reaction blading

technology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Reaction blading is a type of turbine blading designed to efficiently extract rotational energy from steam. In a reaction stage, approximately half of the pressure drop and enthalpy drop occurs within the stationary passages (stator), and the other half occurs within the moving passages (rotor). This pressure difference across the rotor blades creates a force that turns the turbine. The blades in a reaction stage often resemble mirror images of each other, with expanding passages that increase steam velocity as pressure drops. This design requires a thrust bearing to manage the axial force exerted on the rotor.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

turbine
Blading design
…of perfection: impulse blading and reaction blading. The principle of impulse blading is illustrated in the schematic diagram of Figure 1 for a first stage. A series of stationary nozzles allows the steam to expand to a lower pressure while its velocity and kinetic energy increase. The steam is then…
Read More
…of perfection: impulse blading and reaction blading. The principle of impulse blading is illustrated in the schematic diagram of Figure 1 for a first stage. A series of stationary nozzles allows the steam to expand to a lower pressure while its velocity and kinetic energy increase. The steam is then…
Read More