Performance of a rotating two-phase turbine for combined power generation and desalination

The main purpose of this study was to develop a simple design of a two-phase flow reaction turbine and experimentally estimate its performance characteristics with sub-cooled hot water as working fluid. Sub-cooled feed water at 96 °C and under local atmospheric pressure was supplied to the turbine while the pressure at the turbine exit was maintained at around 6 kPa absolute within an evacuated container. The turbine under investigation had an outer diameter of 412 mm, throat diameter of 2.5 mm and total nozzle exit area of 1320 mm2 for two curved nozzles. The best position of the throat was found to be around 34 mm from the centre of the turbine under investigation. Placement of a flat head pin downstream of the throat improved the turbine's performance.