Cogeneration in industrial steam systems with multiple-disk turbines

Panel: Panel 5. Energy efficiency in industry

Author:
Dr. Ferenc Lezsovits, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Department of Energy Engineering, Hungary

Abstract

There are a lot of industrial and communal heat supply systems that are operated with saturated or hardly superheated steam. Steam production generally happens according to the highest pressure demand, meanwhile more or less quantity is used at lower pressure. Pressure reduction is done by throttle-valves. This is an unused potential for co-generation. Multiple disk turbines may be the expansion equipment which is suitable for realising co-generation in small- and medium scale heat supply systems. Since the construction is simple it can be produced at reasonable prices, so co-generation can be economical even at low power rates. The investigation of advantages and disadvantages of multiple disk turbines has become the subject of my presentation. Furthermore the investigation of operation conditions at different boundary conditions in case of cogeneration applications and the determination of optimal operation conditions. The same construction may be applied to a wide range of operation parameters without any modification. With variation of nozzle cross section it can be adjusted to different mass flow rate demands. The turbine can be operated even with saturated steam. Since this turbine is not sensitive to steam quality, it can be operated even with steam used in normal steam systems. There is not needed to install an extra water treatment system. Considering design and operation features of these types of turbines it can be stated that these machines may be suitable for performing economical co-generation in small- and medium sized heat supply systems. In this way the use of co-generation method may be expanded significantly.