Single Shaft vs 2 Shaft Design turbine for use in power generation
Single Shaft vs 2 Shaft Design turbine for use in power generation
(OP)
Hey guys,
I am going to be looking at a project next week that involves the use of a 2 shaft turbine produced by Solar. I believe this is the Mars 100 Unit. In the past we have had great experience with Solar, but none of the units have been 2 shaft designs.
I am personally familiar with using a single shaft design in power generation applications because the speed control for the turbine is much easier, since the shaft speed is directly proportional to the position of the input valve (then load is directly proportional to the input valve) when operated with a utility electric grid.
I have seen many large gas compessor turbine drives operated as dual shaft designs as well. I always thought the reason for this was to allow for some flexibility between the compressor load and the turbine fuel valve.
Can you guys please explain why a single shaft turbine or a dual shaft turbine would be used for gas compressrion / oil pumpign vs power generation and what the advantages and disadvantages of each are? Also, anyone that has any experience with the Solar Mars 100 unit could chime in on their personal experiences, it would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Rob
I am going to be looking at a project next week that involves the use of a 2 shaft turbine produced by Solar. I believe this is the Mars 100 Unit. In the past we have had great experience with Solar, but none of the units have been 2 shaft designs.
I am personally familiar with using a single shaft design in power generation applications because the speed control for the turbine is much easier, since the shaft speed is directly proportional to the position of the input valve (then load is directly proportional to the input valve) when operated with a utility electric grid.
I have seen many large gas compessor turbine drives operated as dual shaft designs as well. I always thought the reason for this was to allow for some flexibility between the compressor load and the turbine fuel valve.
Can you guys please explain why a single shaft turbine or a dual shaft turbine would be used for gas compressrion / oil pumpign vs power generation and what the advantages and disadvantages of each are? Also, anyone that has any experience with the Solar Mars 100 unit could chime in on their personal experiences, it would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Rob





RE: Single Shaft vs 2 Shaft Design turbine for use in power generation
That said, do some Googling around on aeroderivative turbines used for power generation and you will find that they are 2 shaft and 3 shaft machines as opposed to their single shaft frame cousins which are of course frequency fixed speed.
The 2 or 3 shaft designs allows portions of the turbine to spool up to speeds where turbines are very efficient resulting in higher overall efficiency or better heat rates for the engine.
rmw
RE: Single Shaft vs 2 Shaft Design turbine for use in power generation
Valuable advice from a professor many years ago: First, design for graceful failure. Everything we build will eventually fail, so we must strive to avoid injuries or secondary damage when that failure occurs. Only then can practicality and economics be properly considered.