About this title

This book satisfies a true need; it answers questions. Written by a thoroughly practical engineer and university lecturer who also knows and elaborates on underlying theories as needed, it is truly connected to reality. It conveys the practical aspects of condition monitoring needed by industry. The purpose of the book is not only to explain techniques, but to enthuse plant engineers and maintenance people to apply them.

There are few steam turbine textbooks in print that are aimed at the plant engineer. Steam Turbines Performance and Condition Monitoring is a resource for plant engineers to inspire and encourage them in their work of ensuring ongoing reliable performance to meet the requirements of their business.

Acerca del Autor - Ray Beebe

Ray Beebe’s engineering career began in 1964 in power generation at the original Yallourn Power Station of the then State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), Australia. Condition monitoring was developing with a major focus on pumps and steam turbines. During two years in the UK from 1971-73 on an SECV Scholarship, Ray worked for three power industry firms. On return, he established the application of advanced vibration analysis in SECV power stations, which was subsequently adopted in the open cut mines. He was selected for a one-year assignment to successfully improve the thermal efficiency of the then oil-fired steam station in Darwin. He has visited over 60 power stations in Australia and overseas to discuss engineering and organization.

Ray is enthusiastic in sharing knowledge, and as such was also involved part-time for many years in initiating and presenting in-house training in plant performance and condition monitoring. The manual of notes was spread around the power generation industry in Australia and nearby. It led to him taking leave to present several public short courses around Australia and in New Zealand, starting in 1984. The course notes were developed into his first book, Machine Condition Monitoring, chosen by Monash University in 1986 as the text for its postgraduate condition monitoring course.

Ray had many technical and managerial achievements in several power stations and central specialist units. He was the first Plant Systems Engineer at the lignite-fired Yallourn W Power Station (1450MW), managing the 32 member team responsible for plant maintenance and operations engineering.

In 1991, Ray took voluntary departure from the power industry and was invited to join the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), but had already joined Monash University. He taught undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, and from 1996 to 2010, led the postgraduate programs in maintenance and reliability engineering. These off-campus studies attract students from all around the world.

Contents

Chapter 1: Condition Monitoring and Maintenance of Steam Turbines
Chapter 2: Some Groundwork for Steam Turbine Monitoring
Chapter 3: Condition Monitoring of the Steam Path Using Performance Analysis
Chapter 4: Derivation of Correction Factors for VWO Tests
Chapter 5: Performance Analysis Using Plant Instrumentation
Chapter 6: Experiences in Using CM to Detect Damage
Chapter 7: Monitoring Central Gland Leakage on Combined HP-IP Casing Turbines
Chapter 8: Detection of Deposits on Turbine Blading
Chapter 9: Performance Analysis of Low Pressure Turbines
Chapter 10: Condition Monitoring of Governing Systems and Steam Valves
Chapter 11: Experiences in Using Permanent Vibration Monitoring Instrumentation
Chapter 12: Diagnosis and Solution of Resonant Whirl on a Steam Turbine Generator
Chapter 13: Other Experiences in Turbine Generator CM by Vibration Monitoring
Chapter 14: Brief Case Studies in Condition Monitoring of Steam Turbines
Chapter 15: Condition Monitoring of Power Plant Heat Exchangers
Chapter 16: Some Activities to Exercise Understanding