Water Hammer Damage to Steam Turbine

Wednesday, September 15, 2021: 2:20 PM
240 (America's Center)
Mr. Thomas D. Traubert , Engineering Design & Testing, Windsor, CT
High pressure steam piping, and a steam turbine comprising an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) facility, experienced severe damage due to a water hammer event. The incident resulted due to the accumulation of condensate in a section of cold reheat piping after steam had been admitted into the piping. A review of the operating data confirmed process conditions consistent with condensation and subsequent flashing at the time of the incident. The control logic associated with a drain valve, intended to prevent the accumulation of condensate, was reviewed. The root cause of the incident was due to inadvertent placement of the drain valve in manual mode, which prevented the valve from opening when condensate levels accumulated in the piping.