Experimental Investigation Into Thermal Behaviour of Steam Turbine Components: Part 1—Temperature Measurements With Optical Probes

Abstract

The first-in-time application of intensity pyrometry to measure in-situ the hot rotor surface temperature of a standard, combined cycle, intermediate pressure steam turbine is presented. The data cover a cold-start and cooling from base load. The pyrometric temperatures are compared to standard temperature measurements on static turbine parts and an upstream steam temperature measured on a thermo well. It is reported, how the applicability of pyrometry in steam turbines was assessed. Details are given about a newly developed USC autoclave, which was used to measure steam transmittance, and about the measurement of the emissivity of the rotor metal. Further the steps taken towards a steam-pyrometer are shown; how it was developed, validated in terms of its precision and lifetime in hot steam environment, and how its integration to a standard turbine was prepared.