Power plants can create electricity in numerous ways. Two standard methods to produce electricity are gas and steam. They both operate differently and have unique structures to maximize performance. Turbines are essential because they help produce electricity, and we would not be able to access or perform our everyday activities without electricity. Turbines are a reliable source of power and a more sustainable way of producing electricity. Here is a quick guide to the difference between gas and steam turbines and which is more efficient for your power plant.
Gas turbines are a widespread and reliable power generating device. Gas turbines are internal combustion engines that use the air’s gases as the working fluid. They pull the air from the atmosphere and compress it in the compressor. The compressed air proceeds into the combustion chamber to heat up. The stifling air flows over the blade, which causes the turbines to rotate.
Steam turbines are one of the more flexible turbines. Steam turbines receive power from water vapor. The heated water evaporates into steam and rotates the blades to generate electricity. As the steam turns the blades, the generator connected to the turbine also produces electricity.
The Difference Between Gas & Steam Turbines
The main difference between gas and steam turbines is that steam turbines receive electricity from water vapor and gas turbines produce power from compressed air. However, a range of factors set these two turbines apart. Here are a couple of differences between steam and gas turbines.
A steam turbine’s efficiency is higher than a gas turbine’s. Gas turbines rely on exhaust gases from a boiler, and pressure and temperature are not as high as steam turbines and take a lot more energy to produce electricity.
Gas turbines must have a compressor, combustion chamber, and power turbine, while steam turbines need a steam boiler, combustion chambers, and heat exchanger to produce energy.
Steam turbines’ internal temperatures reach up to 500 to 650 (932 to 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit) degrees Celsius. Gas turbines’ internal temperatures reach up to 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,732 degrees Fahrenheit), which is much higher than a steam turbine’s temperature.
Gas turbines require less space and installation, so they cost significantly less than steam turbines. Steam turbines require additional space, more structure, and have higher running costs.