A large reaction turbine will have what characteristic?

In a large reaction turbine, the characteristic operational principle involves steam pressure dropping through both the moving blades (rotor) and the stationary blades (stator). This design allows the turbine to extract energy from the steam as it passes through the turbine stages. As steam enters the turbine at high pressure, it expands through the stationary sections, which convert some of the pressure energy into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is then used to drive the rotor, causing it to spin and produce mechanical work.

As the steam continues through the moving blades, it undergoes further expansion, resulting in a continued drop in pressure. Essentially, the conversion of energy occurs at both stages — the stationary blades facilitate pressure drop and energy conversion, while the rotating blades extract kinetic energy from the moving steam. This interaction is what distinguishes a reaction turbine from impulse turbines, where pressure drop occurs primarily at the stationary nozzles before reaching the rotor.

This characteristic of pressure drop through both sections is essential for the effective operation and efficiency of a reaction turbine, enabling it to operate across a wide range of conditions and making it suitable for large-scale power generation applications.