Because our clients asked for a course “emphasizing” operator understanding and response to operational problems.

When things go wrong, with respect to steam turbine operations, they go wrong quickly! 

• Packing rubs can occur for what might appear to be, no apparent reason.  Your gut reaction on what to do, when a packing rub occurs, can be seriously wrong!  Learn the concepts here and be prepared.
• One moment all is fine, and the next moment the alarms are dancing off the wall (or CRT).  Could it be a water induction incident?  The next few minutes of decision making and operator action is critical!  Learn how the turbine is impacted and what one should or should not do.
• We often hear that there are two lines of defense against overspeed.  Learn, exactly what they are and what they are not!
• Haven’t seen that vibration trend before.  What does it mean?  Learn what data needs to be collected to answer this question and how to come to an answer as well.
• The lube oil temperature is 110^oF while on turning gear.  So what?  Learn why this can be an issue.
• .. and the list of issues go on.

This course is intended to have a positive impact upon steam turbine operator decision-making.  The course specifically targets Control Room Operators, wannabe CRO, and Shift Supervisors.  Engineers can benefit as well.  It has been HPC’s experience that all too often that the procedures for starting up and loading a steam turbine are based upon hand-me-down communications.  Too often, equipment has been improved but procedures have not.  Too often, equipment has been replaced, but the procedures have not been altered.  This course is not intended to develop or discuss procedures, but is, instead, directed toward development, in the operational personnel, a thorough “understanding” of what considerations the ideal procedures are based upon.  HPC believes that if personnel thoroughly understand the operating concepts the result will be less forced outages, improved efficiency and improved availability.

OBJECTIVES

1. Describe those steam turbine components that are susceptible to damage in abnormal operating conditions.
2. Describe the type of damage that could occur and what the operator can (or cannot) do to correct for the situation.
3. Describe in detail the function of the turbine support systems, procedural issues, “typical” abnormal conditions, and operator corrective action.
4. Draw a simple block - diagram that describes all the elements of steam turbine controls: speed, load, and pressure control, the generation of a servomechanism signal, feedback and regulation.
5. Describe the function of each of the block diagram elements drawn.
6. Describe each of those operating parameters monitored by turbine supervisory instruments.
7. Describe operating conditions where an eccentricity detector is used to include detailed discussion on what is acceptable (or not acceptable) and operator actions.
8. Describe operating conditions where a shell expansion detector is used to include detailed discussion on what is acceptable (or not acceptable) and operator actions.
9. Describe operating conditions where a differential expansion detector is used to include detailed discussion on what is acceptable (or not acceptable) and operator actions.
10. Describe the causes of steam turbine vibration to include data to be recorded, detailed discussion on how to recognize the major causes of turbine vibration, and operator actions.
11. Describe normal steam turbine start-up procedures.
12. Describe normal steam turbine shutdown procedures.
13. List and describe those actions that can be taken by operations to minimize efficiency losses.
14. List abnormal conditions often experienced in operating steam turbines, and for each abnormal condition discussed:
    1. Describe any operational symptoms.
    2. Describe how the steam turbine is at risk.
    3. Describe typical controls’ automatic response.
    4. Describe required (recommended) operator response.