Energy Education

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<onlyinclude>A '''turbine''' is a device used in power generation, engines, and propulsion systems. It often looks like a propeller, which is a kind of turbine.</onlyinclude> Due to this, it is shaped so that a propellant can be used to turn it, like a [[gas turbine]] or in a [[hydroelectric facility]], or so that it can be used for propulsion like the propeller on a submarine.  
[[File:Turbine_Philippsburg-1.jpg|400px|framed|right|Figure 1. Turbines can be fairly large, the steam turbine above is put into scale with a person.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (September 2, 2015). ''Turbine Philippsburg'' [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Turbine_Philippsburg-1.jpg</ref>]]
<onlyinclude>A '''turbine''' is a device that harnesses the [[kinetic energy]] of some [[fluid]] - such as [[water]], [[steam]], [[air]], or combustion [[gas]]es - and turns this into the rotational motion of the device itself.<ref name="RE1">WiseGeek. (September 2, 2015). ''What is a Turbine?'' [Online]. Available: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-turbine.htm</ref> These devices are generally used in [[electrical generation]], [[engine]]s, and propulsion systems and are classified as a type of engine.</onlyinclude> They are classified as such because engines are simply [[technology|technologies]] that take an input and generate an output. A simple turbine is composed of a series of blades - currently [[steel]] is one of the most common materials used - and allows the fluid to enter the turbine, pushing the blades. These blades then spin and eject the fluid which now has less energy it did than when it entered the turbine. Some of the energy is captured by the turbine and used.<ref name="RE1"/>


==Use in heat engines==
Turbines are used in many different areas, and each type of turbine has a slightly different construction to perform its job properly. Turbines are used in [[wind power]], [[hydropower]], in [[heat engine]]s, and for propulsion. Turbines are extremely important because of the fact that nearly all electricity is generated by them.<ref name="RE1"/>


Turbines are commonly used in [[heat engine]]s, as they are highly efficient at high outputs, and require little maintenance. In the case of a gas turbine, compressed air is heated, then mixed with fuel. When the mixture ignites, it expands rapidly, and the expanding air is pushed into the turbine, causing it to spin. This is the technology used in airplanes, and also the technology used in many electricity [[generator]]s. Because they use compressed air, high altitudes do not affect the efficiency of turbines, making them ideal for use in planes. They are not traditionally used in cars because they take a long time to ramp up and down their power generation.
==Heat Engines==
Turbines are commonly used in heat engines because of their high [[efficiency]] at high outputs. Additionally, turbines require fairly little maintenance.


[[File:natgasturb.png|thumb|800px|center|Figure 2. A diagram of a gas turbine engine.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Jet_engine.svg</ref>]]
[[Gas turbine]]s are used frequently in heat engines as they are one of the most flexible types of turbines. One specific application of these gas turbines is in jet engines.<ref name="RE1"/> In these gas turbines, compressed air is heated and mixed with some [[fuel]]. When this mixture [[ignition|ignites]] it undergoes rapid expansion. The expanding air is pushed into the turbine, causing it to spin. Since they use compressed air, high altitudes do not affect the efficiency of the turbines, making them ideal for use in airplanes.<ref name="RE2">Energy.gov. (September 2, 2015). ''How Gas Turbines Work'' [Online]. Available: http://energy.gov/fe/how-gas-turbine-power-plants-work</ref>. A diagram of a gas turbine is shown in Figure 2 below.
<br/>
[[File:natgasturb.png|thumb|780px|center|Figure 2. A diagram of a gas turbine engine.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Jet_engine.svg</ref>]]
<br/>
As well as being used in airplanes, these turbines are used to [[electricity generation|generate electricity]] in [[natural gas power plant|natural gas-fueled power plants]]. The combustion gases in this case arise from the [[combustion]] of [[natural gas]].<ref name="RE2"/>


==Electricity generation==
==Electricity Generation==
===Dams===
===Hydroelectricity===
[[File:Hydroturbine schematic.jpg|framed|left|Figure 2 A diagram of a hydroturbine. <ref>US Army Corps of engineers, public domain, accessed from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_turbine.svg.</ref>]]
:: [[hydro turbine|''main article'']]
The heart of any hydroelectric facility (Dam) is the turbine. Water is taken from the source behind the dam, and used to spin the turbine. By connecting the turbine to a generator, dams are able to create electricity using nothing but the flow of water.
[[File:Hydroturbine schematic.jpg|framed|right|Figure 3. A diagram of a hydroelectric turbine.<ref>Wikimedia Commons. (September 2, 2015). ''Water Turbine'' [Online]. Available:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_turbine.svg.</ref>]]
In this case, water held behind a [[hydroelectric dam|dam]] is released and allowed to fall on a turbine, generating electricity when connected to a [[generator]]. These turbines are essential in the area of [[hydropower]] - the process of obtaining [[power]] from water.


There are many factors that go into the selection of an appropriate Turbine for a site. Some factors include but are not limited to: [[Hydrostatic head]], [[Discharge]], the rotational speed, the cost, and the [[specific speed]].  
Generally, the construction of hydroelectric turbines is the same. A row of blades is fitted to some rotating shaft or plate. Water is then passed through the turbine over the blades, causing the inner shaft to rotate. This rotational motion is then transferred to a generator where electricity is generated. There are a variety of different types of turbines that are best used in different situations. Each type of turbine is created to provide maximum output for the situation it is used in. There are many factors that must be investigated to determine which turbine should be used. These factors include [[hydraulic head]], [[flow rate]], and the cost.<ref>BrightHub Engineering. (September 2, 2015). ''What are Hydraulic Turbines?'' [Online]. Available: http://www.brighthubengineering.com/fluid-mechanics-hydraulics/26551-hydraulic-turbines-definition-and-basics/</ref>


The main two types of turbines found in hydroelectric facilities are the [[Reaction turbines]] and the [[Impulse turbines]]. Reaction turbines utilize water under pressure that is deflected towards blades.  These turbines must be encased or submerged to maintain the water pressure.  Unlike Reaction turbines, Impulse turbines do not need to be submerged since they rely on the velocity of water from a pressurized nozzle to strike the blades. 
Two types of turbines are generally found in these facilities, and the choice of which to use depends on what the hydroelectric facility is like. These types are [[Hydro turbine#Pressure Change#Reaction Turbines|reaction turbines]] and [[Hydro turbine#Pressure Change#Impulse Turbines|impulse turbines]]. For more information on how these turbines work and more detailed information on other turbines, click [[hydro turbine|here]].
 
The image above illustrates the schematics of a hydroelectric turbine ([[Kaplan turbine]]).  The water is deflected through the wicket gates (aka guide vanes or distributor) into the blades (aka runners depending on design of turbine) where the spinning causes a [[Generator]] attached to the shaft of the blades to generate electricity. The human figure gives a sense of the sheer size of these hydroelectric turbines.
 
===Generators===
Turbines are used in many electricity generators. This is because a generator must output a consistent amount of power over a potentially long period of time, which turbines are very efficient at doing. The turbine blades are connected to a generator, which then generates electricity using the power from the turbine.


===Wind===
:: [[wind turbine|''main article'']]
[[Wind turbine]]s operate by transforming the [[kinetic energy]] in [[wind]] into [[mechanical power]] which is used to generate electricity by spinning a generator. These turbines can be on land, or can be offshore wind turbines. These turbines have three main components. The first of these are the rotor blades which are shaped like aircraft wings to catch the air, causing the blades to turn. The second component is the nacelle, a set of gears and a generator that transforms the blade rotation into electrical energy. Finally, the tower is the large stand that the blades and nacelle are mounted on.<ref>Energy Center of Wisconsin. (September 2, 2015). ''Parts of a Turbine'' [Online]. Available: http://www.ecw.org/windpower/web/cat2a.html</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Uploaded]]
[[Category:Uploaded]]

Revision as of 17:44, 3 September 2015

Figure 1. Turbines can be fairly large, the steam turbine above is put into scale with a person.[1]

A turbine is a device that harnesses the kinetic energy of some fluid - such as water, steam, air, or combustion gases - and turns this into the rotational motion of the device itself.[2] These devices are generally used in electrical generation, engines, and propulsion systems and are classified as a type of engine. They are classified as such because engines are simply technologies that take an input and generate an output. A simple turbine is composed of a series of blades - currently steel is one of the most common materials used - and allows the fluid to enter the turbine, pushing the blades. These blades then spin and eject the fluid which now has less energy it did than when it entered the turbine. Some of the energy is captured by the turbine and used.[2]

Turbines are used in many different areas, and each type of turbine has a slightly different construction to perform its job properly. Turbines are used in wind power, hydropower, in heat engines, and for propulsion. Turbines are extremely important because of the fact that nearly all electricity is generated by them.[2]

Heat Engines

Turbines are commonly used in heat engines because of their high efficiency at high outputs. Additionally, turbines require fairly little maintenance.

Gas turbines are used frequently in heat engines as they are one of the most flexible types of turbines. One specific application of these gas turbines is in jet engines.[2] In these gas turbines, compressed air is heated and mixed with some fuel. When this mixture ignites it undergoes rapid expansion. The expanding air is pushed into the turbine, causing it to spin. Since they use compressed air, high altitudes do not affect the efficiency of the turbines, making them ideal for use in airplanes.[3]. A diagram of a gas turbine is shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2. A diagram of a gas turbine engine.[4]


As well as being used in airplanes, these turbines are used to generate electricity in natural gas-fueled power plants. The combustion gases in this case arise from the combustion of natural gas.[3]

Electricity Generation

Hydroelectricity

main article
Figure 3. A diagram of a hydroelectric turbine.[5]

In this case, water held behind a dam is released and allowed to fall on a turbine, generating electricity when connected to a generator. These turbines are essential in the area of hydropower - the process of obtaining power from water.

Generally, the construction of hydroelectric turbines is the same. A row of blades is fitted to some rotating shaft or plate. Water is then passed through the turbine over the blades, causing the inner shaft to rotate. This rotational motion is then transferred to a generator where electricity is generated. There are a variety of different types of turbines that are best used in different situations. Each type of turbine is created to provide maximum output for the situation it is used in. There are many factors that must be investigated to determine which turbine should be used. These factors include hydraulic head, flow rate, and the cost.[6]

Two types of turbines are generally found in these facilities, and the choice of which to use depends on what the hydroelectric facility is like. These types are reaction turbines and impulse turbines. For more information on how these turbines work and more detailed information on other turbines, click here.

Wind

main article

Wind turbines operate by transforming the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical power which is used to generate electricity by spinning a generator. These turbines can be on land, or can be offshore wind turbines. These turbines have three main components. The first of these are the rotor blades which are shaped like aircraft wings to catch the air, causing the blades to turn. The second component is the nacelle, a set of gears and a generator that transforms the blade rotation into electrical energy. Finally, the tower is the large stand that the blades and nacelle are mounted on.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Wikimedia Commons. (September 2, 2015). Turbine Philippsburg [Online]. Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Turbine_Philippsburg-1.jpg
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 WiseGeek. (September 2, 2015). What is a Turbine? [Online]. Available: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-turbine.htm
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Energy.gov. (September 2, 2015). How Gas Turbines Work [Online]. Available: http://energy.gov/fe/how-gas-turbine-power-plants-work
  4. ↑ Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Jet_engine.svg
  5. ↑ Wikimedia Commons. (September 2, 2015). Water Turbine [Online]. Available: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_turbine.svg.
  6. ↑ BrightHub Engineering. (September 2, 2015). What are Hydraulic Turbines? [Online]. Available: http://www.brighthubengineering.com/fluid-mechanics-hydraulics/26551-hydraulic-turbines-definition-and-basics/
  7. ↑ Energy Center of Wisconsin. (September 2, 2015). Parts of a Turbine [Online]. Available: http://www.ecw.org/windpower/web/cat2a.html
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