5/18/2021

Steam Turbines
Governing
Dr. S Ghosh
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIEST Shibpur

e-mail: sudipghosh.becollege@gmail.com
ghoshsudip@mech.iiests.ac.in

Governing Steam Turbine

Steam turbine governing is the method of controlling the
speed of rotation by controlling flow rate of steam into a
steam turbine.

In steam turbine operation, the primary objective is to

maintain a constant speed of rotation irrespective of the
varying load.

Variation in load tends to impart considerable variation in

the turbine speed, which in turn affects the generation
performance of a steam turbine. Maintaining the speed
within a narrow range is therefore necessary.

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Methods of governing
The principal methods of governing are as follows:

1. Throttle governing
2. Nozzle Governing
3. Bypass Governing
4. Combination Governing

All these methods are aimed at controlling steam flow into

the turbine and/or through the different stages of the turbine
thus changing the turbine power output in tandem with the
change in load, while keeping speed constant.
In no load unsynchronized condition, steam power is used
only to accelerate the rotor (after meeting rotational losses)
and hence the speed changes..

Throttle Governing
In throttle governing the pressure of steam is reduced at
the turbine entry by making it pass through a restricted
passage in the governing valve.

The reduction in pressure leads to a throttling process in

which the enthalpy of steam remains constant.

The flow rate is controlled using a partially opened steam

stop valve.

Throttle governing is a simple mechanism and is most apt

method for small steam turbines.

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Throttle Governing

The valve is actuated by using

a centrifugal governor which
consists of flying balls
attached to the arm of the
sleeve.

With change in the load the

turbine shaft speed changes
making the flying balls go
away or come closer to the
sleeve axis. This activates the
lever, which in turn actuates
the stop valve.

Throttle Governing

For large installations, the simple

governor and lever mechanism
may not be sufficient to actuate
the throttle valve and an oil
operated relay is incorporated in
the circuit.

This rely magnifies the small

force produced by the governor
to produce a larger effect on
throttle valve, thus enabling finer
control of the turbine.

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Nozzle Governing
In nozzle governing the flow rate of steam is regulated by
opening and closing the sets of nozzles, while pressure is
made to remain constant.

Groups of nozzles form a set (or sector) and each set is

controlled by a separate valve. The actuation of individual
valve closes the corresponding set of nozzle thereby
controlling the flow rate.

Nozzle governing can be applied only to the first stage

whereas the subsequent stages remain unaffected.

Nozzle Governing

The advantage of
this method lies in
the exploitation of
full boiler
pressure and
temperature, as
no pressure
regulation is
applied.

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Bypass Governing
In certain situations, like when the turbine is overloaded,
some extra steam needs to be passed through the larger
low pressure stages, avoiding the HP stage.

During such operation, bypass valves are opened and

fresh steam is introduced into the later stages of the
turbine. This generates more energy to satisfy the
increased load.

Usually this is resorted to for short durations.

Bypass Governing
Up to economical loads,
steam is passed through
the main valve to the
nozzle-chest. At loads
more than economical
load, the by-pass valve
lifts and a part of the
steam is by-passed into
the steam belt and this
steam mixes with the
steam of HP stages and
is supplied to lower
stages of the turbine.

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Bypass Governing
Combination governing employs usage of any two of the
above mentioned methods of governing.

Generally bypass and nozzle governing are used

simultaneously to match the load on turbine over a wide
range.

Emergency Governing
Steam turbine are also provided with emergency
governing mechanism which come into action under
unusual conditions such as:

- When the shaft speed goes beyond 110%.

- When balancing of the turbine is disturbed.

-In case of failure of the lubrication system.

- When vacuum in condenser falls or supply of

cooling water into the condenser is inadequate.

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References n
Acknowledgements

• Power Plant Engineering by P K Nag

• Power Plant Technology by M M el Wakil

• Online NPTEL academic resources

• Online free resources

Thank you