IEEE ICSS2005 International Conference On Systems & Signals

Effect of Small Power Disturbances on Turbine-Generator Mechanism

Torsional Torque and Fatigue

Jong-Ian Tsai1, Jin-Tsan Wang2, Chi-Hshiung Lin3

Dep. of {Electronic , Electrical3} Engineering, Kao Yuan Institute of Technology, Taiwan
1,2

{jitsai1, wang01272, linchsh3}@cc.kyit.edu.tw

Abstract-- In this paper, the impact of six kinds of The purpose of the paper is to compare the fatigue
small power system disturbances on the torsional life expenditure level for turbine shafts and blades
torques and fatigue life expenditure induced in due to the excitations of the following six kinds of
turbine-generator shafts and blades is presented. In this small disturbances, which are power system
context, investigations have been conducted on a large
scale turbine-generator unit connected to the infinite
unbalance, electrical arc furnace loads, HVDC
bus feeding various loads. Such power disturbances are subharmonic currents, infinite bus voltage sag, load
power system unbalance, electrical arc furnace (EAF) rejection, and mechanical torque pulsation. The
loads, HVDC subharmonic currents, infinite bus voltage results under study could provide the safety comment
sag, load rejection, and mechanical torque pulsation for the power plants.
respectively. The results of these investigations are
carried out in the form of typical time-domain II. SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS
responses and frequency-domain response.
A. System Model
I. INTRODUCE Fig. 1 schematically shows the electromechanical
system for study. The steam turbine unit, including a
During the last three decades, the torsional impact high-pressure (HP) stage and two low-pressure (LP)
of large electrical disturbances on the stage steam turbines, analyzed in this study is a
turbine-generator (T-G) shafts and blades has been close-coupled and cross-compound reheat unit that
extensively discussed in many research works [1-3]. operates at a rotational speed of 1800rpm. The rated
Many disturbances impose considerably high stresses capacity of the generator is 951MW. Each of LP
on turbine shafts and blades and cause fatigue steam turbines has A and B spindles and uses the
damage such as network faults, malsynchronization, shrunk-on rotor. These are eleven rows of blades are
high-speed reclosing, etc. However, the impact of sheathed with shrouds and the last two rows of blades
small electrical disturbances was less studied are a freestanding structure in which the tip diameter
obviously. In fact, large power disturbances take of the longest blade is 4531mm and its length is
place rarely whereas the small ones occurs more 1166mm.
frequently and even cause long-term fatigue damage TABLE I
in turbine mechanism [4]. 951MW TURBINE-GENERATOR AND SYSTEM-PARAMETERS
On the other hand, the damage on steam turbine Generator (1057MVA,23.75kV) Mechanical data
blades is significantly affected by impurities in steam, 60Hz Xd=1.574 Rs=0.00359 Inertia Dampi Stiffness,
Mass K
particularly Cl ion [4]. In the more final blade stage, 4 poles Xq=1.490 R fd =0.0007 ,J ng, D
P0=0.90 Xfdl=0.168 Rkd=0.0257 0 HP 0.178 0.0018
where the transition from dry to wet steam frequently 144.15
Q0=0.2334 Xl=0.190 Rkq=0.0257 1 0
LP1F 0.654 0.0002
occurs, a saturated solution of salt can be produced 1595.0
Vt=1.03 Xkd=0.110 Xkq=0.490 1 3
LP1R 0.648 0.0002
from very low levels of steam contaminants. 206.0
Step-up TR1(1057MVA,24/161kV) LP2F 0.657 0.0002 1
If the considerable torque vibration arising from 1584.9
power disturbances is sustained, it can produce the Xt1=0.15 Rt1=0.00192 LP2R 0.667 0.0002
1 325.28
continuous cyclic stress into the blades operating in Transmission line to infinite bus GEN 1.161 0.0001
the NaCl corrosive environment. The combination of 1057MVA X1=0.80 X2=0.80 REC 0.003 0.000 117.16
161kV R1=0.05 R2=0.05 EXC 0.002 0.000 1.61
vibratory stresses and corrosive environments
provide the necessary conditions for corrosion fatigue Torque distribution (%) BL0/L1 0.034 0.0001 36.2/220.
to occur. HP 31 LP1F 13.45 LP2F 13.45 B1F,1R,2F,2R –L0 2.8
LP1R 13.45 LP2R 13.45 B1F,1R,2F,2R –L1 2.03

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Fig. 2 shows the mechanical model of the

simulated turbine-generator, in which the typical
model of a long blade is so complex that it is shown
in detail in Fig. 2b. Three types of vibration mode
(flexural, axial and torsional) are present in the model,
which vibrates in the direction of rotation,
perpendicular to rotation and in twist direction,
respectively. Among them, the flexural mode has
lower resonant frequency and is usually chosen to
Fig. 1. System studied. study the vibration mode shapes of blades. The
electrical and mechanical data with the final row (L0)
blade blade blade blade and next-to-final row (L1) of the blades are given in
model model model model
Table I. All the parameters are in the per unit system,
Th T1f T1r T2f T2r Tg based on generator ratings.
Kh1 K1fr K12 K2fr K2g Kgr Kre
Jh JLP1F JLP1R JLP2F JLP2R Jg Jr Je II. FREQUENCY-DOMAIN RESPONSE BY
Dh1 D1fr D12 D2fr D2g Dgr Dre FREQUENCY SCANNING
Dh D1f D1r D2f D2r Dg Dr De
(a) The vibration modes of the turbine system can be
computed by using the frequency-scanning approach.
flexural axial torsional Suppose that the terminal of generator rotor is a
shake with electromagnetic torque (E/M torque) of
one per unit, the frequency inspects the natural
frequencies of steam turbines from 0.01Hz to 140Hz
with the interval of 0.01Hz. The scanning results for
the predominate shaft and blades are shown in Fig. 3,
which also reveals the turbine vibration modes as
flexural axial torsional
depicted in Table II. It is found that the modes 1~4
Dbf Dba Dbt and 9~10 are shaft torsional mode, modes 5~8 are the
early
stage flexural mode for the L0 blade, and modes 11~14 are
J
blade bf Jba Jbt
the flexural mode for the L1 blade. These modes have
K1fr
Kbf Kba Kbt
K12
been avoided from the forbidden frequency bands
defined as 60Hz ±5% and 120Hz ±5%. The
JLP1R bandwidth for the each mode is so narrow that the
D1fr D12 response on vibration modes has very high quality
D1r factor (Q).
(b) Based on the frequency domain analysis, the
Fig. 2. (a) Turbine mechanical model and (b) blade model torsional stresses on turbine shafts or blades are
easily deduced from the induced E/M torque by
B. Blade Model power system disturbances.

TABLE II
VIBRATION MODES FOR THE 951MW UNIT (HZ)

Mode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
951MW 19.11 36.35 40.23 46.07 49.80 49.82 51.80 52.69 102.35 104.61 126.92 127.08 133.44 134.47

(Hz)(a) (Hz)(c)

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(Hz)(b)
Fig. 3. The frequency response by frequency-scanning
time, sec
Fig. 4. The vibration torques caused by power system unbalance (I2=0.06 pu)
IV. TIME-DOMAIN RESPONSE BY
NONLINEAR MODELING
For time-domain simulation investigations, the
entire nonlinear studied system is modeled by
Matlab-Simulink/ Power System Blockset software
[11]. The excitations owing to six kinds of common
power disturbances will be discussed.
A. Power system Unbalance
In this case, the point A of the studied system is
open in Fig. 1. It has been known that the component
of induced E/M torque due to unbalance negative
currents (I2) is double-system frequency (120Hz) [4].
As seen from Fig. 3, there are low torque responses
for both the shafts and the L0 blades at 120 Hz.
However, there is considerable high response of
-29.3dB for the LP2R-L1 blade, which leads to
supersynchronous oscillation (SPSO).
Fig. 4 demonstrates the transient time behaviors
subject to typical I2 = 0.06 pu by uneven load
distributions [4]. Each phase current is controlled not
to exceed 1.05 pu, the overcurrent protection setting
for the studied system. Before 0.3 seconds, the
transient E/M torque comprises both system
frequency (60Hz) component and double system
(120Hz) component. The vibrations of the turbine
mechanism are governed by such two forced
excitations. Until a steady-state condition is reached,
the remaining torque is imposed by the E/M torque of
120 Hz component only. The results for the LP2R-L1
blade with the considerable torque vibrations and the
shaft with insignificant torque vibrations agree with
the frequency domain analysis.
B. Electrical Arc Furnace Load
In this case, the point A is connected to a steel
plant through a step-down transformer and an EAF
purpose-used feeder line as shown in Fig. 5, where
(Hz)(d)
Time, sec time, sec
several local loads are considered. The steel plant is
consisted of a 50-ton electrical arc furnace (EAF)
load and a thyristor Q compensator (TQC) in service.
All parameters of the EAF system are listed in [5].
From the investigation of [5], since the induced
E/M torque during the heating operation is mainly
composed of the subsynchronous frequency
components (<60Hz), the operation of an EAF load
viewed from a generator is a subharmonic
disturbance. Accordingly the excited torsinal torque
in the L0 blade will be higher than in the L1 blade
due to the subsynchronous vibration mode of the L0
blade. From the simulation result in Fig. 6, the EAF
with TQC is precisely modeled by dynamic load
model feeding field measured raw data from the
MOF of the steel plant. To observe the common
impact to the turbine generator, the voltage flicker
∆V10 at PCC is kept to the standard limit 0.45% [8].
As can bee seen, both the amplitude and the
frequency of the E/M torque are stochastic also,
caused by the randomly dramatic real power
fluctuation at the MOF during the boredown and
meltdown period. Thus, the most onerous shaft or
blade torque vibrations are induced at about 111
second whereas the maximum fluctuating E/M torque
doest not appear at the same time. This is because the
maximum torque vibration is excited by either the
short-time resonant effect or the torque additive
effect due to the excitation in phase with the previous
excitation. Because the frequency of the E/M torque
is stochastic, the torque amplification phenomenon
due to the sustained resonance is not easily excited.
Overall, the shaft and blade torsional torque are still
considerable.
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Fig. 5.The electrical arc finance load system
C. HVDC Subharmonics
In this case, the point A is connected to an
asynchronous 50/60Hz HVDC link as given in Fig. 7.
The 12-order variable-frequency ripple currents
superimposed on DC currents in asynchronous
HVDC links results in the subharmonic current at the
inverter. Supposing that the sum of the frequency of
the harmonic current and the frequency of the turbine
vibration mode exactly equals to the system
frequency, the subsychronous resonance (SSR)
phenomenon would be introduced [9, 10].
time, sec
time, sec
Fig. 6. The current and real power at the MOF, and vibration torques caused by electrical arc furnace system
Fig. 7. The studied 50/60Hz asynchronous HVDC link
D. Voltage sag at the infinite bus, Load
Rejection and mechanical torque pulsation
The investigation associated with large power
system excitations on the turbine generator torques
such as network faults has been illustrated. In this
section, the more frequent small disturbance such as
the remote faults or malsynchronization momentarily
is considered. Such impact could be equivalent to a
voltage amplitude sag, phase sag or frequency
drifting at the infinite bus as shown in Fig. 8.
According to the investigation [10], the typical
maximum E/M torque due to the subharmonic current
has amplitude of 0.002 pu and the frequency
distribution for the induced E/M torque is within
0~13Hz for the 60Hz machine and within 6.6~35.2Hz
for the 50Hz machines. The SSR will impossibly be
occurred because no vibration mode for the 951MW
unit is within these ranges. However, there is a very
good possibility for the 50Hz machines.
Because the excitation of the harmonic
disturbance is a steady-state excitation, the torque
response analysis following such a disturbance can
easily be calculated using the frequency scanning
method. Provided that the terminal of generator rotor
is a shaker with the E/M torque excitation of 0.002 pu,
the fluctuating peak-to-peak sympathetic torques in
turbine shafts and blades are extremely violent as
illustrated in Table III.
time, sec time, sec
time, sec time, sec
One the other hand, another more common small
disturbance such as large-scale motor trip or load
shedding can be treated as a resistive load with the
CB from ON to-OFF action as described in Fig. 9.
The real power fluctuation for the selected load is
identical to the case B. The transient responses are
shown in Fig. 10 .The transient responses due to
impulse mechanical torque pulsation are also
indicated in Fig. 11.
As depicted in Fig. 8 and Figs. 9~11, it is clear
that the transient E/M torques due to above transient
disturbances comprise either unidirectional or system
frequency component. The responses of the turbine
shafts and blades to the two kinds of excitations
determine their vibration behaviors, which are not
sustained and significant due to no resonant
conditions.
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time, sec time, sec time, sec

(a)

time, sec time, sec time, sec

(b)
1.2

0.8

0.6
1 2 3 4 5 6
time, sec time, sec time, sec
(c)
Fig. 8. The vibration torques caused by the voltage sag at the infinite bus within 0~0.1 seconds
(a) Voltage amplitude sag of 0.01 pu, (b)Voltage phase sag of 0.05 degree, (c) Ramp frequency variation of voltage with 3Hz/sec.

time, sec time, sec time, sec

Fig. 10. The vibration torques caused by load rejection at 0.1 second.

time, sec time, sec time, sec

Fig. 11. The vibration torques caused by the mechanical torque pulsation of 0.00556 pu within 0~0.1 seconds.

torques is defined as the peak-to-peak torque. The

Fig. 9. The pre-tripped resistant load
IV. DISCUSSION
As discussed in the last section, the amplitude
deviation between the maximum and the minimum
induced peak-to-peak torques in all cases are
summarized in Table III. It is found that the most
onerous torque in both shafts and blades is excited by
the HVDC subharmonics under resonant excitation.
Since the blade torques due to negative current and
an EAF load are almost identical and persistent, the
long-term fatigue life expenditure (within 30 years) is
noticeable. However, the others which are neither

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resonant nor sustained lead to very little fatigue life Voltage amplitude sag of 0.01 pu, 4b. Voltage phase sag of 0.05
degree, 4c. Ramp frequency variation of voltage with 3Hz/sec, 5.
expenditure. ∆PL=0.0556pu, 6. ∆P=0.0556pu mechanical torque pulsation.
From the simulation results, the transmission
torque for each blade is 0.0252 pu. The fluctuating
torque level of 0.01 pu accompanied corrosion V. CONCLUSIONS
fatigue at the critically stressed locations in blade root From the studied results, the specific conclusions
would destroy the blade after several years’ services of this paper are summarized as follows.
[4]. That means that if the ratio of the fluctuating 1. The long-term fatigue life expenditure on turbine
torque to the transmission torque excesses 0.3968, the mechanism due to the intermittent disturbance such
long-term corrosion damaging effect will be earlier as voltage sag, load rejection, mechanical torque
occurred on turbine blades. Therefore, compared with pulsation, etc can be ignored.
Table III, the turbine blade damaging effect due to an 2. The long-term corrosion fatigue life expenditure in
EAF load makes more possibly even under the flicker turbine blade root due to the sustained off-resonant
limit at the PCC. In other words, the typical flicker disturbance such as unbalance negative current and
limit may not guarantee turbine blade against fatigue the sustained random-resonant disturbance such as an
damage. arc furnace load must be received more attention. The
The transmission torque for the LP2R-GEN shaft blades may be damaged within their whole lifetime
section is 0.9 pu. The onerous fluctuating torque due even under the normal operation but the shafts would
to above two disturbances is 0.2728 pu. Because the not.
ratio of the fluctuating torque to the transmission 3. The sustained intermitted-resonant disturbance
torque is 0.3031, lower than 0.3968, and no corrosion such as the HVDC subharmonic currents may
fatigue occurs on turbine shaft, the shaft would not be damage the turbine shaft and blades
damaged during its lifetime. REFERENCES
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