What Are the Largest Gear Ratios Possible for a Steam Turbine System?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of achieving large gear ratios for a steam turbine system in a building design. Participants explore various gear systems that could facilitate a significant reduction in rotational speed from the turbine to the levels above, considering both theoretical and practical aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Simon describes a project involving a steam turbine that operates at approximately 5000 RPM, with a goal of reducing the speed to about 0.02 RPM for levels above.
  • Some participants suggest that using a small pinion with a large internal tooth ring gear could achieve large gear ratios, referencing applications like radio telescopes and rotating hotel floors.
  • Another participant mentions worm gears, noting that they can provide significant ratios and cites an example where the output speed is extremely low, taking an impractically long time to complete a revolution.
  • There is a question regarding the torque required at the higher levels and how it affects the gear module and shaft diameter, indicating that these factors will influence the design and feasibility of the system.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various ideas about possible gear systems and their applications, but there is no consensus on a specific solution or model. The discussion remains open-ended with multiple competing views on how to approach the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the torque requirements and shaft diameter will impact the design considerations, but these aspects remain unresolved in the discussion.

SimonBuk
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Hi, I'm new to the site so I hope I'm in the right place, I have a question regarding gears for a project that I am working on at uni.

I'm designing a building which has a steam driven turbine at the base, what I want to have is levels above which are attached to the same axle as the turbine but spin a lot slower. The obvious way to run this is to involve a gear system for which I made a model below. This used a simple gear that I took out of a cheap clock. So the model works on a 1:12 Ratio

However, A Steam Turbine can turn at approx 5000RPM, I would like the levels above to turn at a rate of approx 1 rotation and hour, which is about 0.02RPM I think?

Is anything like this possible, its obliviously a massive step down. The building has a 20m diameter so a lot of space is available if massive gears are required. But where do I start with working out how it would work, would a planetary gear system support it?

Any help or advice on this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Simon
 

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Thanks, found some good info on Radio telescopes. I'm intrigued by the Hotel rotating floors though, have you got any links to anything on those, not sure if I'm searching for the right thing
 
Worm gears provide some large ratios. This guy set up a worm-gears in series...the input is 50 rpm, and the output is so small, that he encased it in concrete because it really doesn't matter.

It would make a complete revolution in about two trillion years...

/v/5q-BH-tvxEg&hl=en_US&fs=1&[/youtube]
 
SimonBuk said:
Hi, I'm new to the site so I hope I'm in the right place, I have a question regarding gears for a project that I am working on at uni.

I'm designing a building which has a steam driven turbine at the base, what I want to have is levels above which are attached to the same axle as the turbine but spin a lot slower. The obvious way to run this is to involve a gear system for which I made a model below. This used a simple gear that I took out of a cheap clock. So the model works on a 1:12 Ratio

However, A Steam Turbine can turn at approx 5000RPM, I would like the levels above to turn at a rate of approx 1 rotation and hour, which is about 0.02RPM I think?

Is anything like this possible, its obliviously a massive step down. The building has a 20m diameter so a lot of space is available if massive gears are required. But where do I start with working out how it would work, would a planetary gear system support it?

Any help or advice on this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Simon

it will depend on the torque required at higher level...cause module is dependent on that...also the shaft diameter will also come into picture...with its cost...i m not getting weather ur asking for a model or for a protocol?
 

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