Engineering Reference & ASME Code Basis
1. Core Formula & Variable Definitions
ASME PTC 6-2004 (R2014) — Steam Turbines Performance Test Codes · IAPWS-IF97 — Industrial Formulation 1997 for Water and Steam (Regions 1, 2, 4)
h2s = fIF97(P2, s1) · Δhideal = h1 − h2s
h2 = h1 − ηis·Δhideal · Welec = ṁ·(h1−h2)·ηmech·ηgen
SSC = ṁ / Welec · Heat rate ≈ SSC·(h1 − hfw)
ASME PTC 6 · IAPWS-IF97 Region 1 / 2 / 4 — single-pressure screening (no reheat / extraction)
Inlet state from Region 2 (P₁, T₁). Isentropic exhaust from (P₂, s₁) on the wet dome or Region 2. Feedwater enthalpy for heat-rate screening is saturated liquid hf at P₂. No reheat or multi-extraction heat balance.
- P₁, T₁ (Inlet steam pressure & temperature) — Absolute inlet pressure and temperature (barA/°C or psia/°F).
- P₂ (Exhaust / condensing pressure) — Absolute back pressure or condenser pressure.
- ṁ (Main steam mass flow) — t/h (metric) or lb/h (imperial).
- η_is (Isentropic internal efficiency) — Fraction of ideal enthalpy drop realized in the expansion.
- η_mech, η_gen (Mechanical & generator efficiency) — Shaft and electrical conversion efficiencies.
- W_elec (Electrical power output) — Generator terminal power (MW).
- SSC (Specific steam consumption) — Steam mass per unit electrical energy (kg/kWh or lb/kWh).
- h_fw (Feedwater / condensate enthalpy) — Screening uses saturated liquid hf at P₂.
2. Screening rules & default duty (PTC 6)
Default metric duty: P₁ = 60 barA, T₁ = 480 °C, P₂ = 0.1 barA, ṁ = 50 t/h, η_is = 80%, η_mech = 98%, η_gen = 97%. Engine assert: W_elec ≈ 12.84 MW, SSC ≈ 3.90 kg/kWh.
No reheat or multi-stage extraction — use a process simulator for cogeneration heat balances.
T₁ must be at or above Tsat(P₁). Wet inlet is out of scope.
Higher wetness increases L-0 blade erosion risk — raise P₂ or T₁ or confirm OEM limits.
Critical and supercritical cycles, gland leakage, and part-load maps are not included.
Quick Reference Lookup Table
| Case | W_elec | SSC |
|---|---|---|
| 60 barA · 480 °C · 50 t/h · η_is 80% | 12.84 MW | 3.90 kg/kWh |
| 100 barA · 540 °C · 100 t/h · η_is 84% | 30.76 MW | 3.25 kg/kWh |
| 850 psia · 850 °F · 100 klb/h · η_is 80% | 11.25 MW | 8.89 lb/kWh |
| 1200 psia · 950 °F · 200 klb/h · η_is 82% | 24.76 MW | 8.08 lb/kWh |
W_elec = ṁ·Δh_actual·η_mech·η_gen with IAPWS-IF97 states. Values are from the calculator engine, not LLM placeholders.
3. Applicability & IAPWS-IF97 / PTC 6 limits
Industrial water/steam within the IAPWS-IF97 formulation used by this app (Region 1 liquid, Region 2 vapor, Region 4 saturation). Screening temperatures 100–600 °C and pressures within the calculator ranges — not a full ASME steam-table / OEM acceptance test.
| Group / Regime | Range / Condition | Limit / Criterion | Engineering Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water / steam (IAPWS-IF97 Regions 1, 2, 4) | Screening 100 °C to 600 °C (IF97 industrial up to ~800 °C) | P up to ~220 barA screening (IF97 industrial to 100 MPa) | Supercritical and ultra-supercritical states are out of this Region 2/4 screen. |
| Condensing / back-pressure single-pressure turbines | Exhaust P₂ 0.02–30 barA | N/A — thermodynamic screen | Extraction / reheat machines need a multi-node heat balance beyond this tool. |
| Wet exhaust / L-0 blade erosion regime | N/A | Moisture warn ≈ 12% | Confirm OEM wetness / Baumann factor practice for final-stage blades. |
Code Applicability & Safety Boundaries
- Field screening only — not a stamped ASME PTC 6 acceptance test report.
- No reheat, feedwater heaters, or extraction steam accounting.
- Heat rate uses condensate hf at P₂ as h_fw — not a full plant heat-rate guarantee.
- Export / PDF is a duty worksheet — verify with OEM heat-balance software.
4. Step-by-Step Worked Example
Field VerificationShowHide
Step-by-Step Worked Example: 60 barA · 480 °C · 50 t/h Metric
Screen a single-pressure condensing steam turbine at P₁ = 60 barA, T₁ = 480 °C, P₂ = 0.1 barA, ṁ = 50 t/h, η_is = 80%, η_mech = 98%, η_gen = 97% using IAPWS-IF97 states.
Inlet enthalpy and entropy
Isentropic exhaust and actual drop
Electrical power and SSC
Open /60bar-480c-50th-metric for the live default case.
5. How to calculate steam turbine power and SSC
- 1
Enter inlet steam
Set absolute inlet pressure and temperature (must be superheated vs Tsat).
- 2
Enter exhaust pressure and flow
Set condenser / back pressure and main steam mass flow (t/h or lb/h).
- 3
Set efficiencies
Enter isentropic, mechanical, and generator efficiencies in percent.
- 4
Read W_elec and SSC
Hero shows electrical MW. Badges show SSC and ideal enthalpy drop. Check moisture callout if wetness is high.
6. Frequently Asked Questions & Technical References
ShowHide
SSC is the main steam mass required per unit electrical energy — kg/kWh (metric) or lb/kWh (imperial).
No. This is a single-pressure expansion screen. Reheat and multi-extraction balances need OEM / process-simulator heat balances.
Screening heat rate ≈ SSC · (h₁ − h_fw) with h_fw = hf(P₂) condensate enthalpy — not a full plant heat-rate guarantee.
Above about 12% moisture, last-stage (L-0) blade erosion risk rises — raise exhaust pressure or inlet temperature, or confirm OEM wetness limits.