Inlet moisture in a steam turbine should be kept low primarily to minimize wear on:

• A. Condenser blades
• B. Boiler tubes
• C. Turbine blades
• D. Pitch control gears

Answer: (C)

Wet steam can cause erosive wear on turbine blades. When liquid water droplets ride along with the steam, they strike the moving blades at high speed, transferring kinetic energy and gradually eroding the metal surface. Over time this leads to pitting, roughness, and reduced blade life and efficiency. The turbine blades are the components directly exposed to the high-velocity, moisture-laden steam, so they experience the most wear from inlet moisture. Other parts like condenser blades, boiler tubes, or pitch control gears don’t encounter the same impact conditions, so the primary concern with moisture in the inlet is protecting the turbine blades.