Design Steam Turbine for Solar Energy: Math Help Needed

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on designing a Tesla steam turbine and boiler for a solar energy project, with a thermal wattage of 5,855 watts. Key calculations needed include inlet and outlet area, steam velocity, pressure, and temperature, aiming for 60% efficiency under average conditions. The ideal gas law is being used to calculate density, but challenges arise in estimating the relationship between thermal drop-off and pressure drop-off. The Rankine cycle is highlighted as a crucial concept for understanding steam turbine operation and efficiency. Resources and examples are suggested to aid in the calculations and estimations required for the design.
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im designing a steam turbine and boiler for a solar energy project but i can't figure out the math and have had trouble looking it up
the only thing that is definite about the turbine (other than that its a tesla turbine) is that the thermal wattage is 5,855 watts or 1,434.72 calories per second (because its solar its actually a range but i plan to optimize the system for the average and later install a thermal buffer)
i need to determine
inlet and outlet area
inlet and outlet steam velocity
inlet and outlet steam pressure
inlet and outlet steam temperature

my goal is to get ~ 60% efficiency at average operating conditions and >20% efficiency at the high and low ends of its operation
it would be nice if it operated at 60 hertz or 3,600 rpm though that's not important

using the ideal gas law i get P*1/T*2.16*1/1,000=p so i can calculate the density with pressure and temperature

from there I am pretty much lost, mainly because i can't find any way to calculate the ratio between thermal drop off and pressure drop off

does anybody know how to at least estimate this
i have some coding knowledge so if there's a differential equation i have no trouble solving it
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
The steam turbines are dictated by the Rankine cycle (they are 12 pages for that lesson in the previous link). To help you familiarize with the concept, there are plenty of examples on the web to help you understand how to make the estimation you are looking for.

Keywords: Rankine cycle.
 
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