Recent content by daveam

We had a similar problem years ago with a GE boiler feed pump turbine where the standby oil pump auto started on low pressure. We hooked up a high speed recorder and were able to trace this infrequent event to be coincided with the speed probe missing just one pulse. The missing pulse caused...

OK. Lets start all over. Sorry we offended you, but this is a very unusual situation. Most of us are experienced with much larger generators with tight margins that heavily punish the user for exceeding design parameters. But if you have been doing 4 starts per day for 15 years, it sounds...

You could be seriously damaging the generator stator, core, and field by overexciting it. Please provide the complete nameplate information on the generator, excitation system, diesel engine, and the large motor. What happens if you try to start the motor without overexciting the generator?

A pneumatic venture air mover can sometimes be used to establish a partial vacuum - perhaps 1/2 to 1 inch water. The air mover must be properly grounded in a very secure way to prevent static discharge from creating an explosive spark.

I sense that you must be new to the industry and I will take the liberty to discuss some important related issues that are very important. Periodic valve testing at OEM recommended intervals is extremely important for overspeed protection. Periodic testing helps to limit the buildup of blue...

We had 2 Mark 1 systems and a Mark 2 AMS system. We are just replacing the last system now after 39 years of very reliable service on the Mark 1's and 32 years on the Mark 2. We hooked up our own signal isolator modules years ago to monitor critical signals continuously and available for viewing...

Some things to think about: *Any chance any instrumentation got damaged during the pump changeout - speed or phase probes, current voltage insturments. * Any chance wiring got reterminated incorrectly. * Any fuses or circuit breakers blown? * Did you try starting the motor using the...

This reply might be helpful if your plant is a larger coal or natural gas fired boiler/steam turbine. If the BFP's are supplied from a dearator, it might be possible that a fast and prolonged load drop could cause the dearator steam pressure to drop excessively resulting in flashing of the...

First stage pressure for a given turbine has a fairly linear relationship with steam flow through the turbine, as long as the overall condition of the turbine doesn't change, and the steam cycle doesn't change. If a steam seal clearances open up due to a rub, or steam flow passages get bigger...