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Energy conversion in a steam turbine -control and protection

The steam turbine has until recently been the first choice for very large power marine propulsion units. Its advantages of little or no vibration, low weight, minimal space requirements and low maintenance costs are considerable. Furthermore a turbine can be provided for any power rating likely to be required for marine propulsion. However, the higher specific fuel consumption when compared with a diesel engine offsets these advantages, although refinements such as reheat have narrowed the gap.

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The valves which admit steam to the ahead or astern turbines are known as 'manoeuvring valves'. There are basically three valves, the ahead, the astern and the guarding or guardian valve. The guardian valve is an astern steam isolating valve. These valves are hydraulically operated by an independent system employing a main and standby set of pumps. Provision is also made for hand operation in the event of remote control system failure.

Operation of the ahead manoeuvring valve will admit steam to the main nozzle box. Remotely operated valves are used to open up the remaining nozzle boxes for steam admission as increased power is required. A speed-sensitive control device acts on the ahead manoeuvring valve to hold the turbine speed constant at the desired value. Operation of the astern manoeuvring valve will admit steam to the guardian valve which is opened in conjunction with the astern valve. Steam is then admitted to the astern turbines.


steam turbine

Fig: Energy conversion in a steam turbine


Turbine protection

A turbine protection system is provided with all installations to prevent damage resulting from an internal turbine fault or the malfunction of some associated equipment. Arrangements are made in the system to shut the turbine down using an emergency stop and solenoid valve. Operation of this device cuts off the hydraulic oil supply to the manoeuvring valve and thus shuts off steam to the turbine. This main trip relay is operated by a number of main fault conditions which are;

1. Low lubricating oil pressure.
2. Overspeed.
3. Low condenser vacuum.
4. Emergency stop.
5. High condensate level in condenser.
6. High or low boiler water level.
Other fault conditions which must be monitored and form part of a total protection system are:

1. HP and LP rotor eccentricity or vibration.
2. HP and LP turbine differential expansion, i.e. rotor with respect to casing.
3. HP and LP thrust bearing weardown.
4. Main thrust bearing weardown.
5. Turning gear engaged (this would prevent starting of the turbine).

Such 'turbovisory' systems, as they may be called, operate in two ways. If a tendency towards a dangerous condition is detected a first stage alarm is given. This will enable corrective action to be taken and the turbine is not shut down. If corrective action is not rapid, is unsuccessful, or a main fault condition quickly arises, the second stage alarm is given and the main trip relay is operated to stop the turbine.



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Impulse steam turbine and reaction steam turbine

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  1. Marine steam turbines operating procedure

    2. The steam turbine has until recently been the first choice for very large power marine propulsion units. Its advantages of little or no vibration, low weight, minimal space requirements and low maintenance costs are considerable. Furthermore a turbine can be provided for any power rating likely to be required for marine propulsion.
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  2. Impulse steam turbine and reaction steam turbine

    3. The steam turbine is a device for obtaining mechanical work from the energy stored in steam. There are two main types of turbine, the 'impulse' and the 'reaction'. The names refer to the type of force which acts on the blades to turn the turbine wheel.
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  3. Turbine control and protection

    4. A turbine protection system is provided with all installations to prevent damage resulting from an internal turbine fault or the malfunction of some associated equipment. Arrangements are made in the system to shut the turbine down using an emergency stop and solenoid valve.
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  4. Various turbine gearing -Epicyclic gearing,Helical gearing,Flexible coupling &Turning gear

    5. Helical gears have been used for many years and remain a part of most systems of gearing. Epicyclic gears with their compact, lightweight, construction are being increasingly used in marine transmissions.
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    6. Steam-to-steam generators produce low-pressure saturated steam for domestic and other services. They are used in conjunction with watertube boilers to provide a secondary steam circuit which avoids any possible contamination of the primary-circuit feedwater. .
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    7. Compounding is the splitting up, into two or more stages, of the steam pressure or velocity change through a turbine. Pressure compounding of an impulse turbine is the use of a number of stages of nozzle and blade to reduce progressively the steam pressure..
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Marine diesel engines ||Steam generating plant ||Air conditioning system ||Compressed air ||Marine batteries ||Cargo refrigeration ||Centrifugal pump ||Various coolers ||Emergency power supply ||Exhaust gas heat exchangers ||Feed system ||Feed extraction pump || Flow measurement || Four stroke engines || Fuel injector || Fuel oil system || Fuel oil treatment ||Gearboxes || Governor || Marine incinerator || Lub oil filters || MAN B&W engine || Marine condensers || Oily water separator || Overspeed protection devices || Piston & piston rings || Crankshaft deflection || Marine pumps || Various refrigerants || Sewage treatment plant || Propellers || Power Plants || Starting air system || Steam turbines || Steering gear || Sulzer engine || Turbine gearing || Turbochargers || Two stroke engines || UMS operations || Drydocking & major repairs || Critical machinery || Deck machineries & cargo gears || Control and instrumentation ||Fire protection ||Engine room safety ||





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