Studying the development of asynchronous rolling of the rotor over the stator with the turbine unit protection systems having different response times

The possibility to stabilize the developing asynchronous rolling of the rotor over the stator under the conditions of power unit protections coming in action with different response times is considered. Asynchronous rolling of the rotor over the stator may develop when the rotating rotor comes in contact with the stator at high amplitudes of vibration caused by an abrupt loss of rotor balancing, by forced or self-excited vibration of the rotor, and by other factors. The danger of asynchronous rolling is connected with almost instantaneous development of self-excited vibration of the rotor when it comes in contact with the stator and with the rotor vibration amplitudes and forces of interaction between the rotor and stator dangerous for the turbine unit integrity. It is assumed that the turbine unit protection systems come in action after the arrival of signal of exceeding the permissible vibration level and produce commands to disconnect the generator from the grid, and to stop the supply of working fluid into the flow path, due to which an accelerating torque ceases to act on the turbine unit shaft. The protection system response speed is determined by a certain time t = ABtime that is taken for its components to come in action from the commencement of the event (application of the signal) to closure of the stop valves. The time curves of the main rolling parameters as functions of the ABtime value are presented. It is shown that the response time of existing protection systems is not sufficient for efficiently damping the rolling phenomenon, although the use of an electrical protection system (with the response time equal to 0.40–0.45 s) may have a positive effect on stabilizing the vibration amplitudes to a certain extent during the rolling and on smoothing its dangerous consequences. The consequences of rotor rolling over the stator can be efficiently mitigated by increasing the energy losses in the rotor-stator system (especially in the stator) and by fulfilling the recommendations of the machinery unit catastrophe prevention system.