Steam Turbine Inlet Flanges

you have seen there any leacage there from if not there if any problem there in any joints see there clean if its there in gasket then just u bring a molecute chemaical its from heat resisitance of 1800 psig pressure see ur gasket also once isnt its normal or its a ire of copper cotted and then u can bolt them properly and check there u can see easily u will solve there problem if not then pls contact in clearly whats happen there mail me vimal_shobha_gen@yahoo.com. if i can help u there .

It is also possible that the piping stress analysis needs to be checked for gasket loading.

The situation of chill shocking this machine to the extent that the escaping steam screams at you probably ought to be the focus of your immediate and continuing attention. I am sure you are aware of that, I just had to say it, its a primal thing.

I am assuming the flange closes back up after the temperature stabilizes and every thing runs fine from that point forward. I have personally seen that happen and for all appearances everything from that point forward is normal. Turbines are not always as forgiving as spiral wound gaskets. Take a look at your machinery history and you may find that you have more than your fair share of thrust irregularity's or failures and your first stage blading may be being affected.

My guess would be that you have a drainage problem at either the main stop valve or the steam chest. Most stop valve drains go into an observation funnel prior to being dumped into a LP drain system. You may or may not have a chest drain. I am in a bit of a quandary trying to imagine how this machine is lay-ed out because with a 8" inlet pipe at 1350 PSIG inlet pressure it could handle a lot of applications.

My best advise is to get familiar with the drain system and operational practices. When you start trying to find this drainage problem look for stuck check valves from common drain headers and such as that.

We had a 600psig system with similar problems and the bolts were the wrong grade and were stretching. After the bolts were replaced all was OK.

I don't know if it is applicable here or not (you have seemingly a lot of good answers already!), but in the RN years ago, the Engineers would turn the turbine(s) with a small electric motor and pass a tiny amount of steam through the turbine to warm it up, very slowly.......

They would take some hours (if memory serves me correctly) to get the Turbines into a state where they could be used properly......no thermal shock.

When "finished with engines" was rang down, the shutdown/cooling process took even longer!!!

I have seen this Gasket arrangement in the Flexitallic catalog, has anyone ever used it:

Carrier Ring

The carrier ring gasket consists of two spiral wound gaskets placed in a specially machined metallic ring as illustrated. The major advantages of the carrier ring are its high recovery, and ease of handling compared to standard spirals, due to its integral construction.

http://www.flexitallic.com/pro_semi_carrier.html

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