Turbine (source code)
= Turbine
A <turbine> extracts mechanical <work> from a flowing fluid through interaction with a rotating set of blades. <Steam>, hot gas or water changes its momentum while passing through the rotor, producing <torque> on the shaft. A <steam turbine> can drive an <electrical generator> in a thermal power station.
For steady axial through-flow in an ideal control-volume model, shaft torque is $\tau=\dot m(r_1v_{\theta1}-r_2v_{\theta2})$, the rate at which fluid angular momentum is removed. Here $v_\theta$ is the tangential velocity component and $r$ the radius. Shaft <power> is $P=\tau\Omega$ at angular speed $\Omega$. The relation connects blade-induced changes in flow direction with useful output; losses and operating conditions determine actual conversion efficiency.
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