TRIPPI NG CRITERIA

The turbine trips automatically under any of the

following conditions. The initiating signal in each
case actuates both the channels.
MS TEMPERATURE LOW
Temp. less than 4500C (Arming at 5100C)
CONDENSER PRESSURE PROTECTION
When condenser pressure greater than 0.3kg/cm2.
LUBE OIL PRESSURELOW The protection acts if
the lube oil pressure before thrust bearing
decreases to 1.2Kg/Cm. The trip signal is initiated
by three pressure transmitters in 2-out- of-3-logic.
FIRE PROTECTION Fire protection is basically is a
protection against oil leakage rather than fire.
Because oil leakage may lead to fire, the fire
protection is used.
 HP EXHAUST TEMP. HIGH
The HP exhaust steam temp. protection circuit.
protects the exhaust section of the Turbine, the blading
& extraction points against overheating. During start
up/shutdown or load rejections, there can be long period
during which steam turbines are operated at very low
volumetric flows and relatively high back pressure i.e.
the mech. Energy transmitted by the turbine shaft is
converted to thermal energy, which in turn result in an
increase in the temp. of both the exhaust steam and
turbine components . This temp. is required to be
monitored to avoid any deformation in the casing or
blades. The temp is measured by means of three
Thermocouples and protection criteria is derived in 2 out
of 3 logics.
AXIAL SHIFT VERY HIGH (THRUST BRG TRIP) A too high axial
displacement of the turbine shaft may cause damage to the
turbine blades. This protection trips the turbine in case the axial
shift of the shaft exceeds the limits set during erection . The
axial shift is measured in both directions () using three proximity
probes. These measured signals are fed to a protection circuit
designed in 2-out-of -3 logic for further realization.
TG BEARIN G METAL TEMP. VERY HIGH The excessive
temperature rise of bearings during operation can cause wear to
bearing shells. Bearing temperature high trip protects the thrust
and journal bearings of the Turbine and Generator against
excessive temperatures rise. The temperature of the Babbitt metal
temp is measured by means of four thermocouples in the bearing
for each bearing at HP front and HP rear Journal bearings and
Thrust bearing. In other journal bearings, temperature is
measured by means of thermocouples at front and rear end of
generator and exciter. Protection criteria are derived in 2 out of 3
logics configurations of each bearings to safe guard the TG set.
 Automatic Turbine Run up system
In a start up or stopping of turbine various
parameters like oil pressure, vacuum, warmup
conditions, steam and metal temperature, speed
etc are involved. The acquisition and analysis of
above parameters demand quick decision and
action from operator. In order to reduce this
arduous task of monitoring various parameters
and to start the turbine in proper sequence and to
avoid human error automatic turbine run up
system is introduced.
 The ATRS is based on Functional group control
philosophy. The main plant is divided in clearly
defined functional group
1) Turbine
2) Oil supply
3) Condensate and evacuation
Each functional group is organised and arranged
in 1) Sub group control (SGC)
2) Sub loop Control (SLC)
3) Control Interface (CI)
 Functional Group Control: - It continues to
function automatically all the time demanding
enable criteria based on process requirement and
from neighboring functional group if required. In
the absence of required data system will act to
ensure safety of the main equipment.
Sub group Control (SGC) : - It executes command to
bring equipment at desired state and contains the start
up and shutdown program of respective group. SGC
issues command either to SLC or control interface. The
program comprises of steps. For each step there is
provision for monitoring and waiting time.
Waiting time implies that the subsequent step could not
be executed unless the specific time elapsed. The time
between command signal and appearance of feed back
is monitoring time. If monitoring time exceeds alarm is
initiated and program does not proceed. Bypass facility is
provided to enable switching on program after completing
certain criteria manually if so desired.
Operator guide mode:- This mode receives the data from
the plant but issues no command. The commands to
control interface are issued manually.
SGC Oil system:- The main task of this control is to bring
the turbine oil system to the desired level of operation
enabling machine to be put on barring gear.
SGC Evacuation :- Its objective is to raise the vacuum in
the condenser to the desired level so that turbine can be
rolled and synchronised. The system takes care of
condensate pumps and ejector or vacuum pump
SGC Turbine system :- The major functions of this
system are
1) warming up
2) Quick speed raising limited to permissible TSE
3) Steam and metal temperature matching
4) Auto synchronising and loading upto 10% load
 Sub loop control:- When SLC is switched ON, it
actuates the connected mechanical equipment to
the required operating condition as per process
condition. No sequence logic is involved. SLC can
be switched ON/OFF either manually or through
SGC. Drain valve, warmup valves, starting device
of turbine, speed and load set point of EHC, and
auto synchroniser are operated through SLC
 Control Interface:- It is the lowest in the
hierarchical structure of the control system. Each
control drive has control interface module which
acts as interface between command transmitter
and actuator. Protective logic is incorporated in
this module. It gives feed back signal to the FGC.
Turbine Governing system :- Oil from AOP/MOP
goes to oil header. Through filter it goes to starting
device and through remote trip solenoids into
Main turbine trip valve This oil is control oil (code
colour yellow)
Control oil in starting device generates start up oil
(Grey colour) and auxiliary oil. Start up oil goes to
Stop valve through Test valve (changeover
valve).start up oil pressure keeps the stop valve in
close position. Auxiliary start up oil goes to
auxiliaries like main trip valve and tripping and
tripping device.
 Control Oil going to main trip valve generates trip oil (Red
colour) and auxiliary trip oil (Red-white colour). Trip oil goes to
stop valve through test valve, Hydraulic controller and Electro
Hydraulic controller. Auxiliary trip oil goes to auxiliaries i.e. trip
devices
Trip oil going to hydraulic and electro hydraulic controller
generates secondary oil (blue colour) which goes to HP and
IP control valve to control valve opening.
Speeder gear which is linked with starting device generates
auxiliary secondary oil (blue-white colour) which goes to
hydraulic controller as controller signal. Primary oil (Green
colour) from MOP comes as speed signal feed back for speed
control. Electrical signal from PCR goes to electro hydraulic
controller. Both Hydraulic and and electro hydraulic controller
are in parallel with minimum gate. Hydraulic controller has 5
to 10% higher signal so that in normal case EHC signal
extends to control valve
 When starting device is brought to '0' position, start up
and auxiliary start up oil is build up to reset stop valve,
main trip valve and hydraulic trip device. Raising starting
device depressurises start up and auxiliary start up oil to
open stop valve and producing auxiliary secondary oil
Tripping of MTV through remote trip valve :- when remote
trip solenoid valve operates its spool gets lifted and
control oil to main trip valve gets depressurise through
drain. As such main trip valve spool gets lifted and trip
and auxiliary trip oil gets drained which closes all the stop
valves.
Tripping of MTV through hydraulic trip device when this
operates, auxiliary trip oil in MTV gets drained and spool
in MTV comes down causing trip oil to drain.
Resetting of remote trip solenoid valve, hydraulic
trip device, and main trip valve.
As the remote trip valve de-energises control oil
extends to MTV and starting device. As the
starting device spool gets lifted upward due to
control oil pressure, it generates start up oil and
auxiliary start up oil. Auxiliary trip oil resets MTV
and hydraulic trip device. As MTV resets, it
generates trip oil and auxiliary trip oil. Start up oil
from starting device extends to stop valve through
test valve. Auxiliary trip oil goes to trip device and
trip oil through test device goes to Main stop
valve. Subsequently stop valve closes and turbine
gets resetted.
 Automatic Turbine TRIP Tester
To increase the reliability of tripping device from
turbine safety point of view without interrupting
operation of turbine this facility is provided. This
confirms functioning of stop valves, control valves
and tripping devices.
To avoid turbine output changes and initial
pressure variations due to closure of stop valve
and control valve during testing, the electro
hydraulic controller must be in operation prior to
testing. To enable initial pressure to be maintained
constant, turbine output should be below certain
value
 The ATT has been divided into subgroup safety devices
and sub group Control valve. Only one sub group can be
selected at a time. The test program will be discontinued
in case of any fault and automatically revert back (reset).
Sub group safety device incorporate sub test for
a) 1st remote trip solenoid valve
b) 2nd remote trip solenoid valve
c) Over speed trip device
d) Hydraulic vacuum trip
e) Thrust bearing trip (Axial shift) device.
An alternative trip oil circuit is established for duration
of testing of the safety device in order to ensure tripping
of the turbine if called for during testing. The successful
completion of the test are concluded from check back
signal of oil pressure and other conditions. Associated
annunciations are also activated enabling alarm testing
also.
Sub group HP/IP valves: - The stop and control
valves are the final control elements of the safety
devices and hence their reliability of operation is
as important as that of tripping devices.
Sub group HP/IP valves consists of sub test of
HP stop and control valve-1,
HP stop and control valve 2
IP stop and control valve-1,
IP stop and control valve 2
One of the major test requirement is that output of
turbo set must be less than maximum load as it
calls for closing of one valve at a time.
 The test begins with the selection of valve test
sub group. This is performed by pressing on/off
push button. The sub group remains in on position
until it is switched off or test program of that sub
group is completed. While one valve test sub
group is running, other sub groups are blocked.
During this time controller compensate for the
effects of closure of valve under test on initial
pressure or turbine output by additionally opening
the other control valves. Program monitors closing
of the valve and time required time for closing. If
the time for closing exceeds than preset value
reset program is automatically initiated
Protective device:- During normal operation protective
devices act via main trip valve on stop and control valve.
Remote trip solenoids, over speed trip device, thrust
bearing trip device, and low vacuum trip device actuate
main trip valves by operating auxiliary trip oil circuit. For
the duration of testing of protective devices a hydraulic
test circuit is established. In order to keep trip oil circuit
effective, it is isolated from main trip valve by means of
changeover valve and supplied with control oil via
solenoid valve (during testing).
To provide normal protection to turbine during testing any
trip signal from protective device will de-energise the
solenoid valve for control oil supply during testing and at
the same time initiate reset program. This also applies to
all normal electrical trip. During testing of protective
devices actual tripping is avoided, however all
annunciations are activated.
After the sub group has been switched on, the protection
device to be tested is selected by operating selection
push button. A separate selection push button is provided
for each individual device. Only one selection may be
made at a time. Selection of other program is possible
only after previous program is completed.
Hydraulic test signal generator:- The function of test
signal generator is to activate related protection device.
For testing over speed device the associated signal
generator generates test pressure slowly and passes it to
over speed trip device. For testing vacuum trip an air
signal is introduced to device via orifice. And for testing
thrust bearing trip control oil signal is passed to test
piston of device.
Main trip valve :- is kept in its operative position
by auxiliary trip oil pressure. If protective device is
actuated the auxiliary trip oil circuit is de-
pressurised and main trip valve is actuated. This
connects trip oil and auxiliary oil to drain and
shuts off the oil supply to turbine valves. At the
same time limit switch is actuated. Pressure
switches in trip oil and auxiliary trip oil circuit
monitors actual operation of MTV
Auxiliary start up oil pressure forces trip valve to
normal position. Consequently trip and auxiliary
trip oil pressure is build up and main trip valve
gets resetted.
Remote trip solenoid valve:- The function of this
valve is to de-pressurise trip oil circuit in shortest
possible time, thereby bringing main trip valve in
to trip position in the event of malfunction
requiring electrical trip. In the normal position trip
solenoid valve allow control oil to pass through it
to main trip valve which generates trip oil and
auxiliary trip oil. For testing solenoid valve is
energised which shuts off control oil and drains
trip oil. Trip initiation is monitored through
pressure switches mounted in trip and auxiliary
trip oil circuit. In addition initiation of limit switch of
main trip valve is observed.
Over speed trip device:- The two over speed trips are
provided to protect turbine in the event of load rejection
with failure of speed governor. As this is important
protection of turbine can be tested locally by hand during
turbine operation at rated speed with the help of over
speed hydraulic test signal generator. When over speed
is reached, due to centrifugal force the eccentric flybolt of
trip device activates piston to drain auxiliary trip oil, and
limit switch to initiate annunciation. This causes trip oil to
depressurise and finally trip the turbine.
While testing specific force equivalent to centrifugal force
at preset over speed is generated through hydraulic test
signal generator by test oil to act on flybolt so as to
activate trip device
Low Vacuum trip:- The function of low vacuum trip
is to operate main trip valve if, during normal
operation the vacuum in the condenser is too
weak for condensation to be properly effected.
A spring with specific tension acts against
diaphragm. Top side of diaphragm is connected to
vacuum. When the vacuum is low below preset
value, it cannot counter act spring tension. Spring
moves valve downwards. The auxiliary oil
pressure beneath adjacent valve gets
depressurised through drain which activates MTV
to trip the turbine.
Thrust bearing trip:- The function of thrust bearing
trip is to monitor the shaft position in the bearing
pedestal. In case of any fault depressurise
auxiliary trip oil and thus the trip oil circuit in
shortest time thereby tripping the turbine.
To test the thrust bearing trip, associated
hydraulic test signal transmitter generates test
signal which pass to test piston in device which
deflects paul against spring force. Device piston
comes to trip position and auxiliary trip oil gets
drained. After tripping when starting device is
activated auxiliary start up oil brings tripping
device to normal position.