VR Module · Mechanical · Thermal · Engineering
Steam Turbine - VR module.
Explore a two-stage, double-flow steam turbine as a working machine in VR - take it apart, run it, watch CFD-style steam flow, and map every stage to the Rankine cycle.
See it
Module media.
Learning objectives
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
Identify the major components - casing, rotor, shaft, nozzles, moving and fixed blades, bearings, seals, inlet, and exhaust
Explain how each component converts steam energy into mechanical shaft power
Describe the working of a two-stage / double-flow turbine - admission, expansion, blade interaction, and exhaust
Correlate turbine operation with the Rankine cycle - boiler, expansion, condenser, and pump
Interpret pressure, temperature, and velocity changes across stages from CFD-style steam-flow diagrams
Explain why double-flow configurations balance axial thrust in large steam turbines
About the module
A steam turbine you can open up and run.
A steam turbine converts the energy of high-pressure steam into mechanical shaft power - steam expands through nozzles and blades, spinning the rotor. Steam turbines drive thermal and nuclear power plants, marine propulsion, and industrial and combined-cycle systems.
Students explore a two-stage / double-flow turbine as a complete machine. In Assembly / Disassembly Mode they inspect the casing, rotor, blade rows, nozzles, shaft, bearings, seals, inlet, and exhaust; in X-Ray View the internal flow path, blade arrangement, rotor–stator interaction, and double-flow configuration become visible.
In Working Mode the operation is animated - high-pressure steam entering, expanding across stages, rotating the shaft, and producing power - with a CFD-style steam-flow layer showing flow direction, velocity change, pressure drop, and energy transfer, all mapped to the Rankine cycle so students connect the turbine to the wider power-generation loop of boiler, turbine, condenser, and pump.
The 7thi AI tutor sits alongside the whole experience, scaffolding the difficult parts and giving subject-aware answers in context. Built-in assessment lets faculty see, per student, who has grasped which concepts - without grading another paper.
ABET (United States)
Supports ABET Student Outcome 1 - engineering knowledge of thermodynamics, energy conversion, turbine operation, and power systems - and Outcome 6 through visualisation-led investigation and interpretation of turbine behaviour. Detailed mapping available on request.
AICTE / NEP 2020 (India)
Mapped to Thermodynamics, Applied & Thermal Engineering, Power Plant Engineering, and Turbomachinery units, supporting experiential, visualisation-led, competency-based learning aligned with NEP 2020.
University syllabi
We map this module to your institution's own Thermodynamics, Thermal Engineering, Power Plant Engineering, or Turbomachinery syllabus - paper codes, unit numbers, and course outcomes - before deployment.
NBA (India)
Maps to Course Outcomes in Applied Thermodynamics, Thermal Engineering, Power Plant Engineering, and Turbomachinery, contributing to POs around engineering knowledge, investigation, and modern tool usage (especially PO5).
Get this module
Included in these iXRLabs packages.
Mechanical Engineering
CoreMechanical VR modules - thermodynamics, turbomachinery, power plant, machines, and materials.
Complete Engineering
All disciplinesThe full engineering library - 240+ modules across mechanical, civil, and electrical, including the Steam Turbine.
Custom rollout
QuotePick specific modules, devices, and seat counts. We'll scope a deployment for your department.
7thi and assessment in this module
7thi in this module
Students can ask 7thi questions at any point - about the Rankine cycle, turbine staging, double-flow arrangement, or anything they see in the simulation. 7thi answers in context, without breaking the flow.
Assessment
Session data - concepts mastered, time per scene, assessment scores - appears on the faculty dashboard. Export to your LMS via xAPI.
Keep exploring
Related engineering modules.
What prior knowledge do students need?
A foundation-level understanding of thermodynamics and the Rankine cycle helps. Suitable for UG Year 2 and above in Mechanical, Thermal, or Power Plant Engineering.
How long is a typical session?
About 45 minutes for a full run including assessment. Students can pause and resume, and faculty can assign specific parts rather than the whole module.
Can this be used in a flipped classroom?
Yes. Students complete the VR module before the lecture, so class time focuses on analysis and discussion.
Is the assessment graded automatically?
Yes. Assessment scores appear on the faculty dashboard immediately. Faculty can adjust pass thresholds and export results to their LMS.
Which headsets is this module optimised for?
Meta Quest 2 / 3 / Pro, ClassVR, Pico, and any WebXR-compatible browser. It also runs in desktop browsers without a headset. We also support the Meta XR SDK, OpenXR, and any 6DOF headset.
See the Steam Turbine module live in a demo.
Thirty minutes, the full module, your curriculum questions answered.