Analysis of the impact of bearing friction loss on the stability and efficiency of steam turbine systems

1. Bearing friction loss and steam turbine stability
Bearings play a vital role in steam turbines as key components that support rotating parts and reduce friction and wear. However, as the operating time increases, the bearing surface will gradually wear, causing the friction coefficient to increase and the friction loss to increase. This loss not only directly consumes part of the input power, but more importantly, it may seriously affect the stable operation of the steam turbine. When the bearing wear is severe, the uneven distribution of friction will cause vibration of the rotating parts. The increase in vibration amplitude and frequency directly leads to a significant increase in the noise level. Such abnormal vibration and noise not only affect the health of operators and the working environment, but more importantly, they become an early warning signal of instability in the steam turbine system.

2. System instability and reduced efficiency
The stability of the steam turbine system is the basis for its efficient operation. Once bearing friction loss causes system stability to be compromised, a series of chain reactions will occur. First, vibration and unbalanced rotational conditions will interfere with the fluid dynamic balance inside the steam turbine, causing the steam flow efficiency to decrease and the thermal energy conversion efficiency to decrease accordingly. Secondly, in order to compensate for the reduced output power due to friction loss, the steam turbine may need to increase fuel supply or adjust operating parameters, which not only increases operating costs, but may also aggravate the wear of other components, forming a vicious cycle. Therefore, the increase in bearing friction loss is an important cause of the decrease in steam turbine efficiency.

3. Increased risk of failure
System instability not only reduces the efficiency of the steam turbine, but also significantly increases the risk of failure. Bearings that are subjected to abnormal vibration and stress for a long time will have their service life greatly shortened and are more likely to break or be severely worn, leading to sudden shutdowns. In addition, vibration may also affect the connected transmission system, control system, etc., causing more extensive failures. The sudden shutdown of a steam turbine will not only cause production interruption, but may also cause equipment damage due to improper operation during the emergency shutdown process, causing significant economic losses to the enterprise.

4. Seal failure and internal leakage
Another serious consequence of bearing wear is the potential for seal failure. The sealing device in the steam turbine is used to prevent the leakage of steam, oil and other media to ensure the energy conversion efficiency of the system. However, the increase in axial or radial clearance caused by bearing wear will destroy the original sealing effect and lead to an increase in internal leakage. This not only reduces the amount of effectively utilized steam and thermal efficiency, but may also cause safety issues due to contamination of the surrounding environment by the leaking medium.