Experimental study on fault caused by partial arc steam forces and its economic solution

It is noticed in a few steam turbines that there are a pad temperature rise of more than 10°C and a radial journal movement of more than 50 ¼m in the bearings adjacent to control stage when they operate under partial arc admission at 60-80% of their full load. It is found through fault mechanism analysis and experimental study that the fault is caused by partial arc steam forces acting on control stage. A fault characteristic is concluded to help identify this fault. Diagonal admission is therefore proposed as an economic solution for elimination of this fault and it is proved to be effective through practical test.