turbomachines

Turbomachines are machines that transfer energy between a rotor and a fluid, typically by accelerating or redirecting the flow with rotating blades. They include turbines, compressors, and pumps, as well as fans, blowers and turbochargers. They operate by exchanging shaft work with the fluid, converting mechanical energy into fluid energy or vice versa.

Turbines extract energy from a high-energy fluid to drive a rotor, while compressors and pumps add energy to the fluid, increasing pressure and head. The fluid can be gas or liquid, and common configurations include axial-flow, radial (centrifugal), and mixed-flow designs. Typical turbomachinery components are the rotor with blades and shaft, the stator with stationary vanes, a casing, and bearings and seals.

Applications span power generation, propulsion, and industrial processes. Gas and steam turbines provide mechanical power for electricity production and aircraft engines; hydraulic turbines convert fluid energy to shaft power in hydropower; compressors and pumps move process fluids in oil, gas, chemical, and HVAC systems; turbomachinery is also used in refrigeration and marine propulsion.

Performance is characterized by flow rate, pressure ratio or head, efficiency, and power, with specific speed used to classify designs. Design challenges include preventing cavitation, surge and stall, maintaining tolerances, and managing thermal and vibrational loads. Turbomachinery has evolved from early steam engines to modern gas turbines and high-efficiency hydraulic machines, with axial and centrifugal types remaining predominant.