turbine

Introduction
Water turbines
- Impulse turbines
- Reaction turbines
  - Axial-flow machines
  - Mixed-flow turbines
- Other design considerations
  - Output and speed control
  - Cavitation
  - Turbine selection on the basis of specific speed
  - Turbine model testing
- Applications
  - Electric power generation
  - Pumped storage
  - Tidal plants
  - Cost of hydroelectric power
- History of water turbine technology
Steam turbines
- Classifications
  - Condensing and noncondensing turbines
  - Steam extraction
  - Reheat and nonreheat turbines
  - Multiflow and compound arrangements
- Principal components
- Design considerations
  - Blading design
  - Turbine staging
- Power development
- Control
- Overall performance characteristics
- History of steam turbine technology
  - Early precursors
  - Development of modern steam turbines
  - Recent developments and trends
Wind turbines
- Types of wind turbines
  - Horizontal axis machines
  - Vertical-axis machines
- Wind farms
- Limitations on wind power
- Development of wind turbines

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Rows of white wind turbines with spinning blades stand on a dry, grassy landscape at a wind farm near Tehachapi, California.

schematic of an impulse stage with velocity diagrams

idealized 50 percent reaction stage for a steam turbine

De Laval turbine

Vertical-axis wind turbine

Diagram comparing turbofan and turboprop air-breathing engines. The turbofan shows air split between the compressor and bypassing the engine, while the turboprop shows hot gases driving a turbine that powers both the compressor and a propeller. Key components such as air intake, compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and exhaust are labeled, with arrows indicating airflow and hot gas movement.

Diagram of the German A-4 (V-2) rocket from World War II, showing an exterior view above and a labeled cutaway below that highlights internal components such as the warhead, alcohol fuel tank, liquid oxygen tank, turbine and pump, combustion chamber, guidance and control devices, and control vanes.

This diagram shows how a tidal power barrage generates electricity, with cross-sections of a structure containing sluice gates and a turbine placed between the ocean and a tidal basin. Water flows through the turbine as tides change, converting tidal energy into hydroelectric power. The upper image depicts high tide with water held in the tidal basin, while the lower image shows water flowing back through the turbine at low tide.

At a Glance

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turbine summary

turbine: Media

mechanical engineering

Images

Rows of white wind turbines with spinning blades stand on a dry, grassy landscape at a wind farm near Tehachapi, California.

wind turbines

Wind turbines near Tehachapi, California.

© Greg Randles/Shutterstock.com

schematic of an impulse stage with velocity diagrams

schematic of an impulse stage with velocity diagrams

Figure 1: Schematic of an impulse stage with velocity diagrams.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

idealized 50 percent reaction stage for a steam turbine

idealized 50 percent reaction stage for a steam turbine

Figure 2: An idealized 50 percent reaction stage for a steam turbine with velocity...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

De Laval turbine

De Laval turbine

Figure 3: De Laval turbine, showing how the steam is formed into a jet by a specially...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Savonius rotor

Savonius rotor

A Savonius rotor.

Courtesy of Gary Johnson, Ph.D.

Vertical-axis wind turbine

Vertical-axis wind turbine

A Darrieus wind turbine harnesses wind energy using curved blades along a vertical...

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy

Wind turbines

Wind turbines

Wind turbines, south of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

newmexicostock.com

Diagram comparing turbofan and turboprop air-breathing engines. The turbofan shows air split between the compressor and bypassing the engine, while the turboprop shows hot gases driving a turbine that powers both the compressor and a propeller. Key components such as air intake, compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and exhaust are labeled, with arrows indicating airflow and hot gas movement.

air-breathing engines

Some air taken in by the turbofan (top) goes to the compressor; the rest bypasses...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Diagram of the German A-4 (V-2) rocket from World War II, showing an exterior view above and a labeled cutaway below that highlights internal components such as the warhead, alcohol fuel tank, liquid oxygen tank, turbine and pump, combustion chamber, guidance and control devices, and control vanes.

V-2 missile

Internal components and control surfaces of the V-2 missile.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

This diagram shows how a tidal power barrage generates electricity, with cross-sections of a structure containing sluice gates and a turbine placed between the ocean and a tidal basin. Water flows through the turbine as tides change, converting tidal energy into hydroelectric power. The upper image depicts high tide with water held in the tidal basin, while the lower image shows water flowing back through the turbine at low tide.

Tidal power

Diagram of a tidal power barrage.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Labeled diagram of a torque converter for an automatic transmission, showing internal parts like the impeller, turbine, stator, and fluid flow, with arrows indicating how engine power is transferred to the transmission input shaft using automatic transmission fluid.

torque converter

The components of a torque converter.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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