TURBO TOPICS DISCUSSION ONE:
THE COST BENEFIT OF TURBINE DRIVE
Steam turbines drive pumps and other equipment for several reasons:
- Potential for lower operating cost versus electric drive.
- Elimination of part load losses normally encountered with a constant speed drive.
- Improvement of system reliabilty.
Steam Turbines Offer Cost Savings Compared to Motors Running on Electricity. The savings can be very substantial, based on relative steam and electricity costs. For example, if a pump requires 300 horse power to drive it, a motor driver would cost about $94,232 annually, assuming 5 cents/KWH and 8,000 hours of operation. If steam is generated from a gas fired boiler and the gas cost is $4.00/MCF, this same pump could be operated for only $32,147. A savings of $62,085 per year.

By using the following equations you will yield these results.
(1) Pump Horse Power Required=

GPM x Pump Differential Head (feet) x specific gravity of pumped fluid
3960 x pump efficiency

410 GPM x 2000 feet x .94
3960 x .65		 = 300 Horse Power

(2) Annual Turbine Operating Cost =
Pump HP x 2545 BTU/HP-HR
(1 - turbine mechnical loss)		 X fuel cost in $/Millon BTU's
boiler efficiency *		 X operating hours per year
106
300 HP x 2545
(1 - .05)		 X $4.00/M BTU's
.80		 X 8000
106
= $32,147
* this example is typical and uses a boiler efficiency of 80%
(3) Annual Motor Operating Cost =
Pump HP x .746
motor efficiency		 X electricity cost per KWH(in $'s) x hours per year
300 HP x .746
9.5 		X $.05/KWH 8000 hours =$94,232
(4)Turbine Cost Savings = Annual Motor Cost - Annual Turbine cost
$94,232 - $32,147 = $62,085
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