Rotor dynamic and thermal deformation tests of high-speed boiler feedpumps

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5377780

Guelich, J F; Eichhorn, G; Eberl, J; Frei, A ^[1]

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1. Sulzer Bros. Ltd., Winterthur (Switzerland)

Unscheduled outages and deratings caused by problems with feed pumps cost utilities an estimated $460 million in replacement power costs in 1985. Excessive vibrations and wear caused by thermal deformation induced rubbing of the pump rotors in close running clearances are among the leading causes of pump failures. The risk of such failures increases with the impeller tip speed or the head per stage. This report describes tests with a modern 10.000-KW-boiler feed pump with a head per stage of 800 m (2600 ft). The tests were focused on the rotordynamic behavior and thermal deformation during hot standby condition. Vibration amplitudes have been measured near the bearings and within the pump at the first stage impeller and at the balance piston. The effect of labyrinth clearance, swirl brakes, temperature, unbalance and flow rate on vibrations have been measured and compared to computer predictions. Design recommendations are given to achieve low vibration levels and to reduce thermal deformations. 17 refs., 84 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Sulzer Bros. Ltd., Winterthur (Switzerland)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5377780
• Report Number(s): EPRI-GS-7405
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEFORMATION
FAILURES
FEEDWATER
FLUID MECHANICS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HYDRAULICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
MECHANICS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
PUMPS
RELIABILITY
ROTORS
SIMULATION
STRESSES
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMAL STRESSES
WATER
WATER PUMPS
WEAR