7 - Steam turbine rotor design and rotor dynamics analysis

Abstract

Since the advent of steam turbines, it has been a common experience that vibrations of blades and rotors are main causes of breakdown. In addition, recently, steam turbines with large capacity have been operated under several conditions such as high loading and high rotational speed. Therefore, the vibration problem becomes easier to occur on the modern steam turbine. In order to develop the steam turbine with high reliability, it is indispensable to exactly predict the vibration characteristics of blades and rotors at the design stage, and to prevent the harmful vibration. This chapter explains the vibration phenomenon of the steam turbine rotor, and the latest technology on the analysis and measurement of the rotor dynamics of the steam turbine. The typical criteria used in the mechanical design of the steam turbine rotor are also discussed.