Rotor stress evaluator

The rotor stress evaluator protects the rotor, which is the critical part of the turbine for
inadmissible material stress, and transmits appropriate reference input signals to the
turbine controller. The RSE calculates the thermal stress of both HP and IP rotors at any
given time permitting the full use of the thermal flexibility of the turbine in all operating
phases (cold start, warm start and hot start). The thermal margin values calculated by
the evaluator are a measure of the gap between momentary thermal stress and the
permissible stress.
The thermal stress evaluator has the following features:
- The thermal stress limit of the turbine rotor is known at any given time
- The stress capability of the turbine is fully utilized at all times due to the
co-ordination with the turbine controller (automatic mode)
- If the permissible thermal limit is approached an automatic alarm is given
- The turbine is automatically tripped if the thermal stress exceeds the permissible
limits for more than a specific time.
The Rotor Stress Evaluator calculates:
- The acceleration level during start-up
- The Hold1 and Hold2 levels (stop acceleration)
- The run-back level (decrease speed)
- The loading gradient of the turbine
- The very high thermal stress limit when the turbine is loaded
- The trip levels for extremely high stress.
The rotor stress evaluator can be enabled/disabled from the DCS or the Tile panel, but
the acceleration or the loading gradient has to be sent manually.
A Boolean signal called Stop acceleration, sent by the DCS, will also disable automatic
mode.
If both temperature sensors for each RSE (RSEH, RSEL) fail, a default temperature
value of 250 C is sent to the calculation. An alarm is generated (RSE in manual), but
RSE will not be de-selected (the de-selection must be done by the operator). If a
shutdown occurs, RSE is de-selected.
If the temperature transmitters are operating, the Very High Rotor Stress (turbine unload
if stress level is too high) is always enabled as well as the trip conditions supervision.
(For more details see logical block diagram 213T827.)

The rotor stress evaluator calculation is updated every 5 seconds. This time is NOT
tuneable, due to the calculation characteristics.
The RSE is split in the software into two parts:
- RSEH, controlling the HP shaft
- RSEL, controlling the LP shaft.
RSEH/RSEL calculation is in accordance with document 604W368 pages 3 to 4.
RSEH/RSEL parameters are adjusted in accordance with specifications given in
document 225W377 (issue 27/07/00).
The most important parameters from this calculation are:
Average temperature
This is only used for RSEH. Depending on the temperature level, three levels are
selected. Each level defines a raw acceleration rate or a raw loading gradient rate
.
Loading/unloading gradient (XFE/XFB)
These levels are correction factors which are selected depending on the logic described
in document 213T827. After selection the result is multiplied to the raw acceleration rate
or to the raw loading gradient. Their range of correction is limited (0< ABS(XFE/XFB)
<1).
RSEH
Before calculation, two temperature sensors read the rotor temperature, and the highest
temperature is used for control.
Module I/O interface (hardware & DCS)
Signal name Tag name Type Destination Range
Temperature transmitter 1 MAA10CT005 AI field
Temperature transmitter 2 MAA10CT006 AI field
MAA10CT005 selected BO DCS N/A
MAA10CT06 selected BO DCS N/A
Manual activated BO DCS N/A
Change sensor selected BI N/A
Before calculation, two temperature sensors read the rotor temperature, and the highest
temperature is used for control.
Module I/O interface (hardware & DCS)
Signal name Tag name Type Destination Range
Temperature transmitter 1 MAB10CT005 AI field 0-600 C
Temperature transmitter 2 MAb10CT006 AI field 0-600 C
MAB10CT005 selected BO DCS N/A
MAB10CT06 selected BO DCS N/A
Manual activated BO DCS N/A
Change sensor selected BI N/A