Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
The expansion ratio of superheated steam is something like 1000 times water in it's liquid state, while steam that has just begun to boil at 212 degrees F, is just beginning to become a vapor with a heck of a lot lower expansion ratio than the same water when it is superheated to 900 degrees under pressure then allowed to expand.
Regular steam like what you are talking about is not the same as the superheated atmospheric humidity that has passed through your combustion chamber where it has been subjected to peak combustion chamber temperatures of above 3200 degrees F.
The turbine blades spinning at say 75,000 RPM will, most likely suffer damage, from being subjected to non superheated steam. You could also create another issue by cooling down the exhaust portion of the turbine housing with the injected steam that is not superheated and completely vaporized.
It's just my opinion, and I did not research the numbers I threw out extensively, but I have no doubt that the potential for damage to the exhaust turbine blades exists.
regards
Mech
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The way I have described the design has taken into account for the water vapor in the steam. Boiling will only occur in the lower part of the tubing up to the water level in the feed tank. All tubing after that will serve to super heat the steam thus drying it. Further more once it mixes with the exhaust gasses it will be heated even more. As long as I don't try and generate as much steam as possible it will be perfectly fine.