Investigation of operational characteristics of axial displacement guides for thermal expansion systems of steam turbines

Abstract

ТНЕ PURPOSE. To carry out a comparative analysis of the performance characteristics of the longitudinal movement guides of the external bearing housings of steam turbines, using the principle of rotation to ensure full contact of their lateral surfaces with the lateral surfaces of the guide groove at the base of the external bearing housing of the steam turbine. Compare the manufacturability of elements and their implementation for both existing and newly developed steam turbines .METHODS. The permissible transverse forces are determined from the strength conditions and compared for the traditional design of fixed longitudinal guides and the design of guides, in which the principle of rotation is used to avoid "biting" of the bearing housing on the guides when temperature misalignment appears along the flanges of the turbine cylinder. Also, the allowable forces are determined and compared from the condition of the absence of plastic deformations in any of the elements of the interface of the guides, the base frame and the bearing housing. Based on the results obtained, the value of the permissible temperature misalignment along the flanges of the turbine cylinder is estimated. The analysis was carried out in relation to the operating conditions of the front bearing housing and HPC of turbines of the T 100/120-130 UTZ family.RESULTS. It has been established that all the considered designs of guides with pivoting elements make it possible to exclude the occurrence of plastic deformations in the junction of the base frame and the outboard bearing housing at a temperature misalignment of 20°C regulated in most turbine operating instructions. CONCLUSION. The design of longitudinal keys proposed by UTZ does not require a change in the technology for manufacturing the foundation frames and allows the unit to be modernized during repairs in a CHP. The best performance disc guide design can be used in new turbine designs or factory retrofits.