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Troubleshooting Turbine Steam Path Damage Mechanisms.
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | McCloskey, T. H. |
| Copyright Year | 2002 |
| Abstract | Steam path damage, particularly of rotating and stationary blading, has long been recognized as a leading cause of steam turbine unavailability for large fossil fuel plants worldwide. Turbine problems cost the utility industry as much as one billion dollars per year. Failures of blades, discs, and rotors in both fossil and nuclear steam turbines represent a serious economic loss of availability and reliability for electric power generation suppliers and other energy supplies worldwide. Turbine problems such as deposition and erosion of blades can result in severe efficiency losses, resulting in significant economic penalties. The primary objective of this tutorial is to provide a methodology to identify the underlying damage or failure mechanisms, determine the root cause, and choose immediate and long-term actions to lessen or prevent recurrence of the problem. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Failures of blades, discs, and rotors in both fossil and nuclear steam turbines represent a serious loss of availability and reliability—with significant economic consequences—for steam turbine operators worldwide. Preventing these failures from occurring requires strict adherence to three philosophical beliefs (McCloskey, et al., 1999): • Understanding the mechanism and root cause of each incident is of paramount importance to permanent alleviation of the problem. • By understanding what causes a problem to occur, it should be possible to anticipate its development, monitor evolving “precursors,” and take early action to avoid a significant condition from occurring. • A formalized companywide program for correction, prevention, and control can minimize steam path problems in the turbine. Events can emanate from inadequate initial design, poor operation and maintenance, cycle chemistry environments, or lack of proper management support. Figures 1 and 2 depict some very early turbine steam path failures showing rotating blade erosion and axial disc fatigue (Stodola, 1905; Campbell, 1924). Figure 1. Double Sided Rotating Blade Erosion from Exfoliated Boiler Oxides. (Courtesy Stodola, 1905) Figure 2. High Cycle Fatigue in Turbine Discs from Axial Blade/Disc Resonances. (Courtesy Campbell, 1924) FORMALIZING A COMPANYWIDE PROGRAM FOR CORRECTION, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL OF STEAM PATH DAMAGE This tutorial focuses on technical guidance to understand, prevent, and correct turbine steam path damage. However, it is clear from previous experience that more than just access to proper technical guidance will be necessary to reduce the costs associated with turbine damage. Organizations with formalized, companywide programs and a commitment to reducing turbine steam path damage will be the ones that garner the most significant benefits from the technical experience base. 105 TROUBLESHOOTING TURBINE STEAM PATH DAMAGE MECHANISMS |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| DOI | 10.21423/R1DM1K |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://turbolab.tamu.edu/proc/turboproc/T31/t31pg105.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/163306/t31pg105.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://doi.org/10.21423/R1DM1K |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
