HUNTING PROBLEMS ON INDUSTRIAL DRIVE TURBINES

CHECKS TO BE CARRIED-OUT AT SITES

The Governing System of Industrial Drive Turbines is a proven design. As such there
cannot be any problem if the following checks are carried out during commissioning/
troubleshooting stage. It goes without saying that the smooth functioning is the
prerequisite for stable and reliable operation of entire train including Drive Machines as
regards vibrations and wear out of on moving elements. Hydrodynamic Governing
System calls for utmost balancing of all the Governing Elements for dynamic stability.

1.0 GOVERNING SYSTEM PIPING.

2.0 SMOOTH OPERATION GOVERNING ELEMENTS.
3.0 TRIP SETTING OF HYDRAULIC AND OTHER PROTECTIONS.
4.0 BETTER SETTING OF GOVERNING SYSTEM AT STAND STILL
CONDITION.

1.0 GOVERNING SYSTEMS PIPING:

1.1 Piping sizes should be maintained strictly as per drawing with particular
emphasis on internal bore sizes. Reducers to be used only the end
connections.
1.2 Secondary oil impulse piping from control desk to servomotor is to be
routed in a shortest length.
1.3 Damping devices, adjustable orifices and LSR solenoid valve should be
installed nearer to servomotor.
1.4 Pressure Gauge tapping to be provided between the damping device,
orifice and LSR solenoid valve and secondary impulse inlet to servomotor.

2.0 SMOOTH OPERATION OF GOVERNING ELEMENTS:

2.1 All control valve assemblies are to be thoroughly made free. They should
move freely with hand in the absence of springs in the valve assembly.
2.2 After assembly of springs, the lever assembly should close smoothly on
lifting and releasing the same with bars, wherever it is possible.
2.3 Servomotors should be made to operate smoothly be checking the
following:
a) Secondary drain hole of Pilot Piston shall be in the range of 1÷2
mm to avoid too much of oscillations of control valve spindle
(However, small oscillations are desirable for 11 MW for the free
movement of the control valves lifting spindles.
b) Ensure free rotation of Pilot Piston of main servomotor at an oil
temperature of 400C.
c) Feedback cam on the spindle shall be locked properly by grubbing
to avoid variation in valve lift during operation.
 d) Locknut on the feedback lever spring shall be tightened fully to
avoid change in set-pressure of servomotor start up of opening
during operation.
e) Swiveling action of the spindle in servomotor is to be ensured with
minimum vertical play to minimize idle travel during feedback.
f) Any additional leakage trough the bottom of the control slide shall
be stopped to avoid any pressure drop between control disk and
servomotor.

3.0 TRIP SETTING OF HYDRAULIC PROTECTIONS:

3.1 All the protections are to be set as per recommended valves given by the
design department.
3.2 Set valves for Hydraulic protections are to be checked such as low lube
oil, low vacuum, high extraction, high back pressure, before every start up
after overhauling for their consistence and reliability.
3.3 Mechanical protection in the Front Bearing Pedestal, Axial and Radial
Gaps between the trip lever and Rotor dogs will play an important role.
Any deviation in the set values will lead to tripping of the unit without any
indication.
3.4 The axial gap between Trip lever and the projection cams on the rotor
shall be set with the rotor in central optimum position in Thrust Bearing.
This will avoid spurious trippings. (Note: No indications are normally
available when these protections act.)

4.0 SETTING OF GOVERNING SYSTEM VALVES:

4.1 Secondary oil pressure VS valve lifting and control desk valves shall be
set as per Governing adjustment diagram as close to the values as possible
to avoid any instability of Governing system.
4.2 The drop of secondary oil pressure across the impulse line between the
control desk and servomotor should not be more than 0.10 atg.
4.3 Control desk values are to be adjusted as per the Governing adjustment
diagram, within the allowable limit.
4.4 While adjusting the control desk, the HP cut off point is to be adjusted at
1.4 atg to 1.45 atg above 400C of oil temperature. After adjustment of HP
cut off, the maximum secondary oil pressure should be set by adjusting the
adjustable screw provided below the bellow.
4.5 Speeder gear throttle shall be minimum of 30 mm and the spindle
movement shall be smooth in the entire range of operation. Otherwise this
may reflect in sudden changes in speed/ load.
4.6 Check for the co-axiality of the speeder gear, speeder gear spring and
comparator lever at stand still condition to avoid shift in the compressing
axis of the speeder gear spring, which may cause instability in the
Governing System.
4.7 Check the freeness of the sleeves on the secondary follow up pistons for
the entire travel of starting device to eliminate abrupt changes in
secondary at pressure.
4.8 Ensure proper de-aeration of primary oil through the bellow. Air lock in
the primary circuit may hinder smooth functioning of Governing System.
4.9 Ensure proper sealing of the bellow with its bottom, in case of double
bellow to avoid mixing of two pop (Preliminary Oil Pressure) impulses
(inner & outer) which may cause improper time change on the secondary
oil pressure.
4.10 Ensure the correct position of the pin inside the primary bellow and check
its swiveling action.
4.11 At Overspeed trip setting of 109  111% the tester oil pressure shall be
minimum of 0.2 Kg/ Cm2 to avoid spurious tripping of machine.
4.12 Check the oil quality regularly. This can be seen with the rate of cleaning
of duplex oil filter in Governing and Lube oil circuit.
4.13 All the orifices sizes in the trip and secondary oil circuit to be maintained
as per design.
4.14 Stroke of the power piston (Pneumatic actuator/ Askania) is to be ensured
as per the design requirement. Otherwise, governing values between zero
extraction and maximum extraction may not match.
4.15 All the values are to be set with calibrated gauges.

*****