Figures A-1 and A-2 show major components, as seen on the exterior of the turbine.

Each major component is described in detail below. Inlet Flange. This is the connection to the steam supply. It is part of the Combination Overspeed Trip/Throttle Valve (hereinafter termed the combo Valve). Flange type, size, and material are a function of steam conditions and customer specification. Refer to the certified drawing at the end of this manual for a complete description. Combo Valve. This Combination Overspeed Trip/Throttle Valve is mounted between the turbine casing and the inlet steam line. It houses both a throttle valve and an overspeed trip valve. The Overspeed Trip Valve is a mechanically actuated valve that interrupts the supply of steam to the turbine during an overspeed condition or other emergency, thereby bringing the turbine to a complete stop. In the event of overspeed, the valve is activated by the overspeed trip collar, which is attached to the turbine shaft inside the Governor Mounting Housing. In the event of other emergencies, the valve can be activated using the Overspeed Trip Lever, which protrudes from the Governor Mounting Housing. The Throttle Valve is contained in the Combo Valve upstream of the Overspeed Trip Valve. It controls the amount of steam entering the turbine and thereby determines the speed and power produced by the turbine. Trip Linkage (not visible). This linkage connects the Overspeed Trip Valve to the trip mechanism inside the Governor Mounting Housing. The trip Linkage is activated by either the overspeed trip collar or the Overspeed Trip Lever. Governor. The Governor senses the speed of the turbine and opens or closes the throttle valve, as appropriate, to maintain the set speed. A variety of governors are available for different applications. Throttle Linkage. This is the linkage between the Governor and Throttle Valve. Governor Mounting Housing. This is the structure supporting the Governor and connecting it to the Governor End Bearing Housing. The Trip Collar, Overspeed Trip Lever, and Governor Drive Coupling are contained within the Governor Mounting Housing. Overspeed Trip Lever. The Overspeed Trip Lever is part of the Trip Linkage, allowing manual activation of the Overspeed Trip Valve. Overspeed Trip Reset Handle. This handle is used to reset (open) the Overspeed Trip Valve, permitting recovery from an overspeed trip condition. When recovering from a trip condition, the handle is initially opened slightly to permit pilot valve operation, and then is opened fully to reset the valve. Full Flow Handle. This handle is used to close the throttle valve when recovering from an overspeed trip condition. The throttle valve is held against its seat with this handle to reduce incoming steam pressure, and then the overspeed trip reset handle is used to reset the overspeed trip valve.

Governor End Bearing Housing. RLHA turbines have one sleeve shaft support bearing and a thrust bearing in this housing. RLHB turbines have on ball bearing serving both purposes in this housing. The standard housing also contains an oil ring, seals, the oil reservoir and the cooling water jacket. An Oil Level Gauge and Constant Level Oiler are mounted on the bearing housing, along with the oil filler/vent, oil drain plug, and plugs for cooling water inlet and outlet openings.

Drive End Bearing Housing. This housing is similar to the Governor End Bearing Housing. The RLHA contains one sleeve bearing, while the RLHB utilizes a ball bearing. Oil Level Gauge. The Oil Level gauge indicated the oil level in the bearing housing. This level corresponds with a mark inscribed on the bearing housing. Constant Level Oiler. The Constant Level Oiler is an oil reservoir that is set to maintain a constant oil level in the bearing housing. Gland Housing. Gland Housings contain Carbon Ring Seals that prevent steam from leaking along the shaft to atmosphere. Some steam will escape past the carbon rings, lubricating them. This steam is conveyed by the gland leakoff connection to a safe location. Cover. The Cover is the turbine component that seals the turbine casing. It contains an eye bolt, used for lifting the cover during turbine service. The eye bolt must not be used for lifting the entire turbine. Inlet Casing. The Inlet Casing is the casing section containing the high-pressure steam. Steam enters the Inlet Casing from the Overspeed Trip Valve and exits through nozzles in the Nozzle Block. Handvalves. Handvalves allow the operator to open or close the passages from the Steam chest to a portion of the nozzles-thereby turning some nozzles on and off. This permits the operator to improve turbine efficiency at partial load. The reasoning behind this is as follows: the Throttle Valve opens or closes in response to the Governor in an attempt to maintain a constant speed as the load imposed on the turbine varies. At low loads, the Throttle Valve is almost closed, resulting not only in reduced steam flow through the turbine, but in reduced steam pressure in the Steam Chest. When steam pressure in the chest is low, then according to the laws of thermodynamics, turbine efficiency is low. By closing some nozzles, power can be decreased by reducing steam flow, without throttling and reducing pressure. The number of handvalves on the turbine is determined by operating conditions and customer requirements. To avoid steam cutting damage to the handvalve seats, handvalves must be either completely open or completely closed, and never used as a throttle. Exhaust Casing. The Exhaust Casing contains the exhaust steam and is integral with the Exhaust Flange. The Exhaust Casing supports the Drive End Bearing Housing.

Turbine Pedestal and Flex Plate. The Turbine Pedestal consists of two legs that are bolted to the Exhaust casing. The legs are drilled for mounting bolts and dowel pins which hold the turbine in position and help maintain alignment with the driven equipment. The flex plate, mounted to the Governor End Bearing Housing, supports the opposite end of the turbine. Exhaust Flange. This flange connects the turbine to the exhaust steam line. Flange type, size, and material are a function of steam conditions and customer requirements. Refer to the certified drawing at the end of this manual fro a complete description. Shaft Extension. This is the output shaft of the turbine, which is ground and keyed to accept a coupling.

Working control value

Calibrate current-to-pressure transducers (I/P), valve positioners, and control valves.
Temperature, pressure, level, and flow instruments all sense a process parameter and produce a signal for indication or controller input. If we want to control a process parameter, the controller output must convert to a signal that can translate to and subsequently drive a control valve. The control valve is a final control element. A final control element is any device or element that changes the value of a manipulated variable. Valves and heaters are common examples. Let's look at control valves and the devices that process the signal supplied to the control valve.

Achieve the programmed

In this illustration you can see the controller output sends an electronic signal to the current-to-pressure transducer (I/P), which sends a pneumatic signal to the control valve. The control valve position changes in response to the signal to adjust flow to the setpoint. As the flow changes, it is sensed by the flow transmitter. When the flow sensed is equal to setpoint, the valve position remains the same. Any time there is a disturbance to the system or a change in setpoint, the flow control loop automatically responds to achieve the programmed setpoint. A block diagram of this concept is here. The final control element can be proportional control or ON-OFF control. For ONOFF control, a controller output relay changes the state of the relay contact, which completes the circuit for a solenoid valve to energize. The solenoid valve opens to allow air to open (or close) a control valve. The first component in the final control subsystem is the signal conditioner. The signal conditioner amplifies and, if necessary, converts the signal for compatibility with the actuator. Typical devices used as signal conditioners include current-to-pneumatic transducers, current-to-voltage (I/E) transducers, amplifiers (electronic or pneumatic), relays, digital-to-analog converters, or analog-to-digital converters. The most common signal conditioner in a proportional control loop is an I/P transducer. A typical I/P transducer is a force balance device in which a coil suspends and hangs in the field of a magnet. Current flowing through the coil generates axial movement of the coil, which causes movement of the beam. The beam controls the backpressure against the nozzle by controlling the restriction of airflow through the nozzle. This backpressure acts as a pilot pressure to control the outlet pressure. The zero adjustment causes the beam to move relative to the nozzle. The span adjustment is a potentiometer that limits the current through the coil. The I/P transducer must be supplied with instrument air within the range specified by the manufacturer, usually at least 20 psig.

The typical I/P transducer is calibrated for a 4-20 mA input = 3-15 psig output. Most I/P transducers can be configured for direct action (output pressure increases as input signal increases) or reverse action (output pressure decreases as input signal increases).

Mechanically to the valve

The next component in the final control subsystem, if applicable, is the actuator. The actuator receives the conditioned signal and changes it to some form of mechanical energy or motion. Typical devices used as actuators include solenoids, pneumatic valve positioners, AC and DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulic motors, and hydraulic pistons. Many control valves include a pneumatic valve positioner. A valve positioner is a device used to increase or decrease the air pressure (from the I/P) operating the control valve actuator. Positioners usually mount to the control valve actuator and connect mechanically to the valve stem for position indication.

A positioner is a type of air relay, which acts to overcome hysteresis, packing box friction, and effects of pressure drop across the valve. It assures exact positioning of the valve stem and provides finer control. There are many types of positioners. The basic principles of operation are similar for all types.

The instrument pressure (from an I/P, for example) acts on the input module, which controls the flapper-nozzle system of the relay. Supply pressure applies to the relay and the output pressure of the relay goes to the control valve actuator. Most positioners can set up and function for direct or reverse action. For a directacting positioner, increasing the instrument pressure causes the input module to pivot the beam. The beam pivots the flapper and restricts the nozzle. The nozzle pressure increases and causes the relay assembly to increase output pressure to the actuator. With a direct-acting actuator, the increased pressure moves the actuator stem downward. The positioner connects mechanically to the stem of the valve. Stem movement feeds back to the beam by means of a feedback lever and range spring, which causes the flapper to pivot slightly away from the nozzle to prevent further increase in relay output pressure. Note that some positioners accept a milliamp input and include an integral I/P transducer.

The last component in the final control subsystem is the final control element. Let's look at control valves (Other final control elements include servo valves, heaters, conveyors, auger feeds, and hopper gates.). There are many different types, sizes, and applications for control valves. Selecting the correct control valve for a specific application is crucial to proper system performance. Under sizing and over sizing are common problems. There are many valuable resources available to assist with proper selection, not the least of which is a control valve sales engineer. Here's a typical control valve.

The pneumatic signal from the positioner (or I/P if a positioner is not used) applies directly to the actuator. For this control valve, the air enters above the diaphragm and pushes against spring pressure to close the valve. The valve fully closes when the plug seats tightly against the seat ring. As air pressure decreases, the spring pressure causes the diaphragm, stem, and plug to move upward, opening the valve. This means a loss of pressure would cause the valve to open. This is a fail-open valve. Different configurations of air inlet, spring location, and valve seat arrangement result in different fail positions and determine whether the valve is direct- or reverse-acting. For example, this same valve, with the plug below the seat ring (reverse-seated), would open with increased air pressure and would fail closed on loss of air pressure. So, all components in the final control subsystem must be configured correctly for the system to work properly. The fail-safe positions must be correct for the application, and the action must produce the desired results. These configurations must be properly documented and utilized during calibration, loop checks, or troubleshooting.