Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines

The paper deals with comprehensive research in the field of electrization of wet steam flow in a turbine. The experience of the conducted studies on laboratory stands and full-scale objects (CHP and TPP) in Ukraine and the USA is introduced and generalized. It was shown that in the process of steam...

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Main Authors: Anatolii O. Tarelin, Oleh Weres
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: NAS of Ukraine, A. Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering Problems 2023-09-01
Series:Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Subjects:
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author Anatolii O. Tarelin
Oleh Weres
author_facet Anatolii O. Tarelin
Oleh Weres
author_sort Anatolii O. Tarelin
collection DOAJ
description The paper deals with comprehensive research in the field of electrization of wet steam flow in a turbine. The experience of the conducted studies on laboratory stands and full-scale objects (CHP and TPP) in Ukraine and the USA is introduced and generalized. It was shown that in the process of steam electrization, the charge density in the flow can reach very high values (an order of magnitude appears to be higher than in a thundercloud), and this phenomenon mainly has a negative effect on the turbine operation. Statistical data on the charge formation of the steam flow in the low-pressure cylinder of the turbine are presented. Results of the research to establish the main electrophysical factors of influence on the surface strength of the blade, such as electric fields, charge density and their polarity, are presented. The research results showed that such factors as the presence of a positively charged steam flow, constant and variable electric fields, which were most often recorded at operating turbines of CHPs and TPPs, significantly (by two or more times) intensify erosion-corrosion processes on the metal surfaces of the blades, thus reducing their working resource. Thermodynamic processes are studied both under conditions of natural electrification of a high-speed flow, which reduce the efficiency by about 0.3–0.35%, and under the influence of artificially created electric charges, which make it possible to increase the efficiency of the steam expansion process in the turbine by 2 or more percent. Various options of local input of electrical energy for steam ionization in the turbine are considered. At the same time, it is noted that for the practical implementation of these approaches, further careful design improvements and tests on model and full-scale installations are required. Water chemistry regimes are also considered in the context of their influence on the flow charge formation process, as well as on reliability and efficiency indicators of the turbine. Experimentally at an 800 MW turbine plant in the USA, it was shown that a change in the pH of the medium affects the intensity and polarity of the charge formation of the steam flow. The paper introduces the physical features of this phenomenon and notes the importance of these processes influence on the strength characteristics of the blades. Information on new methods and technologies that could lead to an increase in the operational efficiency and reliability of wet steam turbines, such as methods for input and removal of electrical energy into the flow; rational choice of water chemistry regimes; space charge neutralization, etc., is provided. These comprehensive electrophysical studies, considered in conjunction with thermal processes, can be characterized as a new scientific direction in the theory of steam turbines – thermal electrophysics.
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spelling doaj.art-7cf82698c56049f7b96f11a3d5794ce52024-01-18T10:43:49ZengNAS of Ukraine, A. Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering ProblemsJournal of Mechanical Engineering2709-29842709-29922023-09-01263334110.15407/pmach2023.03.033Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam TurbinesAnatolii O. Tarelin0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7160-5726Oleh Weres1Anatolii Pidhornyi Institute of Mechanical Engineering Problems of NAS of UkraineGeobrinelabThe paper deals with comprehensive research in the field of electrization of wet steam flow in a turbine. The experience of the conducted studies on laboratory stands and full-scale objects (CHP and TPP) in Ukraine and the USA is introduced and generalized. It was shown that in the process of steam electrization, the charge density in the flow can reach very high values (an order of magnitude appears to be higher than in a thundercloud), and this phenomenon mainly has a negative effect on the turbine operation. Statistical data on the charge formation of the steam flow in the low-pressure cylinder of the turbine are presented. Results of the research to establish the main electrophysical factors of influence on the surface strength of the blade, such as electric fields, charge density and their polarity, are presented. The research results showed that such factors as the presence of a positively charged steam flow, constant and variable electric fields, which were most often recorded at operating turbines of CHPs and TPPs, significantly (by two or more times) intensify erosion-corrosion processes on the metal surfaces of the blades, thus reducing their working resource. Thermodynamic processes are studied both under conditions of natural electrification of a high-speed flow, which reduce the efficiency by about 0.3–0.35%, and under the influence of artificially created electric charges, which make it possible to increase the efficiency of the steam expansion process in the turbine by 2 or more percent. Various options of local input of electrical energy for steam ionization in the turbine are considered. At the same time, it is noted that for the practical implementation of these approaches, further careful design improvements and tests on model and full-scale installations are required. Water chemistry regimes are also considered in the context of their influence on the flow charge formation process, as well as on reliability and efficiency indicators of the turbine. Experimentally at an 800 MW turbine plant in the USA, it was shown that a change in the pH of the medium affects the intensity and polarity of the charge formation of the steam flow. The paper introduces the physical features of this phenomenon and notes the importance of these processes influence on the strength characteristics of the blades. Information on new methods and technologies that could lead to an increase in the operational efficiency and reliability of wet steam turbines, such as methods for input and removal of electrical energy into the flow; rational choice of water chemistry regimes; space charge neutralization, etc., is provided. These comprehensive electrophysical studies, considered in conjunction with thermal processes, can be characterized as a new scientific direction in the theory of steam turbines – thermal electrophysics.steam turbineelectrizationstatisticsefficiencystrength
spellingShingle Anatolii O. Tarelin
Oleh Weres
Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines
Journal of Mechanical Engineering
steam turbine
electrization
statistics
efficiency
strength
title Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines
title_full Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines
title_fullStr Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines
title_short Integrated Studies of Electrophysical Processes in Steam Turbines
title_sort integrated studies of electrophysical processes in steam turbines
topic steam turbine
electrization
statistics
efficiency
strength
work_keys_str_mv AT anatoliiotarelin integratedstudiesofelectrophysicalprocessesinsteamturbines
AT olehweres integratedstudiesofelectrophysicalprocessesinsteamturbines