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ME184
Turbo Generator Valve Lift Sensor Burn Out
Technical committee

1. Trouble machinery

Valve Lift Sensor Synchronous Motor

Maker: TAMAGAWA SEIKI CO., LTD
Type: TS801N5E11,100/110V, 50/60 Hz

2. Outline of breakdown

At departure from foreign port, T/G flasher control trouble alarm was issued, then Turbo Generator
and Shaft Generator pressure control trouble occurred, and eventually a 400V earth alarm was issued.
At this time, 440V/115V transformer in 440V feed panel burned, and one phase voltage on BUS fell to
0V.
As repair, transformer was replaced with a spare part, but a fuse in the system burned out. Presuming
that this was caused by a short circuit in either the flasher control system or T/G and S/G pressure
controls, an investigation was performed. As a result, a burn out of the valve lift sensor was discov-
ered.

3. Conditions

1) Points of failure (See Fig.1)

2) Details of burn out
After removing and overhauling the synchronous motor, a metal fixture in slip ring insulation resin
was found melted and bent. And uneven abrasion was observed on the surface of rotating shaft that is
in contact with bearing.

4. Cause of breakdown

Due to a poor engagement between slip ring side bearing and shaft, a vibration and abnormal torque
were generated from gear engagement, which led to an abnormal abrasion of shaft. This abrasion is
considered to be the main cause.

5. Repair and Countermeasures

Since this part observes repeated shifts to respond to fluctuation in T/G load, there is always a possi-
bility of a similar failure happening again as long as synchronous motors are used. Thus, models were
changed to those that do not to use synchronous motors (See Fig. 2).

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