diameter D

iv) Discharge Q

v) Gravity head (gH)

vi) Power developed P and

(vii) Viscosity µ.
For model studies for similar turbomachines, one can use
Definitions:

It signifies the volume flow rate of fluid through a turbomachine of unit

diameter runner, operating at unit speed. It is constant for similar rotors.
Hence for a fan or pump of a certain diameter running at various speeds,
the discharge is proportional to the speed and this is called Ist fan law.
It represents the ratio of the kinetic energy of the fluid spouting under
the head H to the kinetic energy of the fluid running at the rotor
tangential speed. It is constant for similar impellers. For a machine of
specified impeller diameter, the head varies directly as the square of the
speed. This is the second law of fan.
Specific Speed: Ns
Parameter of great importance in selecting the type of machine
required for a given duty.
Pump or Hydraulic turbine:
Design parameters : ?
Pump – Head H, Volume flow rate Q and Rotational speed N
Turbine – Power P, Head H, and Rotational speed N

For a set of geometrically similar turbines or pumps, the specific

speed will have the same value
We have,

Specific speed can be defined as “a speed of geometrically similar

machines discharging one cubic meter per second of water under head
of one meter
 Specific speed of a turbine is defined as “a speed of a
geometrically similar machine which produces one kilowatt
power under a head of one meter

Where,
i) Q is in m3 / s ii) H in m iii) N in rad/s iv) P in Watts v) ρ in kg/ m3
and vi) g in m /s2
Significance of specific speed 26
 Euler’s Turbine Equation
 Kinematics relates to movement (velocities, accelerations, etc.), without paying
attention to what brought about the motion.
 Dynamics is related to detailed examination of the forces that bring about the
motion described by kinematics
 The kinematic and dynamic factors depend on the velocities of fluid flow in the
machine as well as the rotor velocity itself and the forces of interaction due to
velocity changes.

• shows the rotor of a generalized

turbomachine with axis of
rotation 0-0, with an angular
velocity ω.
• The fluid enters the rotor at
radius r1 with an absolute
velocity V1 and leaves the rotor
at radius r2 with an absolute
velocity V2
Assumptions:
 Fluid flow through the turbomachine is steady flow.
 Mass flow rate is constant and the state of the fluid doesn’t vary with time.
 Rate of energy transfer at the rotor is constant.
 Losses due to leakage are neglected

The absolute velocity of the fluid can be resolved in to three mutually perpendicular
velocity components:
 Axial component (Va), which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
 Radial component (Vm), which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
 Tangential component (Vu), which is along the tangential direction of the rotor.

The only velocity component which changes the angular momentum of the rotor is
the tangential component (Vu) and by Newton’s second law of motion forces applied
on the rotor is equal to rate of change of momentum of the fluid
Force applied on the rotor = Rate of change of momentum
𝑚𝑉𝑢
𝐹=∆ = 𝑚 𝑉𝑢1 − 𝑉𝑢2
𝑡
But, Torque = Force × Radius 𝝉 = 𝑭 × 𝒓

Then, 𝜏 = 𝑚(𝑉𝑢1 𝑟1 − 𝑉𝑢2 𝑟2 )

But, Rate of energy transfer = Torque × Angular velocity
𝐸 =𝝉×𝝎
But, tangential velocity of rotor
𝑈= 𝑟×𝜔

Then,
𝐸 = 𝑚 𝑉𝑢1 𝑟1 𝜔1 − 𝑉𝑢2 𝑟2 𝜔2

Then,
𝐸 = 𝑚 𝑈1 𝑉𝑢1 − 𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2

Energy transfer per unit mass flow of fluid is

𝐸
𝑒 = 𝑚 = (𝑈1 𝑉𝑢1 − 𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2 )

For power generating turbomachine energy transfer is positive (i.e., 𝑈1 𝑉𝑢1 > 𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2 )
Therefore,
𝒆 = (𝑼𝟏 𝑽𝒖𝟏 − 𝑼𝟐 𝑽𝒖𝟐 )
For power absorbing turbomachine energy transfer is negative (i.e., 𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2 > 𝑈1 𝑉𝑢1 )
Therefore,
𝒆 = (𝑼𝟐 𝑽𝒖𝟐 − 𝑼𝟏 𝑽𝒖𝟏 )
 Procedure to Draw Velocity Diagram
Velocity triangles may be drawn for both
the inlet and outlet sections of any
turbomachine.

U= Tangential velocity of the rotor

Velocity vectors Vr 1 and Vr 2 are parallel to

the blade surface. These are the velocity
vectors seen from the relative reference
frame of an observer moving with the
rotating blade.

When we vectorially add tangential velocity

U and Vr 1, the resultant vector is the
absolute fluid velocity V 1 at the blade inlet

1. Draw the flow that is known

2. Draw the blade speed
3. Close the triangle with the remaining
vector
4. Check that the key rule applies:
𝑉 = 𝑈 + 𝑉𝑟
 Alternate form of Euler turbine equation

Let V= Absolute velocity of fluid

α = Angle made by V wrt tangential direction or nozzle angle or guide vane angle
Vr= Relative velocity of the fluid
β = Rotor angle or blade angle wrt tangential direction
U= Tangential velocity of the rotor
Vu= Tangential component of the absolute velocity or whirl velocity
Vf =Vm=Va= Radial component or axial component of the absolute velocity or flow
velocity.
Suffix 1 and 2 represents the values at inlet and outlet of the rotor.
2
Consider outlet velocity triangle, OBC 𝑉𝑓2 = 𝑉22 − 𝑉𝑢2
2 (1)

2 2 2
From outlet velocity triangle, OAC 𝑉𝑓2 = 𝑉𝑟2 − 𝑈2 − 𝑉𝑢2
2
= 𝑉𝑟2 − 𝑈22 − 𝑉𝑢2
2
+ 2𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2 (2)
Compare equations 1and 2
𝑉22 − 𝑉𝑢2
2 2
= 𝑉𝑟2 − 𝑈22 − 𝑉𝑢2
2
+ 2𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2

2𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2 = 𝑉22 + 𝑈22 − 𝑉𝑟2

2

Or
1
𝑈2 𝑉𝑢2 = 2 (𝑉22 + 𝑈22 − 𝑉𝑟2
2
)

Similarly, for inlet velocity triangle

1
𝑈1 𝑉𝑢1 = 2 (𝑉12 + 𝑈12 − 𝑉𝑟1
2
)

For power generating turbomachines, 𝒆 = (𝑼𝟏 𝑽𝒖𝟏 − 𝑼𝟐 𝑽𝒖𝟐 )

𝟏
𝒆 = 𝟐 𝑽𝟐𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐𝟐 + 𝑼𝟐𝟏 − 𝑼𝟐𝟐 − 𝑽𝟐𝒓𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐𝒓𝟐

For power absorbing turbomachines, 𝒆 = (𝑼𝟐 𝑽𝒖𝟐 − 𝑼𝟏 𝑽𝒖𝟏 )

𝟏
𝒆= 𝑽𝟐𝟐 − 𝑽𝟐𝟏 + 𝑼𝟐𝟐 − 𝑼𝟐𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐𝒓𝟐 − 𝑽𝟐𝒓𝟏
𝟐
 𝑉12−𝑉22 𝑉22−𝑉12
First component: 2 𝑜𝑟 2
change in the absolute kinetic energy and which causes a
change in the dynamic head or dynamic pressure of the fluid through the machine.
𝑈12−𝑈22 𝑈22−𝑈12
Second component: 2
𝑜𝑟 2
change in the centrifugal energy of the fluid in the
motion. This is due to the change in the radius of rotation of the fluid. This causes a change in
the static head or static pressure of the fluid through the rotor.
2 −𝑉 2
𝑉𝑟1 2 −𝑉 2
𝑉𝑟2
𝑟2 𝑟1
Third component: 2
𝑜𝑟 2
change in the relative kinetic energy and which causes
a change in the static head or static pressure of the fluid across the rotor.
Degree of Reaction (R): The degree of reaction is a parameter which describes the relation
between the energy transfer due to static pressure change and the energy transfer due to
dynamic pressure change. The degree of reaction is the ratio of energy transfer due to the
change in static pressure in the rotor to total energy transfer due to the change in total
pressure in the rotor.
Mathematically,
1 2 2 2 2
𝑈 1 − 𝑈 2 − 𝑉 𝑟1 − 𝑉𝑟2
𝑅= 2
1 2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑉 − 𝑉 + 𝑈 − 𝑈 − 𝑉 − 𝑉
2 1 2 1 2 𝑟1 𝑟2
Or
1
𝑒 − 2 𝑉12 − 𝑉22
𝑅=
𝑒
2.3.1 Impulse and Reaction Tubomachines: In general, turbomachines may be
classified into impulse and reaction types, depending upon the type of energy
exchange that occurs in the rotor blades.

An impulse stage is one in which the static pressure at the rotor inlet is the same as
that at the rotor outlet (i.e.𝑉𝑟1 = 𝑉𝑟2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑈1 = 𝑈2).

In an impulse stage, the energy exchange is purely due to change in the direction of
the fluid (i.e., change in dynamic pressure) and there is a negligible change in the
magnitude of velocity as fluid flows over the rotor blades.

The force exerted on the blades is due to change in the direction of the fluid during
flow over the moving blade.
A reaction stage is one where a change in static pressure occurs during flow over each rotor
stage. In a reaction stage, the direction and magnitude of the relative velocity are changed
by shaping the blade passage as a nozzle (or as a diffuser, depending upon whether it is
generating or absorbing power). The force exerted on the blades is due to both changes in
magnitude and in direction of the fluid velocity.