Energy Conservation in Turbomachinery: Key Principles and Applications

This lecture focuses on the principles of energy conservation as applied to turbomachinery. It begins with an introduction to the Bernoulli equation, discussing its relevance to inviscid and incompressible flow, and how it leads to the concept of specific energy. The instructor explains energy conservation along a streamline and provides examples, including flow in a Venturi pipe and Torricelli flow, highlighting the importance of head loss in these scenarios. Misapplications of the Bernoulli equation are addressed, emphasizing common misconceptions in fluid dynamics. The lecture further explores energy balances in turbines and pumps, detailing specific energy calculations and the impact of head losses. An example from the Itaipu powerplant illustrates the practical application of these concepts in real-world scenarios. The lecture concludes with a discussion on the specific energy balance for pumps, reinforcing the critical role of energy conservation in the design and analysis of turbomachinery systems.