Condensing plant
Operating Documentation Condenser Pressure Protection
Process Engineering Function of Condenser
Pressure Protection (Low Vacuum Trip) 2oo3
(failsafe)
The task of the condenser pressure protection is to pro-
tect the last stages of the LP blading against impermissible
vibrations, impermissible windage and low condenser vac-
uums. It also has the task of protecting the casing/shell of the
LP turbine and condenser against an unallowable rise in pres-
sure.
Protection functions are implemented for each condenser
steam space, regardless of whether the condenser steam
space connects one, two or three LP turbines.
Description and Function
Condenser pressure is recorded using three absolute
pressure transducers 10MAG10CP002, 10MAG10CP003
and 10MAG10CP004.
An additional absolute pressure transducer with a smaller
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measuring range (10MAG10CP012) measures condenser
pressure during operation and this is used as a reference
measurement for the three absolute pressure transducers
10MAG10CP002, 10MAG10CP003 and 10MAG10CP004.
Generator motoring (reverse power) is limited to 4 s on
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initiation of turbine trip due to condenser pressure protection.
The protection functions for each condenser steam space
are in each case divided up between two protection circuits.
All trip criteria with fixed limits are compiled in the first
protection circuit. All actuators which have to be controlled in
design patent are reserved.
order to establish a safe condition are selected in a corre-
sponding logic. Violation of individual trip limits can therefore
result in bypass trip only, turbine trip only or in an overall trip
of the turbine and the bypass system. Every limit which results
in tripping is preceded by a warning limit (pre-alarm).
The time delayed turbine condenser pressure protection
is realized in a second protection circuit. This protection circuit
initiates a turbine trip depending on the steam pressure up-
stream of the LP turbine. The warning preceding the trip ac-
tuation is activated without time delay when the limit value
curve is violated. The trip actuation is delayed by 5 minutes.
An enabling logic depending on process criteria is imple-
mented to ensure that the condenser pressure protection is
not permanently active during plant standstill and when the
condenser is not evacuated.
As the condenser pressure protection must satisfy SIL2 re-
quirements, the limit value formation and enabling logic are
also implemented in failsafe technology.
A failsafe steam turbine speed signal is used for formation
Class: Restricted
of the limit values for speed (see steam turbine protection
system). If the failsafe steam turbine speed signal fails,
speed-dependent enables are permanently activated.
Steam pressure upstream of the intermediate-pressure
bypass stations is read in via failsafe equipment. These pres-
Siemens Energy MAG &MFE020
Functional Description
sure measurements are monitored for a minimum limit for de-
termining that the system is depressurized. This enable pre-
vents damage to the condenser or to the rupture diaphragms
being caused by inadvertently admitting steam into a non-
evacuated condenser.
SIL Requirements
The condenser pressure protection is configured in fail-
safe technology and therefore satisfies the Safety Integrity
Level 2 (SIL2) requirement according to IEC 61508 "Func-
tional Safety of Electrical / Electronic / Programmable Elec-
tronic Safety Related Systems" / IEC 61511 "Functional Safe-
ty - Safety-Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry
Sector"
Condenser pressure protection with fixed limit
values
Staggered condenser pressure protection equipment is
broken down into separate 2oo3 standard circuits with fixed
trip limits, pre-trip alarm limits (warning limits) and the dedi-
cated enables.
Each pair of values formed by the trip limit and the pre-
trip alarm limit is activated using an appropriate technological
enable. The enable can consist of individual process-related
limits or logic gating and ensures that the condenser and the
turbine are adequately protected at all times. At the same
times, these enable signals ensure that unwanted annuncia-
tions can be suppressed during shutdowns and startup pro-
cedures, provided this is allowed by the overall plant condi-
tion.
Bypass trip and turbine trip at MAX4
The highest limit MAX4 primarily serves to protect the
condenser against excessive pressure and as a precaution-
ary measure against bursting of the rupture diaphragms in the
condenser. It acts on both the turbine trip and the bypass trip
systems.
The pre-trip alarm limit HIGH4 precedes the trip limit
MAX4. This pre-trip alarm informs the plant operator about
the critical condition before trip is initiated.
Trip initiation via limit MAX4 and the pre-trip alarm HIGH4 for
the turbine are enabled when one of the pressure transducers
upstream of the IP bypass stations admitting steam into the
condenser detects a minimum pressure in the system. This
ensures that a trip signal is not permanently active when the
condenser is not evacuated. Damage to the rupture dia-
phragms due to opening (also only brief opening) of a bypass
station or a turbine inlet valve with steam upstream of the by-
pass stations is avoided.
Bypass trip at MAX3
The next limit down MAX3 serves to protect the LP blad-
ing and acts solely on the bypass trip systems.
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Operating Documentation
It is designed to prevent the LP blading coasting down
against an excessive condenser pressure (backpressure).
However, it is selected such that there is no response when
the steam turbine is being operated with the allowable con-
denser pressure range, i.e. below the pre-trip alarm limit
HIGH2. If the turbine is operated above the pre-trip limit
HIGH2 the risk of a bypass trip with turbine trip increases with
increasing condenser pressure. The reason being that on
changeover from turbine operation to bypass operation the
condenser pressure can rise to almost double the original
value.
The pre-trip alarm limit HIGH3 precedes the trip limit
MAX3. This pre-trip alarm informs the plant operator about
the critical condition before trip is initiated.
Trip initiation via the limit MAX3 and the pre-trip alarm
HIGH3 for the bypass stations are enabled via a memory
function when a defined minimum turbine speed RELS2 has
been reached and condenser pressure is for the first time
lower than the pre-trip limit. The memory is reset when the
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as utilization of its contents and communication thereof to others without express
authorization are prohibited. Offenders will be held liable for payment of
damages. All rights created by patent grant or registration of a utility model or
speed again falls below the set limit RELS2.
Turbine and bypass trip at MAX2
The limit MAX2 serves to protect the LP blading and ini-
tially acts solely on the turbine trip systems.
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If condenser pressure is the cause responsible for trip-
ping the turbine at this limit then bypass trip is initiated parallel
to bypass trip.
Response of the condenser pressure protection at MAX2
can only occur if another fault has already occurred (e.g. fail-
ure of circulating water pumps). For this reason, bypass trip
design patent are reserved.
is initiated at an early stage to prevent the turbine from coast-
ing down at an excessive condenser pressure (backpres-
sure). Immediate bypass trip initiation only preempts the in-
evitable trip, as the condenser pressure generally rises until
the MAX3 limit responds. If the turbine coasts down against
an excessive condenser pressure this can result in increased
service life consumption for the LP last-stage blading.
The pre-trip alarm limit HIGH2 precedes the trip limit
MAX2. This pre-trip alarm informs the plant operator about
the critical condition before trip is initiated.
Trip initiation via the MAX2 limit for the turbine and the
HIGH2 pre-trip alarm are enabled when the turbine speed
approaches the first critical speed range.
Trip initiation via the MAX2 limit for the bypass station is
enabled if this limit in the condenser pressure protection was
responsible for initiating turbine trip and the turbine speed is
greater than 50% of the rated speed.
Condenser pressure protection for steam turbine
Class: Restricted
with limit value curve
The limit curve for the condenser pressure protection lies
below the fixed condenser pressure protection limit MAX2. On
activation it initiates a turbine trip only.
Siemens Energy MAG &MFE020
Condensing plant
Condenser Pressure Protection
Functional Description
When the trip limit is triggered an annunciation is issued
that turbine trip will be initiated with a 5 minute delay.
This curve is formed using the pressure in the crossover
line upstream of the LP turbine measured with the 3 pressure
transducers 10MAC11CP001, 10MAC11CP002 and
10MAC11CP003.
Trip actuation via limit value curve is released when the
turbine speed is higher than 50% of nominal speed.
Monitoring functions
Count of operating hours
The time for which the last stage blades of the LP turbine
may be operated at increased condenser pressures is re-
stricted; the accumulated time of operation under such con-
ditions is therefore monitored. Appropriate annunciations are
issued at an early stage to provide the plant operator with
timely information on accumulated time operated under these
conditions.
Bypass operation with high condenser pressures
Admission of steam to the condenser via the bypass sta-
tions is enabled as soon as condenser pressure has dropped
below the HIGH3 warning limit. A fast reduction of condenser
pressure must be ensured. If steam is admitted to a condens-
er with inadequate vacuum for an extended period, this can
result in erosion in the condenser in the medium and long
term. The time spent under these conditions is monitored.
Requirements in the event of a fault
Failure of one measuring point has no effect on proper
functioning of the protection circuits. A further failure in meas-
ured value acquisition for the protection or failure of all three
measuring points causes immediate turbine and bypass trip.
The operating personnel are notified by corresponding pre-
alarms (warning messages).
The limit curve for the condenser pressure protection is
set to a fixed value corresponding to the minimum value of
the limit curve if two or three malfunctioning measured value
acquisitions are detected in the crossover line upstream of
the LP turbine (10MAC11CP001, 10MAC11CP002,
10MAC11CP003). This measure increases availability with-
out compromising safety as it means that failure of two or
three measurements required for the limit curve does not au-
tomatically result in turbine trip.
Annunciations
Various annunciations can be output by the condenser
pressure protection system depending on the operating sta-
tus. Consequences and any necessary action by the operat-
ing personnel are described in comments on annunciations.
Appropriate annunciations are issued in the control room
on violation of limits or faults in the condenser pressure pro-
tection system.
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 Condensing plant
Operating Documentation Condenser Pressure Protection
Functional Description

Trip initiation is always annunciated. Bypass operation with excessive condenser pressures
should be limited to prevent erosion damage to the condenser
The operating time at which the last-stage blades of the
in the medium and long term. For this reason, annunciations
LP turbine are subjected to elevated condenser pressure
are issued at staggered intervals when operation at high con-
(backpressure) is monitored as this is restricted and an an-
denser pressures is detected.
nunciation is issued when the allowable total accumulated
time is exceeded.
Transmittal, reproduction, dissemination and/or editing of this document as well
as utilization of its contents and communication thereof to others without express
authorization are prohibited. Offenders will be held liable for payment of
damages. All rights created by patent grant or registration of a utility model or

Copyright © Siemens Energy 2020 - All Rights Reserved

design patent are reserved.
Class: Restricted

Siemens Energy MAG &MFE020 2-1-MA5-372-M0007 / 3-3

MA13324 0520 EN

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