The basicsĪny device that converts the chemical energy contained in a fuel into mechanical energy ( i.e., shaftwork) via combustion is called a heat engine. This article reviews the thermodynamic relationships and equations that link steam flow conditions and power output, which are useful for estimating preliminary economics of new turbines and analyzing the performance of existing units. condensing) in the right size, as well as integrating it correctly with the heat exchanger network (HEN) in accordance with the appropriate placement principle of pinch analysis. Good economics are also possible at smaller sizes as low as 2 MW, which are more common in the food and beverage industries, as well as in small to medium-sized plants in the chemical process industries (CPI).Īchieving favorable steam turbine economics depends on choosing the right type of turbine ( e.g., backpressure vs. Steam turbines are most common in the oil refining, ammonia and urea, methanol, ethylene, and pulp and paper industries, where they are generally sized to produce 10–60 MW of power. They offer opportunities for optimizing steam supply reliability, as well as site-wide energy efficiency. Steam turbines are important components of process plant utility systems. Effective design, analysis, and integration of steam turbines can help optimize steam supply reliability and overall energy efficiency across your plant.