scholarly journals Investigation of operational characteristics of axial displacement guides for thermal expansion systems of steam turbines

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 105-119
Author(s):  
A. Yu. Sosnovskiy ◽  
B. E. Murmanskiy ◽  
Yu. M. Brodov
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Expansion ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Plastic Deformations ◽  
Traditional Design ◽  
Full Contact ◽  
Operational Characteristics ◽  
Operating Instructions

ТНЕ PURPOSE. To carry out a comparative analysis of the performance characteristics of the longitudinal movement guides of the external bearing housings of steam turbines, using the principle of rotation to ensure full contact of their lateral surfaces with the lateral surfaces of the guide groove at the base of the external bearing housing of the steam turbine. Compare the manufacturability of elements and their implementation for both existing and newly developed steam turbines .METHODS. The permissible transverse forces are determined from the strength conditions and compared for the traditional design of fixed longitudinal guides and the design of guides, in which the principle of rotation is used to avoid "biting" of the bearing housing on the guides when temperature misalignment appears along the flanges of the turbine cylinder. Also, the allowable forces are determined and compared from the condition of the absence of plastic deformations in any of the elements of the interface of the guides, the base frame and the bearing housing. Based on the results obtained, the value of the permissible temperature misalignment along the flanges of the turbine cylinder is estimated. The analysis was carried out in relation to the operating conditions of the front bearing housing and HPC of turbines of the T 100/120-130 UTZ family.RESULTS. It has been established that all the considered designs of guides with pivoting elements make it possible to exclude the occurrence of plastic deformations in the junction of the base frame and the outboard bearing housing at a temperature misalignment of 20°C regulated in most turbine operating instructions. CONCLUSION. The design of longitudinal keys proposed by UTZ does not require a change in the technology for manufacturing the foundation frames and allows the unit to be modernized during repairs in a CHP. The best performance disc guide design can be used in new turbine designs or factory retrofits.

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Aerodynamic Excitation of a Model Low-Pressure Steam Turbine Stage Operating Under Low Volume Flow

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Megerle ◽  
Timothy Stephen Rice ◽  
Ivan McBean ◽  
Peter Ott
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Volume Flow ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Excitation Mechanism ◽  
Low Volume

The diversification of power generation methods within existing power networks has increased the requirement for operational flexibility of plants employing steam turbines. This has led to the situation where steam turbines may operate at very low volume flow conditions for extended periods of time. Under operating conditions where the volume flow through the last stage moving blades (LSMBs) of a low-pressure (LP) steam turbine falls below a certain limit, energy is returned to the working fluid rather than being extracted. This so-called “ventilation” phenomenon produces nonsynchronous aerodynamic excitation, which has the potential to lead to high dynamic blade loading. The aerodynamic excitation is often the result of a rotating phenomenon, with similarities to a rotating stall, which is well known in compressors. Detailed unsteady pressure measurements have been performed in a single stage model steam turbine operated with air under ventilation conditions. The analysis revealed that the rotating excitation mechanism observed in operating steam turbines is reproduced in the model turbine. A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method has been applied to simulate the unsteady flow in the air model turbine. The numerical model consists of the single stage modeled as a full annulus, along with the axial-radial diffuser. An unsteady CFD analysis has been performed with sufficient rotor revolutions to obtain globally periodic flow. The simulation reproduces the main characteristics of the phenomenon observed in the tests. The detailed insight into the dynamic flow field reveals information on the nature of the excitation mechanism. The calculations further indicate that the LSMB tip clearance flow has little or no effect on the characteristics of the mechanism for the case studied.

The Influence of Cooling Flows on the Operating Conditions of the Ultra-Supercritical Steam Turbine Components

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Kosman
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Test Stand ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Inlet Section ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Cooling Flows

This paper presents the results of the analysis on the heat transfer in the inlet section of an ultra-supercritical steam turbine. Such power generating units become the foundation of new coal-fired power plants. The monitoring of their operation is in many aspects similar to the traditional, sub-critical steam turbines. However, higher live and reheat steam parameters result in several key differences, which must be taken into the consideration when assessing the thermal and strength states of the turbines main components for the diagnostic supervision. One of the main differences is the presence of the cooling and designs specific for ultra-supercritical steam turbines, which aim to protect their components against overheating. The research described in this paper investigates the inlet section of the turbines, which is the area exposed to the highest thermal loads. The scope of the research includes both, numerical modeling and laboratory testing. A test stand has been built for the analysis of the flows in the inlet section. Cooling flows are under special attention here as their temperature field is coupled to the temperature fields of the turbine components (the rotor and the inner casing) due to the relatively small amount of the coolant. The paper provides detailed description of the test stand and some early measurement results, which involve the operation with cooling. Also the numerical modeling results are shown and compared to the measurement data.

Unsteady Flow Field and Coarse Droplet Measurements in the Last Stage of a Low Pressure Steam Turbine With Supersonic Airfoils Near the Blade Tip

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilias Bosdas ◽  
Michel Mansour ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
Reza S. Abhari ◽  
Shigeki Senoo
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Last Stage

The largest share of electricity production worldwide belongs to steam turbines. However, the increase of renewable energy production has led steam turbines to operate under part load conditions and increase in size. As a consequence long rotor blades will generate a relative supersonic flow field at the inlet of the last rotor. This paper presents a unique experiment work that focuses at the top 30% of stator exit in the last stage of an LP steam turbine test facility with coarse droplets and high wetness mass fraction under different operating conditions. The measurements were performed with two novel fast response probes. A fast response probe for three dimensional flow field wet steam measurements and an optical backscatter probe for coarse water droplet measurements ranging from 30 up to 110μm in diameter. This study has shown that the attached bow shock at the rotor leading edge is the main source of inter blade row interactions between the stator and rotor of the last stage. In addition, the measurements showed that coarse droplets are present in the entire stator pitch with larger droplets located at the vicinity of the stator’s suction side. Unsteady droplet measurements showed that the coarse water droplets are modulated with the downstream rotor blade-passing period. This set of time-resolved data will be used for in-house CFD code development and validation.

Gas Path Blade Tip Seals: Abradable Seal Material Testing at Utility Gas and Steam Turbine Operating Conditions

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas E. Chappel ◽  
Ly Vo ◽  
Harold W. Howe
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Material Testing ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Testing And Evaluation

Abradable seals have long been used to enhance turbomachinery performance by limiting blade tip leakage losses. Most of the literature regarding this subject has focused on aerospace gas turbine materials and conditions. Furthermore, testing and evaluation described in this literature has been conducted on disparate rigs, making direct comparison among the abradable materials investigated difficult. This study broadens the scope of available data by evaluating fibermetal, thermal-sprayed and honeycomb abradable materials at conditions found in utility gas turbine compressors and steam turbines. High speed rub interaction, low speed rub interaction and erosion data were collected and are discussed in detail.

Modeling of Turbine Blade Tip Contact

1976 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-440
Author(s):  
R. A. Burton ◽  
S. R. Kilaparti ◽  
S. R. Heckmann
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Thermal Expansion ◽  
Contact Pressure ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Relative Displacement ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Dynamic Displacement ◽  
Contact Patch ◽  
Full Contact ◽  
Blade Tip

A mathematical model is developed for the condition where turbine blade/shroud contact occurs at discrete patches on the shroud. The contact patch is treated as having uniform time-mean contact pressure; and several components of relative displacement are identified, these having to sum to zero in the contact patch to assure an unbroken interface in the patch. Operating conditions which meet this requirement permit the postulated patchlike contact to exist. Operating conditions which do not meet it will not be associated with such patches. The components of relative displacement are almost independent of one another and are treated as linearly additive. These are: (1) thermal expansion of the shroud material in the patch, (2) elastic indentation of the shroud by the blade tip, (3) wear of the shroud material, (4) wear of the blade tip, (5) dynamic displacement of the blade tip, (6) dynamic displacement of the shroud, (7) elastic compression of the thinned blade tip portion. Using these components and applying the foregoing condition for full contact, the speed at which the contact patch traverses along the shroud surface is solved for, and the factors which determine the width of the contact patch are determined.

Design, Manufacturing and Testing of a New Family of Steam Turbine Low Pressure Stages

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Cosi ◽  
Jonathon Slepski ◽  
Steven DeLessio ◽  
Michele Taviani ◽  
Amir Mujezinovic´
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Family ◽  
Last Stage

New low pressure (LP), stages for variable speed, mechanical drive and geared power generation steam turbines have been developed. The new blade and nozzle designs can be applied to a wide range of turbine rotational speeds and last stage blade annulus areas, thus forming a family of low pressure stages—High Speed (HS) blades and nozzles. Different family members are exact scales of each other and the tip speeds of the corresponding blades within the family are identical. Thus the aeromechanical and aerodynamic characteristics of the individual stages within the family are identical as well. Last stage blades and nozzles have been developed concurrently with the three upstream stages, creating optimised, reusable low pressure turbine sections. These blades represent a step forward in improving speed, mass flow capability, reliability and aerodynamic efficiency of the low pressure stages for the industrial steam turbines. These four stages are designed as a system using the most modern design tools applied on Power Generation and Aircraft Engines turbo-machineries. The aerodynamic performance of the last three stage of the newly designed group will be verified in a full-scale test facility. The last stage blade construction incorporates a three hooks, axial entry dovetail with improved load carrying capability over other blade attachment methods. The next to the last stage blade also uses a three hooks axial entry dovetail, while the two front stage blades employ internal tangential entry dovetails. The last and next to the last stage blades utilize continuous tip coupling via implementation of integral snubber cover while a Z-lock integral cover is employed for the two upstream stages. Low dynamic strains at all operating conditions (off and on resonance speeds) will be validated via steam turbine testing at realistic steam conditions (steam flows, temperatures and pressures). Low load, high condenser pressure operation will also be verified using a three stage test turbine operated in the actual steam conditions as well. In addition, resonance speed margins of the four stages have been verified through full-scale wheel box tests in the vacuum spin cell, thus allowing the application of these stages to Power Generation applications. Stator blades are produced with a manufacturing technology, which combines full milling and electro-discharge machining. This process allows machining of the blades from an integral disc, and thus improving uniformity of the throat distribution. Accuracy of the throat distribution is also improved when compared to the assembled or welded stator blade technology. This paper will discuss the aerodynamic and aeromechanical design, development and testing program completed for this new low pressure stages family.

Unsteady Flow Field and Coarse Droplet Measurements in the Last Stage of a Low-Pressure Steam Turbine With Supersonic Airfoils Near the Blade Tip

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilias Bosdas ◽  
Michel Mansour ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
Reza S. Abhari ◽  
Shigeki Senoo
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Last Stage

The largest share of electricity production worldwide belongs to steam turbines. However, the increase of renewable energy production has led steam turbines to operate under part load conditions and increase in size. As a consequence, long rotor blades will generate a relative supersonic flow field at the inlet of the last rotor. This paper presents a unique experiment work that focuses at the top 30% of stator exit in the last stage of an low pressure (LP) steam turbine test facility with coarse droplets and high wetness mass fraction under different operating conditions. The measurements were performed with two novel fast response probes: a fast response probe for three-dimensional flow field wet steam measurements and an optical backscatter probe for coarse water droplet measurements ranging from 30 μm up to 110 μm in diameter. This study has shown that the attached bow shock at the rotor leading edge is the main source of interblade row interactions between the stator and rotor of the last stage. In addition, the measurements showed that coarse droplets are present in the entire stator pitch with larger droplets located at the vicinity of the stator's suction side. Unsteady droplet measurements showed that the coarse water droplets are modulated with the downstream rotor blade-passing period. This set of time-resolved data will be used for in-house computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code development and validation.

scholarly journals Investigation of universal conditions of stability of thermal expansion system of steam turbines to external actions

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 61-71
Author(s):  
A. Yu. Sosnovskiy ◽  
B. E. Murmanskii ◽  
Yu. M. Brodov
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Expansion ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Rotation Angle ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Expansion System ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Conditions Of Stability ◽  
Cylinder Rotation ◽  
Angle Of Rotation

The analysis of various designs (both traditional and alternative) for outboard bearing housing joints with cylinders of steam turbines of medium and high power. Taking into account the identified similarities in the interaction of elements of the considered structures, a generalized kinematic model of the thermal expansion system of a steam turbine is presented. In the assumed model, the thermal expansion system is presented in the form of a multi-link hinged system consisting of one or more “basic” modules. Based on the developed model, the stability conditions (the absence of self-braking on the guiding longitudinal keys) against external influences are studied for the thermal expansion system of a steam turbine. According to the simulation results, it is shown that the magnitude of the turbine cylinder rotation angle change relative to the bearing housing in the junction must be limited. It was revealed that for stability of a system with one outboard bearing housing, it is sufficient that the maximum rotation angle at the junction of the turbine cylinder and the bearing housing does not exceed the maximum rotation angle of the bearing housing relative to the longitudinal keys. For stability of a system with several sequentially moving outboard bearing housings (multi-cylinder turbine), it is necessary that the limiting angle of rotation at all junctions of the turbine cylinders with bearing housings does not exceed the value of the smallest limiting angle of rotation for all bearing housings. The results of the study can be applied in the design of new steam turbines and in the reconstruction of thermal expansion systems for equipment in operation.

Two Phase Flow CFD Modeling of a Steam Turbine Low Pressure Section: Comparison With Data and Correlations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Maceli ◽  
Lorenzo Arcangeli ◽  
Andrea Arnone
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Performance Model ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Scaled Model ◽  
Application Range

Abstract Testing a sub-component or testing a scaled model are the approaches currently used to reduce the development cost of the new low-pressure (LP) section of a steam turbine. In any case, testing campaigns are run at a limited number of operating conditions. Therefore, some correlations are used to build a performance model of the LP module and expand the usage of a limited set of experimental data to cover the application range encountered in the steam turbine market. Another approach, which has become feasible during the last decade, is the usage of CFD calculations. These two approaches include a certain amount of uncertainty in the performance of the LP section, mainly related to the losses caused by the moisture content in the flow. In the present paper, the results of the analysis of a cutting-edge low-pressure section for small steam turbines are presented. The results are obtained by using a CFD commercial code with a set of user defined subroutines to model the effects of droplets nucleation and growth. Different operating conditions are considered, with different wetness at the exit and different pressure ratios, in order to clearly show the loss trend for different levels of exit moisture. The numerical results are compared with the experimental data, showing a significant improvement in the performance predictability for the considered case and demonstrating the benefit of using a CFD approach instead of using existing correlations.

Rotor Life Prediction and Improvement for Steam Turbines Under Cyclic Operation

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damaso Checcacci ◽  
Lorenzo Cosi ◽  
Sanjay Kumar Sah
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Power Utility ◽  
Simplified Approach ◽  
Cyclic Operation ◽  
Combined Cycle Plant ◽  
The Impact

The evolution of the energy market is leading to a general increase in demand for cyclic operation and rapid startup capability for steam turbines utilized in power utility plants. As a consequence, turbine manufactures must optimize designs to minimize transient stress and make available to plant operators the necessary understanding of the impact of operating conditions on parts life. In addition, if continuous duty operation is not economical for an existing plant, operators considering switching to the cyclic mode need to take into account the cost associated with reduced maintenance intervals and parts replacement. This paper presents the methodologies applied to assess and optimize steam turbine rotor life. The discussion stems from the case analysis of a 60 MW steam turbine that was operated almost uninterrupted for 10 years in a combined cycle plant and was then expected to switch to cyclic operation with approx 250 startups/year. The effects of different rotor geometries on transient thermal stress/strain conditions are presented along with the consequences of startup sequence modifications for rotor life vs. on-line time. The discussion is supported by modeling details and results from transient thermomechanical FEM analyses. The possibility of a simplified approach in the form of approximate models for the analysis of such behavior on a project basis is also addressed.

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