Can a Self-Feeding Steam Turbine Recycle Its Own Water?

[MrDiedel]

I'm trying to design or find a design for a steam turbine that recycles it's water, or at least a large percentage of it, to prevent refilling of a boiler tank.

My thoughts;

The turbine will be powered by steam heated through copper tubing which is fed from a large unheated, (or partially heated) water tank. The water, upon entering the coiling tubing, will be heated from an external fire of whatever fuel I desire. My problem is trying to decide how to separate the pressure build up in the coiled tubing from the supply tank to prevent the pressure from going back into the tank. Or if my tank was large enough, would it simply push it out the top of my tubing directed at my turbine instead of going back into my supply tank? I think this would result in power loss.

The turbine does not have to run full power constantly. It could run on bursts. Oh, just thought of a solution...maybe.

If there was a water valve that opened and closed to feed the coiled tubing, upon entering the extremely hot tubing, the water would vaporize immediately and be forced out of the end of my tube pointed to my steam turbine. But would that cause the tubing to burst from cooler water hitting it? This also presents a problem of needing something to turn my valve off and on.

Or
A check valve that is pushed open by the weight of the water and fills the hot tubing, and when the hot tubing builds pressure, the check valve will be forced closed thus forcing the steam out of the end of my tube aimed at my steam turbine.

A further note, I'm more interested in torque than rpm, if anyone has any links or information for me to further my project, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Mr. Diedel

P.S. Of course the recycling part would be easily enough done with a condenser over the main holding tank, as it would be open to atmospheric pressure at the top.

 

[Global Cooling]

If I remember correctly, the Principles of Naval Engineering would be a great resource for you. You can find it here: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/pdf/engineering.pdf

 

[Doug Huffman]

Feed pump discharge pressure equals steam drum operating pressure at shut-off head. Feed pump discharge pressure must be higher than steam drum operating pressure to raise steam drum level. The feed regulator valve is on the discharge of the centrifugal pump that operates well at shut-off head with packing cooled by leakoff. A steam powered feed pump may have a throttle for efficiency. The steam drum and tubes are at saturation pressure and temperature. A steam turbine powered pump cannot function with wet steam water droplets. Some condensate depression, temperature lower than saturation, is necessary.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/Feedwater-heating.png/354px-Feedwater-heating.png

 

[Jobrag]

If you are interested in torque rather than RPM maybe a recip engine is the way to go.

 

[alphy]

Dear Mr. Diedel,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas on designing a self-feeding steam turbine. It is commendable that you are considering ways to recycle water and prevent refilling of the boiler tank. I would like to offer some suggestions and insights on your proposed design.

Firstly, using copper tubing to transfer the heated water to the turbine is a good choice as copper is a good conductor of heat. However, it is important to consider the material properties of the tubing and ensure that it can withstand the high temperatures and pressures of the steam.

In terms of separating the pressure build up in the coiled tubing from the supply tank, you could consider using a pressure relief valve. This valve would open when the pressure in the tubing reaches a certain level, releasing the steam and preventing it from going back into the tank. This would also prevent any potential damage to the tubing.

Your idea of using a water valve to feed the coiled tubing and utilizing the immediate vaporization of water in the hot tubing is also a viable option. However, as you mentioned, this would require a mechanism to turn the valve on and off. You could consider using a float valve or a solenoid valve that is triggered by the level of water in the tank.

Alternatively, the use of a check valve to fill the hot tubing and release the steam when the pressure builds up is also a good idea. This would require less maintenance and control mechanisms compared to the water valve option.

In terms of maximizing torque over RPM, you could consider using a larger turbine with shorter blades to increase the torque output. Additionally, the design of the blades can also play a role in optimizing torque.

Lastly, for further information and resources on steam turbines, I would suggest consulting with experts in the field or referring to scientific literature and research papers. I hope this helps in your project and I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,