Category Tech

The mechanical energy required to move a vehicle or equipment is generated by a steam engine, and the electrical energy is generated by a steam turbine. Steam engines and steam turbines are both steam expanders, although they differ in terms of mechanical design, working principle, and capacity. The first industrial revolution was sparked by steam engines. Steam engines are positive displacement reciprocating expanders, which means that the steam expands as the piston moves inside the cylinder. Through linkages, a piston is connected to a crankshaft (slider & bar mechanism). These connections deliver steam power from the piston to the crankshaft. Steam turbines are rotary expander devices that generate MW-level electricity at high speeds (3000 to 30000 rpm) and great efficiency, resulting in high power density and lower costs. Steam expansion takes place either in stationary blades called "nozzles" if it’s a single-stage impulse turbine or in both nozzles and moving blades in reaction turbines.