Troubleshooting rotating machinery vibration problems
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Vibration problems in rotating machinery are a major contributor of forced or unplanned maintenance outages in fossil fuel fired power plants. Many turbine blade failures, the leading cause of steam turbine outages for large fossil fuel plants in the United States, are caused by vibration-related fatigue stresses. Such failures cost utilities more than $235 million annually. However, conversion of large units to cycling operation also has increased blade failures. Lateral and torsional vibrations in turbines, generators, pumps, fans, and motors also cost utilities more than $170 million annually. Rotor dynamic instability and hydrodynamic forces induced by the working fluid and by coupled mechanical-hydraulic interactions cause vibrations that can damage rotor, bearings, and seals and adversely affect foundation, piping, and ductwork. This paper discusses a series of troubleshooting tools to help utilities determine the root causes of turbine blade and other rotating machinery failure.
- OSTI ID:
- 6436115
- Journal Information:
- Power Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: Power Engineering; (USA) Vol. 94:7; ISSN POENA; ISSN 0032-5961
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
200104* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Components
200600 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects-- (1990-)
BEARINGS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DYNAMIC LOADS
EPRI
FAILURES
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MACHINERY
MAINTENANCE
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
MECHANICS
OPTIMIZATION
OUTAGES
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
ROTORS
SERVICE LIFE
STEAM TURBINES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBINE BLADES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WORKING FLUIDS