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Different Types of Turbine Protective Devices

by Editorial Staff

This article provides the list of different types of Turbine Protective Devices like turbine over speed trip,
low lube oil pressure, axial displacement, turbine temperature and turbine vibrations.

Turbine Protective Devices

Tripping Device
Low Lube Oil Pr.
Over Speed Trip
Low Vacuum
SOV for remote tripping
Hi/Lo Extrn. Pr.
Casing Expansion
Extrn./Exhaust Temp Differential Expansion
Generator Protection
Axial Displacement
Manual/Remote Trip
Bearing Vibrations
Casing/Rotor Temp.
Bearing Temperatures

Tripping Device
When ever the turbine is to be tripped , the Governing oil pressure is drained by tripping device. Thus
pressure in front of stop valve piston disc and control oil pressure falls, resulting in closure of stop valve
and control valves.

Over Speed Trip

The over speed protection is formed by three independent sensors of turbine speed evaluation that act
through a selection of the output signal two of three after exceeding a set value of security speed for an
immediate impulse for closing of the ESV within less than 30ms.

Magnetic Pickup
A magnetic pickup consists of a permanent magnet, wrapped with a coil of a few thousands turns of fine
enameled copper wire.

When discrete ferromagnetic object such as gear teeth or blades are passed through the probes
magnetic field, the flux density is modulated. This induces AC voltages in the coil. One complete cycle of
voltage is generated for each object passed.

The total number of cycles will be a measure of the total rotation, and The frequency of the AC voltage
will be directly proportional to the rotational speed of the shaft.
Making and breaking of the flux lines induces an alternating voltage into the coil around the pole piece.

Each pulse is represented by a gear tooth passing by the MPU. The impedance of MPU is approximately
220 ohms.

PROXIMITOR (Eddy Current Probe)

The mechanical energy is transformed into electrical energy using the proximity Transducer system. The
interface device used for this system is called a proximitor. It generates a radial frequency(RF) signal
using an oscillator circuit.

The RF signal is transmitted from the probe coil which creates an RF field around the probe tip. When
conductive material is present in the RF field, Eddy currents flow in the surface of that material.

Once the probe is close enough to cause eddy currents to flow in a conductive material the RF signal is
affected in two ways.

1. Amplitude is minimum, when the Gap is less.

2. Amplitude is maximum, when the Gap is more.
If the target is moving slowly within RF field, the signal amplitude will increase or decrease slowly.
Depending on the movement of target, the amplitude increase or decrease slowly or rapidly. This
oscillatory movements of the target causes the RF signal to modulate.

This will be convert by demodulator and will give a AC signal (sine wave). If the target is oscillating (gap
changing slowly or rapidly), the proximitors output also vary the DC voltage (AC) shown above by a sine
wave.

If the probe is observing a vibration, the proximitor will provide both a DC (gap) and an AC (vibration)
component in the output signal. The frequency response from 0 Hz to 10 kHz.

Casing Expansion
This is the measurement of Turbine Casing or Shell moves in relation to a fixed location usually measured
with a LVDT (Linear variable differential Transformer). Case expansion is the Thermal growth of the
machine case as It expands during machine startup and on line operations.
Thermal growth at different rates can cause internal rubbing between rotating and stationary parts of the
machine.

The case expansion transducer system uses the LVDT to measure the machine Case thermal growth.

A rod on the LVDT connects to the machine. As the machine case grows, the rod moves inside the LVDT.
This causes a change in the signal in the LVDT.

Range:- 0 ~ 25mm; Trip:- 20mm

Rotor Expansion
During turbine startup, extra care must be taken to ensure that the case has been properly heated and
expanded sufficiently to prevent contact between the rotor and the case.

For this Eddy probe transducer will generate a high frequency oscillating RF signals that is sent through
the extension cable to the pickup tip. The pickup tip having a wound coil of fine wire, radiates a
electromagnetic Field, as the radiated field is bisected by the rotor surface.

As the rotor surface moves closer to the pickup tip, a greater amount of eddy currents are created
Proportional to the gap between the surface and the pickup tip. The signal sensor contains a
demodulator which measure the increase in eddy currents, and generates an equivalent DC voltage
proportional to the gap.

Rotor Expansion on a turbine is the absolute measurement of the rotor’s axial thermal growth with
respect to the turbine’s foundation.

Differential Expansion
This is very important parameter receiving much attention during turbine startup and warming. This
parameter measures how the turbine rotor expands in relation to the turbine shell or casing.

The difference between Casing expansion & rotor expansion is called differential expansion. It is the
relative measurement of the rotor’s axial thermal growth with respect to the casing.

Differential Expansion on a turbine is the relative measurement of the rotor’s axial thermal growth with
respect to the case. Casing expansion with respect to turbine’s foundation. Rotor expansion with respect
to turbine’s foundation. Rotor expansion with respect to the casing is differential expansion

Range:- -4mm to 6mm

Alarm :- +2.30mm & -1.60mm

Trip:- +3.00mm & -2.50mm

Key Phasor
A transducer that produces a voltage pulse for each turn of the shaft, called the “KeyPhasor” signal. It
produces a voltage pulse once each revolution.

Phase or phase angle, is a measure of the relationship of how one vibration signal relates to another
vibration signal and is commonly used to calculate the placement of a balance weight.

This signal is used primarily to measure Shaft rotative speed and serves as a reference for measuring
vibration Phase lag angle.

The keyphasor transducer is typically a proximity probe. The Keyphasor is a very useful tool when
diagnosing machinery problems.

The standard scale factor is 200mV/mil or 7.87mV/um

1 mil = 25.4 microns

Rotor Axial Displacement

Two types of trips

1. Rotor Axial Displacement

2. Radial Vibration
The below table shows the alarm and trip values for bently nevada vibration measurement system.

S.No DESCRIPTION Alarm Trip

1 Key Phaser — —

2 Axial Displacement +/- .5mm +/- .8mm

4 Rotor Front Bearing 120u 180u

7 Rotor Rear Bearing 120u 180u

8 Gear Box Pinion Bearing 100u 180u

15 Gear Wheel Bearing 100u 150u

16 Alternator DE Bearing 100u 180u

19 Alternator NDE Bearing 100u 180u

20 Turbine Casing Expansion 20mm 25mm

21 Turbine Differential Expansion; Towards probe +2.3mm +3mm

22 Turbine Differential Expansion; Away from Probe -1.6mm -2.5mm

Bearing Temperatures
Temperature of bearings is a measure of the how hot a bearing is operating. It may be due to
overloading, misalignment, improper lubricant pressure and/or flow.

Nearly all turbine generator bearings were originally installed with bearing temperature sensors. These
sensors may be thermocouples or RTDs. Any bearings that was not originally equipped with temperature
sensors can be retro-fitted to accept thermocouples or RTDs.

TURBINE TRIP- TEMP

I/O SETPOINT
DECRIPTION – Siemens Governor
TYPE ALARM TRIP

TURB THRUST BRG TEMP BTM NEG T/C 110 120

TURB BRG TEMP FRONT T/C 110 120

TURB BRGTEMP REAR T/C 110 120

GB PENION DE BRG TEMP RTD 100 110

GB PENION NDE BRG TEMP RTD 100 110

GB WHEEL DE BRG TEMP RTD 110 120

GB WHEEL NDE BRG TEMP RTD 100 110

GEN FRONT BRG TEMP RTD 85 90

GEN REAR BRG TEMP RTD 85 90

Generator Protection
Bearing and Winding Temperature
Earth fault Protection
Reverse/Low Forward Power
Over Voltage / Under Voltage
Over Frequency / Under Frequency
Over Current
Differential
Neutral displacement
Negative phase sequence

Note : Alarms and Trips Values may change from equipment to equipment.

Author : K. R. Rao

Shared by : Basavaraj Ambarage

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2 thoughts on “Different Types of Turbine Protective Devices”

Jim
March 1, 2020 at 3:30 pm

useful information

Reply

Anand purohit
July 25, 2022 at 10:54 am

Thanks very usful

Reply

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