- Turbomachines can be classified as either impulse or reaction types based on how much the pressure changes across the moving blade row. Impulse turbines only change the direction of flow, while reaction turbines change both speed and direction.
- Impulse turbines are high-head, low-flow devices with a large pressure drop across the stationary guide vanes. Reaction turbines are low-head, high-flow devices that have a pressure drop across both the guide vanes and rotor.
- The blade speed ratio compares the actual peripheral speed to the speed required to convert the stage work entirely to kinetic energy without losses, and it provides a measure of turbine design. Impulse turbines typically have lower blade speed ratios than reaction turbines