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U.S. Department of Energy
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Bearing upgrade reduces vibration and improves unit load

Journal Article · · Power Engineering; (United States)
OSTI ID:5806736
This article describes how a new bearing design has eliminated subsynchronous vibrations on turbine at PSI's Cayuga plant. A journal bearing on the main turbine generator of Unit 2 was redesigned at Public Service Indiana's (PSI) Cayuga plant near Terre Haute, Ind. The change was necessary to avoid a potential catastrophic failure due to high subsynchronous vibration at optimum condenser vacuum. A tilting pad journal was installed in place of the original equipment plain-bore journal bearing. Initially, PSI attempted to execute this change with the original turbine manufacturer. However, because of the long lead time for delivery and high cost of the bearing proposed by the OEM, PSI decided to purchase the parts from a non-OEM supplier. Ultimately, this supplier accepted full responsibility for the design, manufacture, and installation of the bearing. The units involved are 470-MW reheat turbines operating at 3,600 rpm. They are tandem-compound quadruple-flow units with initial steam conditions of 2,400 psig and 1,000 F superheat and reheat at 1,000 F. They are rated at 3.5 inches of mercury absolute pressure.
OSTI ID:
5806736
Journal Information:
Power Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Power Engineering; (United States) Vol. 97:7; ISSN POENAI; ISSN 0032-5961
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English