TURBINE

QUESTION & ANSWER

1. Why is a steam turbine classified as a heat engine?

A steam engine is classified as s heat engine because it converts heat

energy in to mechanical energy.

2. Explain the principle of operation of a steam turbine?

The steam turbines make use of the steam under pressure by admitting
through a nozzle to increase a velocity and expand through series of
blades converting the heat energy in to mechanical energy.

3. Explain the main difference between Impulse and Reaction

turbine?

An Impulse turbine is a machine in which the steam is expanded in

fixed blade or nozzle and by its change of direction, does work by
giving an impulse to the moving blades; where as a reaction turbine is
a machine in which steam is expanded through the fixed and moving
blades.

4. Describe the construction of an elementary turbine?

Elementary turbine constructions consist of a shaft on which one or

more rows of disc are mounted. On the circumference of the disc or
blades on buckets to received the steam and converts in to useful
work. It also requires bearings for support, suitable casing to enclose
the moving wheels, a system of lubrication and a device known as
governor to maintain its speed.

5. Why is lubrication needed in turbine bearings?

a. Reduce friction and wear.

b. Reduce build up of heat.
6. What does the lubricating oil system of a steam turbine usually
provides?

a. Provides lube oil to the bearings.

b. Provides oil to jacking oil system.
c. Provides oil to seal oil system of generator.
d. Provides signal oil to turbine protection.

7. State the purpose of the following:

a. Journal bearing
b. Thrust bearing
c. Turning gear assembly.

a. Journal bearing - supports the weight of the rotor assembly and

maintains the radial alignment.
b. Thrust bearing - Carry the axial load of the rotor assembly and
to maintain the clearance between the stationary and rotating parts of
the turbine.
c. Turbine Turning gear Assembly - is to rotate the turbo generator
shaft (rotor) at low speed prior to start-up and after shutdown to
equalize the rotor temperature and avoid bowing or bending.

8. What do we call the intermittent metal to metal contact between

low pressure rotor and sleeve bearings in spite of complete lubrication
during turning gear operation?

Stick- slip is the intermittent metal to contact between the low

pressure rotor and sleeve bearing in spite of complete lubrication
during turning gear operation.

9. State the consequences of the condition in question #8 and what

corrective measure has been devised to avoid the intermittent metal to
metal contact?

The consequence in stick-slip is vibration and the corrective measures

to avoid this is a jacking device built into the lubricating oil system to
supply a high pressure oil to lift(jack) the shaft of the rotor.
10. List the six basic components of a typical steam turbine generator
lubricating system.

The six basic components of a typical steam turbine generator

lubricating system are:
a. Oil
b. Pump.
c. Piping.
d. Reservoir.
e. Cooler.
f. Purification equipment.

11. State the reason why the vapour extractor should be running
before the turbine oil system is put in-service.

The vapor extractor should be running before the turbine oil system is
put in-service to remove air and moisture accumulation from the
system.

12. State the purpose of the oil cooler.

The purpose of the oil cooler is to remove the hear from the oil and
maintain the required temperature.
13. What supplies the system oil requirements when the turbine is
running at rated speed?

: The main oil pump directly coupled to the turbine shaft supplies the
oil requirement of the turbine when it is at rated speed.

14. What are the main limitations to be considered when starting

steam turbines?

The main limitations to be considered when starting the steam turbine

are:
a. Thermal stress and distortion (eccentricity)
b. Vibration.
 c. Misalignment.
d. Shell and rotor differential expansion.

15. Enumerate the parts which should be heated uniformly and

gradually when starting and loading a steam turbine.

The parts which should be heated uniformly and gradually when

starting and loading a steam turbine are:
a. Valve chest.
b. First stage shell area.
c. First stage nozzle bowl.
d. Main valve casing.

16. Temperature difference across any metal wall should not exceed
the recommended maximum temperature of 150 f. The process of
limiting the metal temperature prior to rolling of the turbine is called
?? .

The process of limiting the metal temperature prior to rolling of the

turbine is called steam metal temperature matching.

17. What are the precautions to be observed when starting a steam

turbine?

The precautions to be observed when starting a steam turbine are:

A. Rubbing of moving parts at low speed above turning gear up to
above 300 rpm:
B. vibration:
C. Oil pressure and temperature:
D. Steam seal pressure;
E. Differential expansion; and
F. Main and reheat steam pressure and temperature.

18. What are the three values monitored by the wall stress evaluator?

The three values monitored by the wall stress evaluator are:

a. The temperature of the inner surface casing;
b. The mean wall temperature; and
 c. The power output.

19 How would you differentiate the protective and monitoring

devices?

The difference between the protective and monitoring device is as

follows:
A protective device will trip the turbine automatically if limit
conditions were reached and poses a serious threat to the turbo-set; while
monitoring device is equipment that show or indicate the operating condition
of the turbine.

20. List at least five parameters which will indicate a critical

condition in a steam temperature?

The five parameters which will indicate a critical condition in a steam

temperature are:
a. Bearing temperature;
b. Bearing housing and shaft vibration;
c. Relative shaft expansion;
d. Differential casing temperature; and
e. Steam temperature.

21. Enumerate at least four (4) conditions which will trip the turbo-
set.

The four (4) conditions which will trip the turbo-set are:
a. Low vacuum;
b. Over speed;
c. Thrust bearing and failure; and
d. Low oil pressure.

22. Give at least four (4) uses of recording instrument.

Uses of recording instruments:

A. For record and future references;
B. For evaluation of plant performance;
c. For Continuous monitoring of operating conditions; and
 D. For safety of personnel and machines.

23. Explain briefly the meaning o0f “heating up” and ‘cooling down’
of the turbine.
a. Heating-up - a condition of the turbine when the steam
temperature is much higher than the mean temperature of turbine metal.

b. Cooling-Down - a condition of the turbine when the steam

temperature is much lower than the allowed mean temperature of turbine
metal.
Instrument alone do not improve economy rather it is the close control
of operating and maintenance made possible by a knowledge of the
conditions shown by the instruments that results in increased economy.

25. What is the primary consideration in determining the method of

starting a steam turbine?
The primary consideration in determining the method of starting a steam
turbine is the average shell metal temperature which varies with the time of
outage.

26. With the type of start-up (cold, warm, hot, very hot) what are the
main factors involves?

The main factors involve are:

a. The time required to bring the turbine to rated speed,
b. Rotor acceleration (rate of speed),
c. Loading rate.

27. State the precautions to be observed during the start-up of a unit?

The precautions to be observed during the start-up of a unit are the

following:
a. Thermal stress and distortion,
b. Vibration,
c. Misalignment,
d. Differential expansion,
e. Loading allowance,
f. Line drains, and
g. Vacuum.

28. Why is speed governor important on controlling turbine load?

The speed governor is important in controlling turbine load because it

maintains the speed of the unit at any load variation by regulating the
admission of steam to the turbine.

29. In turbine governing system, if unit is at steady load, what factors

remain constant?

When a unit is at steady load, the factors that remain constant is the
governing system are:
a. Turbine shaft speed;
b. Exhaust steam pressure;
c. Automatic extraction pressure;
d. Inlet steam pressure and temperature;
e. Driven equipment discharge pressure; and
f. Driven equipment differential pressure.