Turbinemachines

Turbinemachines, or turbomachines, are devices that exchange energy between a rotor and a fluid. Energy may be extracted from the fluid to rotate the shaft, or supplied to the fluid to drive it. They include turbines, compressors, and pumps, and operate with liquids or gases under various flow conditions.

Classification: Turbines convert fluid energy into shaft power or electrical energy. Compressors and pumps do the reverse, increasing the fluid’s energy. Turbomachines are often grouped by energy transfer direction and by flow regime: steam, gas, hydraulic, and wind turbines; and by design as impulse or reaction machines. Impulse turbines use jets to impart momentum to rotor blades; reaction turbines rely on pressure changes across the blades.

Design and performance: Common elements are stages, blades, rotors, casings, bearings, seals. Performance is described by efficiency, specific work, head, and flow rate. Modern design relies on computational fluid dynamics, performance maps, and high-strength materials to handle high speeds, temperatures, and pressures.

Applications: Turbomachines are central to power generation (hydroelectric, thermal, geothermal plants), propulsion (aircraft and ship turbines), and industrial processes (pumps and compressors in process plants). Wind turbines represent a prominent form of renewable energy within this category.

History and context: Development began in the 19th century with steam and water turbines; today turbomachinery enables a wide range of energy conversion and propulsion systems, with ongoing research in efficiency, noise, and reliability.