WET STEAM WASHING

BY
SHARAVAN TRIPATHI
JIPT
 Wet Steam Washing

During operation, deposits occur on the turbine
blading to a greater or lesser degree depending on
the steam purity, pressures and temperatures of the
operating steam. These deposits cause a reduction
of the turbine generator unit’s efficiency due to:

Changes in the flow profiles

Thicker boundary layers in the steam

flow as a result of rough surfaces.

In extreme cases the flow area of turbine may get reduced
with consequent reduction in the maximum possible steam
flow through the turbine, and corresponding output.

Choking of blade flow path can be detected on the basis of
internal efficiency measurement

If deposit leads to an increase in stage pressures, the
maximum stage pressures shown in the Technical Data should
not be exceeded. If necessary, the output must be reduceds.

Water-insoluble, silicate deposits occur in a temperature
range between 500°C and 350°C. Alkali silicates and silicic
acid are deposited between 350°C and 60°C.

Salt deposits occur at temperatures ranging from 480°C to
the blading stages where condensation begins.

Salt deposits are water-soluble and can be removed by steam
washing with saturated steam.

Depending on their composition, silicate deposits are either
water-soluble (e.g. alkali silicates) or occur as a hard Water-
insoluble coating. In latter case the deposits can only be
removed mechanically during overhauls.
Steam Washing of IP Turbine
• All stop and control valves and all valves in the extraction
lines remain closed during steam washing of the IP turbine.
• Any isolating valves present upstream of the feed water
heaters must also be closed.
• The drains from the IP turbine between the reheat control
valves and the IP outlet, the extraction valves or the swing
check valves in the extraction lines must be vented during
steam washing only to the extent required to allow the
condensate arising to drain off whilst preventing excessive
loss of steam.
• All other drains from the turbine generator must be full open.
After the saturated steam line (Fig.1, item 2) has been joined
up at the connection points (3), the washing steam can be
routed into the IP turbine, from there via the cross-around
lines to the IP turbine and then to the condenser.
Steam Washing of HP Turbine
• The main control valves must be open during steam washing
of the HP turbine.
• All drains (7, 8) from the HP turbine situated between the
main stop valves and the HP outlet may be vented during
steam washing only to the extent required to allow the
condensate arising to drain off while preventing excessive loss
of steam.
• All other drains particularly those in the cold reheat line, must
be fully open.
• Local drainage may also be provided so that no steam can
enter the Reheater of the Boiler, if at all possible. After the
steam line (6) has been joined up at the connection points (3),
the stream can be routed into the HP turbine.
• The steam leaving the HP turbine is exhausted to the
condenser via the drains (9). The condensate is discharged
and samples are taken to determine the salt content as
described in steam washing of IP turbine, the completion
criteria remaining same.
Thank you