© 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
3-1
3
Prime Movers
3.1
Introduction ........................................................................3-1
3.2
Steam Turbines ....................................................................3-3
3.3
Steam Turbine Modeling ....................................................3-5
3.4
Speed Governors for Steam Turbines ..............................3-10
3.5
Gas Turbines ......................................................................3-11
3.6
Diesel Engines....................................................................3-12
Diesel-Engine Operation • Diesel-Engine Modeling
3.7
Stirling Engines .................................................................3-17
Summary of Thermodynamic Basic Cycles • The Stirling-Cycle
Engine • Free-Piston Stirling Engines Modeling
3.8
Hydraulic Turbines............................................................3-24
Hydraulic Turbines Basics • A First-Order Ideal Model of
Hydraulic Turbines • Second- and Higher-Order Models of
Hydraulic Turbines • Hydraulic Turbine Governors • Reversible
Hydraulic Machines
3.9 Wind Turbines...................................................................3-39
Principles and Efficiency of Wind Turbines • The Steady-State
Model of Wind Turbines • Wind Turbine Models for Control
3.10 Summary............................................................................3-52
References .....................................................................................3-54
3.1 Introduction
Electric generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The mechanical energy is produced
by prime movers. Prime movers are mechanical machines. They convert primary energy of a fuel or fluid
into mechanical energy. They are also called turbines or engines. The fossil fuels commonly used in prime
movers are coal, gas, oil, or nuclear fuel.
Essentially, the fossil fuel is burned in a combustor; thus, thermal energy is produced. Thermal energy
is then taken by a working fluid and turned into mechani