REPORT OF EHC HUNTING AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR, BIRSINGHPUR-500MW OBSERVATION-1 In Birsinghpur 500 MW turbine governing system, there was

problem of hunting and erratic behavoiur of EHC as given below HP and IP secondary oil pressure were use to hunt almost in entire range of the EHC. HP sec oil hunting was 0.2 kg/cm2 and IP was 0.3 to 0.4 kg/cm2. This makes rolling and low load operation difficult. With slight changes of trip oil pressure to EHC converter assembly, the hunting used to change drastically. The pilot was hard (than normally observed) to rotate by hand in assembled condition. The balanced voltage was unstable and became very difficult to adjust.

Ref drawing no-1-11424-05000 ACTION-1 The pilot assembly of the EHC converter was dismantled and following observations were made. There was rubbing marks on the bottom edge of the pilot which was resting not on the ball (item no -50) but on the top edge of the end cap (item no-3). The depth of groove in the end cap was found to be 8.4 mm ( gap-A)and the end projection of the pilot was 7.5 mm(gap B). Because of this the pilot was resting on the end cap top edge of the end cap. Thus the trip oil entry to the pilot hole was getting blocked/restricted. Due to this the lift of the pilot valve was erratic and unstable w.r.t. the position of the control sleeve at the top of it. To over come this, the depth of the end cap was reduced by 3 mm.

OBSERVATION-2 With trip oil pressure of even 7 kg/cm2 the pilot was not lifting up to the equilibrium height with respect to the control sleeve position. ACTION-2 Again the converter was opened. It was found out After machining it was found out that the holes (used for tightening and loosening of the end cap) got exposed leading to draining of trip oil and failure to lift the pilot valve. Ultimately the holes were blocked and separate arrangement made for fitting the end cap. The trip oil pressure to the EHC converter was adjusted to 5 kg/cm2 by adjusting the inlet valve and the drain orifice (MAX51BO010) size.

The EHC characteristic was taken and found satisfactory. The balanced voltage was found stable at -1.0 v during entire range of calibration. SUGGESTION Since the stability of EHC is designed to best at trip oil pressure of 5 kg/cm2 , one pressure converter may be installed in the trip oil line in place of drain orifice. This will reduce the fluctuation of trip oil pressure in case the governing rack filter is choked or low frequency operation of control fluid pump.

By S.Mandal/SDGM/TSX and A.Tirkey/Engineer/TSX

CONTROL SLEEVE CONNECTED WITH PLUNGER COIL ( TRIP OIL FOR LIFTING OF PILOT VALVE)

CONTROL OIL FOR ROTATION OF PILOT VALVE

DRAIN TO POWER PISTON TOP CONTROL OIL

TO POWER PISTON BOT PILOT VALVE DRAIN ORIFICE(1.5mm) TRIP OIL

7. 5 mm GAP A GAP B

BOTTOM EDGE OF PILOT VALVE

TOP EDGE OF END CAP ( item no -3) END CAP

8.4 mm

item no -50 HOLES FOR LOOSENING AND TIGHTENING