What does the pressure drop across rotating blades indicate in a reaction turbine?

Study for the Massachusetts 3rd Class Engineer Exam. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Prepare for success on your exam!

In a reaction turbine, the pressure drop across the rotating blades is directly indicative of the energy conversion process occurring within the machine. As steam passes over the blades, the pressure drop signifies that energy is being extracted from the steam and transformed into mechanical energy. This transformation is facilitated by the design of the turbine, where both the stationary and rotating blades contribute to the overall pressure drop and the consequent movement of the turbine.

When steam enters the turbine, it expands as it moves through the nozzles and imparts a portion of its kinetic energy to the blades, which ultimately contributes to rotational motion. The pressure difference before and after the blades demonstrates how much energy has been converted into useful work.

The other options, while relevant to turbine operation in a broader context, do not directly correlate with the specific indication of pressure drop across the blades. The efficiency relates to how effectively the turbine converts energy, the amount of steam present speaks to flow capacity rather than pressure, and the speed of the turbine is influenced by various factors but is not a direct measure of pressure drop across the blades. Hence, the pressure drop primarily reveals valuable insight into the energy transformation taking place within the reaction turbine.

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