A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into kinetic energy,
i.e. useful mechanical work – the spinning of the turbine rotor. There
are two types of turbine designs, impulse and reaction turbines (a
combination of both types is possible).
The efficiency of modern steam turbines reaches a maximum of 45%.
They are also designed according to boiler specifications. For a better
efficiency of the generating unit, large boilers have reheaters and a
medium-pressure part of the turbine. Load control is vital for the
operation of the turbines and consequently they are equipped with a
large number of measurement devices.
The most important are the readings on the bearings,
where we monitor temperature and vibration. Also very important is the
strain of the shafts and the turbine casings. All of this is illustrated
in the schematics of the individual turbines in this section.