Exergy analysis of radial inflow expansion turbines for power recovery

The paper presents an exergy analysis of the performance of a single-stage, radial-inflow expansion turbine. The analysis considers the effect of the design controlling parameters on the power output, and the first law and second law efficiencies of the turbine. The design parameters include: inlet temperature, wheel tip speed, exhaust Mach number and expansion pressure ratio. Limitations imposed by the second law of thermodynamics are presented and discussed, and the admissible ranges of variation of the controlling parameters are outlined and discussed. The analysis enables the process designer to quickly and realistically estimate the amount of power available from the exhaust gases of a process stream, the maximum effective pressure ratio and the temperature drop across the turbine and the exit Mach number.