Design Steam Turbine for Solar Energy: Math Help Needed

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on designing a Tesla steam turbine and boiler for a solar energy project, with a specified thermal wattage of 5,855 watts. The user aims for approximately 60% efficiency under average operating conditions and seeks to calculate critical parameters such as inlet and outlet area, steam velocity, pressure, and temperature. The ideal gas law is referenced for density calculations, but the user struggles with estimating the relationship between thermal drop-off and pressure drop-off. The Rankine cycle is identified as a key concept for understanding steam turbine operation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Rankine cycle
  • Familiarity with the ideal gas law
  • Basic knowledge of thermodynamics
  • Ability to solve differential equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Rankine cycle in detail to understand steam turbine efficiency
  • Learn about thermal buffer systems for solar energy applications
  • Explore methods for calculating steam velocity and pressure drop-off
  • Investigate optimization techniques for steam turbine design
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, renewable energy designers, and students involved in solar energy projects or steam turbine design will benefit from this discussion.

pixelpuffin
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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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