Development of a Last Stage Blade Row Coupled by Damping Elements: Numerical Assessment of its Vibrational Behavior and its Experimental Validation During Spin Pit Measurements

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Siewert ◽  
Frank Sieverding ◽  
William J. McDonald ◽  
Manish Kumar ◽  
James R. McCracken
Keyword(s):  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Vibration Response ◽  
Dynamic Loads ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Response Level ◽  
Vibrational Behavior ◽  
Blade Row ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
Last Stage

Last stage blade rows of modern low pressure steam turbines are subjected to high static and dynamic loads. The static loads are primarily caused by the centrifugal forces due to the steam turbine’s rotational speed. Dynamic loads can be caused by instationary steam forces, for example. A primary goal in the design of modern and robust blade rows is to prevent High Cycle Fatigue caused by dynamic loads due to synchronous or non-synchronous excitation mechanisms. Therefore, it is important for the mechanical design process to predict the blade row’s vibration response. The vibration response level of a blade row can be limited by means of a damping element coupling concept. Damping elements are loosely assembled into pockets attached to the airfoils. The improvement in the blade row’s structural integrity is the key aspect in the use of a damping element blade coupling concept. In this paper, the vibrational behavior of a last stage blade row with damping elements is analyzed numerically. The calculation results are compared to results obtained from spin pit measurements for this last stage blade row coupled by damping elements.

Mechanical Design of Large Steam Turbine Components for Part Load Conditions

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lückemeyer ◽  
F. Qin
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Heat Radiation ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Load Case ◽  
Part Load ◽  
Load Regime ◽  
Load Conditions

Recent developments like the significant introduction of renewable energy sources to the electricity networks worldwide have led to more frequent and extended operation of fossil power plants in part load conditions. As a result the typical load spectrum of large steam turbines used for electricity generation has changed over the last years and will continue to do so. A number of papers has already been published on how to optimize the water-steam cycle and the steam turbine from a thermodynamical and aero-dynamical point of view for this new load regime in order to improve the average efficiency. But the changed load regime also poses a challenge for the mechanical design and structural integrity assessment of steam turbines. Reason for this is that the rated conditions are not necessarily the most challenging boundary conditions and therefore not necessarily a suitable, conservative envelope for all other load cases for mechanical design. Pressures decrease, but steam temperatures in part loads can increase and heat transfer coefficients and the influence of radiation on the component temperatures change. With an increasing demand for and a wider range of part load operation it for this reason becomes more important than ever to consider these load cases in the mechanical design. This paper uses a large, double-flow intermediate pressure steam turbine as an example to investigate the impact of extended part load operation on the design. Both an analytical model and finite element calculations are used to compare from a structural integrity point of view a low part-load load case and the rated load case and to evaluate the significance of heat radiation.

A Novel Evaluation Procedure for the Prediction and Assessment of Diffuser Humming in Steam Turbines

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Tusche ◽  
Christian Musch
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Evaluation Procedure ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Fluctuating Pressure ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Blade Row ◽  
Comprehensive Test ◽  
Last Stage

The mechanical integrity of turbine blade rows might be compromised by transient aerodynamic effects that occur in interaction with the diffuser. Effectively addressing this issue requires the prediction of the effects and the creation of a basis for their evaluation. This paper focuses on the specific case of diffuser humming in steam turbines. The paper describes the results obtained from two turbine diffusers with different pulsation frequencies calculated and tested under identical conditions. One diffuser forced a resonance of the last-stage blade row, while the other diffuser ensured the absence of resonance. The basic principles are described that allow estimating and quantifying the pulsation frequencies of the fluctuating pressure. To evaluate the developed approach comprehensive test runs were conducted using a Siemens low-pressure turbine test rig. These measured results are shown to provide validation of the calculation method.

Numerical investigations on non-synchronous vibration and frequency lock-in of low-pressure steam turbine last stage

2021 ◽  
pp. 095765092110606
Author(s):  
Xiaocheng Zhu ◽  
Ping Hu ◽  
Tong Lin ◽  
Zhaohui Du
Keyword(s):  
Low Pressure ◽  
Wave Number ◽  
Global Maximum ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Response Level ◽  
Blade Vibration ◽  
Pressure Steam ◽  
Blade Vibrations ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Lock In

The flow phenomenon of rotating instability (RI) and its induced non-synchronous vibrations (NSV) in the last stage have gradually become a security problem that restricts the long-term flexible operations of modern large-scaled low-pressure steam turbines. Especially, if one structural mode of the last stage moving blade (LSMB) is excited, significant blade vibrations may potentially lead to high-cycle fatigue failure. A loosely coupled computational fluid dynamics reduced model with prescribed blade vibrations has been established to investigate NSV of the LSMB and the potential lock-in phenomenon under low-load conditions. Firstly, calculations with reduced multi-passage domain have been verified by comparing with the results of the full-annulus one, and an appropriate reduced domain is determined. Secondly, a set of calculations by controlling blade vibration parameters indicate that lock-in phenomenon between RI frequency and blade vibration frequency may occur when nodal diameters of cascade vibrations is coincident with the wave number of RI. Furthermore, dynamic modal decomposition technology has been employed to identify the unsteady pressure field around the blade surface and to reveal the interaction relationship between the flow modes of RI and vibration-induced pressure disturbance. Finally, the blade response evaluation based on harmonic analysis shows that in NSV, the global maximum dynamic response level of locked-in case is nearly 20 times than that of unlocked one.

Modeling of a Steam Turbine Including Partial Arc Admission for Use in a Process Simulation Software Environment

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Liese
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Process Simulation ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Constant Pressure ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Software Environment ◽  
Last Stage

A dynamic process model of a steam turbine, including partial arc admission operation, is presented. Models were made for the first stage and last stage, with the middle stages presently assumed to have a constant pressure ratio and efficiency. A condenser model is also presented. The paper discusses the function and importance of the steam turbines entrance design and the first stage. The results for steam turbines with a partial arc entrance are shown, and compare well with experimental data available in the literature, in particular, the “valve loop” behavior as the steam flow rate is reduced. This is important to model correctly since it significantly influences the downstream state variables of the steam, and thus the characteristic of the entire steam turbine, e.g., state conditions at extractions, overall turbine flow, and condenser behavior. The importance of the last stage (the stage just upstream of the condenser) in determining the overall flowrate and exhaust conditions to the condenser is described and shown via results.

Reduction of Forced Vibration Response by Optimum Balance of Linkage and Optimum Design of System

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
She-min Zhang ◽  
Nobuyoshi Morita ◽  
Takao Torii
Keyword(s):  
Objective Function ◽  
Root Mean Square ◽  
Forced Vibration ◽  
Vibration Response ◽  
New Method ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
Angular Velocities ◽  
Optimum Balance

Abstract This paper proposes a new method to reduce the forced vibration response of frame of linkage. It is that the root-mean-square (RMS) value of binary maximum (Bmax) of forced vibration response at a series of angular velocities is taken as the objective function, and the counterweight mass parameters of links and the stiffness factors are used as design variables. Then, it is found out that the responses are related not only to the Bmax value of shaking forces, but also to the shape of curve of shaking forces. The calculation results are compared with those of two other methods used in the reduction of forced vibration response by optimized balance of linkages, and it is shown that the new method can significantly reduce the responses of frame of linkage.

Development of 1500-r/min 75-Inch Ultra-Long Last Stage Blades for Nuclear Steam Turbine

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deqi Yu ◽  
Jiandao Yang ◽  
Wei Lu ◽  
Daiwei Zhou ◽  
Kai Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vibration Monitoring ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Rotating Blade ◽  
Lifetime Analysis ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Last Stage

The 1500-r/min 1905mm (75inch) ultra-long last three stage blades for half-speed large-scale nuclear steam turbines of 3rd generation nuclear power plants have been developed with the application of new design features and Computer-Aided-Engineering (CAE) technologies. The last stage rotating blade was designed with an integral shroud, snubber and fir-tree root. During operation, the adjacent blades are continuously coupled by the centrifugal force. It is designed that the adjacent shrouds and snubbers of each blade can provide additional structural damping to minimize the dynamic stress of the blade. In order to meet the blade development requirements, the quasi-3D aerodynamic method was used to obtain the preliminary flow path design for the last three stages in LP (Low-pressure) casing and the airfoil of last stage rotating blade was optimized as well to minimize its centrifugal stress. The latest CAE technologies and approaches of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Fatigue Lifetime Analysis (FLA) were applied to analyze and optimize the aerodynamic performance and reliability behavior of the blade structure. The blade was well tuned to avoid any possible excitation and resonant vibration. The blades and test rotor have been manufactured and the rotating vibration test with the vibration monitoring had been carried out in the verification tests.

The Effect of Stage-Diffuser Interaction on the Aerodynamic Performance and Design of LP Steam Turbine Exhaust Systems

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bowen Ding ◽  
Liping Xu ◽  
Jiandao Yang ◽  
Rui Yang ◽  
Yuejin Dai
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Part Load ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Load Conditions ◽  
Turbine Exhaust ◽  
Exhaust Systems

Modern large steam turbines for power generation are required to operate much more flexibly than ever before, due to the increasing use of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. This has posed great challenges to the design of LP steam turbine exhaust systems, which are critical to recovering the leaving energy that is otherwise lost. In previous studies, the design had been focused on the exhaust diffuser with or without the collector. Although the interaction between the last stage and the exhaust hood has been identified for a long time, little attention has been paid to the last stage blading in the exhaust system’s design process, when the machine frequently operates at part-load conditions. This study focuses on the design of LP exhaust systems considering both the last stage and the exhaust diffuser, over a wide operating range. A 1/10th scale air test rig was built to validate the CFD tool for flow conditions representative of an actual machine at part-load conditions, characterised by highly swirling flows entering the diffuser. A numerical parametric study was performed to investigate the effect of both the diffuser geometry variation and restaggering the last stage rotor blades. Restaggering the rotor blades was found to be an effective way to control the level of leaving energy, as well as the flow conditions at the diffuser inlet, which influence the diffuser’s capability to recover the leaving energy. The benefits from diffuser resizing and rotor blade restaggering were shown to be relatively independent of each other, which suggests the two components can be designed separately. Last, the potentials of performance improvement by considering both the last stage rotor restaggering and the diffuser resizing were demonstrated by an exemplary design, which predicted an increase in the last stage power output of at least 1.5% for a typical 1000MW plant that mostly operates at part-load conditions.

Sequential vs Multidisciplinary Coupled Optimization and Efficient Surrogate Modelling of a Last Stage and the Successive Axial Radial Diffuser in a Low Pressure Steam Turbine

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Cremanns ◽  
Dirk Roos ◽  
Arne Graßmann
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Pressure Steam ◽  
Last Stage

In order to meet the requirements of rising energy demand, one goal in the design process of modern steam turbines is to achieve high efficiencies. A major gain in efficiency is expected from the optimization of the last stage and the subsequent diffuser of a low pressure turbine (LP). The aim of such optimization is to minimize the losses due to separations or inefficient blade or diffuser design. In the usual design process, as is state of the art in the industry, the last stage of the LP and the diffuser is designed and optimized sequentially. The potential physical coupling effects are not considered. Therefore the aim of this paper is to perform both a sequential and coupled optimization of a low pressure steam turbine followed by an axial radial diffuser and subsequently to compare results. In addition to the flow simulation, mechanical and modal analysis is also carried out in order to satisfy the constraints regarding the natural frequencies and stresses. This permits the use of a meta-model, which allows very time efficient three dimensional (3D) calculations to account for all flow field effects.

Determination of the Flow Field in LP Steam Turbines

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wachter ◽  
G. Eyb
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Measuring Equipment ◽  
Short Description ◽  
Test Stand ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
The University

Up to now the determination of flow conditions across the entire circumference in LP steam turbines appears to be a difficult undertaking. The difficulties are mainly caused by the condensing medium steam and by the limited access to the stage from outside. The Last Stage Test Stand at the University of Stuttgart is a suitable facility for flow measurements in the LP part of steam turbines. Besides a short description of the test stand itself, the measuring equipment and the newly developed methods for data acquisition and evaluation are presented. Finally the flow field behind the last stage is shown and the results interpreted.

Parametric Experimental and Numerical Study of LP Diffuser and Exhaust Hoods

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Taylor ◽  
Gurnam Singh ◽  
Phil Hemsley ◽  
Martin Claridge
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Design Tools ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Exhaust Hood ◽  
Geometric Configurations ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Lp Turbine ◽  
The Impact

The design of an effective diffuser for a given last stage blade of an LP turbine is known to be highly dependent on the size and shape of the exhaust hood in which it is located. For retrofit steam turbines in particular, where a new last stage blade and diffuser are fitted into an existing exhaust hood, the shapes and sizes of the exhaust box have been seen to vary significantly from one contract to the next. An experimental parametric study of diffuser lips and exhaust hood configurations has been run on a model test turbine rig at GE Power to investigate the impact of various geometric parameters on the performance of the diffusers. Improved testing and post-processing methodologies means the diffuser performance has been obtained for a greater number of geometric configurations than was previously typically possible. The results of these experiments are compared with numerical calculations and confirm the accuracy of the standard in-house diffuser design tools. Key geometric parameters are identified from the test data and used to generate improved diffuser design guidelines.

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