PRECAUTIONS DURING

RUNNING
SUBMITTED BY: JASA, PRINCESS DIANE
ME-5208
 Problems with turbines are now rare and maintenance
requirements are relatively small. Any imbalance of the rotor can
lead to vibration, which in extreme cases can lead to a blade
letting go and punching straight through the casing. It is,
however, essential that the turbine be turned with dry steam. If
water gets into the steam and is blasted onto the blades (moisture
carryover) rapid impingement and erosion of the blades can
occur, possibly leading to imbalance and catastrophic failure.
Also, water entering the blades will likely result in the destruction
of the thrust bearing for the turbine shaft. To prevent this, along
with controls and baffles in the boilers to ensure high quality
steam, condensate drains are installed in the steam piping leading
to the turbine.
SPEED REGULATION
The control of a turbine with a governor is essential, as
turbines need to be run up slowly, to prevent damage while
some applications (such as the generation of alternating
current electricity) require precise speed control.
Uncontrolled acceleration of the turbine rotor can lead to
an over speed trip, which causes the nozzle valves that
control the flow of steam to the turbine to close. If this
fails then the turbine may continue continue accelerating
until it breaks apart, often spectacularly.
Turbines are expensive to make, requiring precision
manufacture and special quality materials.
THE GOVERNOR
A steam turbine governor is a component of the
turbine control system that regulates rotational
speed in response to changing load conditions. The
governor output signal manipulates the position of a
steam inlet valve or nozzles which in turn regulates
the steam flow to the turbine.
ELEMENTS OF TURBINES AND THEIR
FUNCTIONS
FOUNDATIONS
Turbine foundations are built up from a structural
foundation in the hull to provide a rigid supporting
base. All turbines are subjected to varying degrees
of temperature-from that existing during a secured
condition to that existing full-power operation.
Therefore, means are provided to allow for
expansion and contraction.
CASINGS
The materials used to construct turbines will vary
somewhat depending on the steam and power
conditions for which the turbine is designed. Turbine
casings are made of cast carbon steel for non
superheated steam applications. Superheated
applications use casings made of carbon
molybdenum steel. For turbine casings used on
submarines, a percentage of chrome stainless steel is
used, which is more resistant to steam erosion than
carbon steel.
NOZZLES

The primary function of the nozzles is to convert

the thermal energy of steam into kinetic energy.
The secondary function of the nozzles is to direct
the steam against the blades.
ROTORS
Rotors are manufactured from steel alloys. The
primary purpose of a turbine rotor is to carry the
moving blades that convert the steam’s kinetic
energy to rotating mechanical energy.
BEARINGS
The rotor of every turbine must be positioned
radially and axially by bearings. Radial bearings
carry and support the weight of the rotor and
maintain the correct radial clearance between the
rotor and casing.
Axial bearings limit the fore-and-aft travel of the
rotor. Thrust bearings take care of any axial thrust,
which may develop on a turbine rotor and hold the
turbine rotor within definite axial positions.
SHAFT PACKING GLANDS
Shaft packing glands prevent the leaking of steam
out of or air into the turbine casing where the turbine
rotor shaft extends through the turbine casing.
Labyrinth and carbon rings are two types of packing.
They are used either separately or in combination.
Labyrinth packing consists of rows of metallic strips
or fins. Carbon packing rings restrict the passage of
steam along the shaft in much the same manner as
labyrinth packing strips.
ADVANTAGES OF THE STEAM TURBINE OVER
RECIPROCATING ENGINE
Thermal Efficiency of a Steam Turbine is higher
than that of a Reciprocating Engine.
The Steam Turbine develops power at a uniform rate
and hence does not require Flywheel.
No internal lubrication is required for Steam Turbine
as there are no rubbing parts inside.
No heavy foundation is required for Turbine because
of the perfect balancing of the different parts.
If the Steam Turbine is properly designed and
constructed then it is the most durable Prime Mover.
Much higher speed may be developed and a far greater
range of speed is possible than in the case of
Reciprocating Engine.
There are some frictional losses in Reciprocating
Engine as some arrangements are required for
conversion of Reciprocating Motion into circular
motion. But in Steam Turbine no friction losses are
there.
Steam Turbines are quite suitable for large Thermal
Power Plant as they can be built in size from few Horse
Powers to over 200 000 HP in single unit.