I - Part 1

GL 2008

Section 3a

Turbomachinery / Steam Turbines

Chapter 2
Page 3a1

Section 3a
Turbomachinery / Steam Turbines
A.

General

1.2

1.

Scope

The casings of high-pressure turbines and the bodies

of manoeuvring, quick-closing and throttle valves are
to be made of high-temperature steel or cast steel.
Depending upon pressure and temperature, the casings
of intermediate and low-pressure turbines may also be
made of nodular or grey cast iron.

The following Rules apply to main and auxiliary

steam turbines.
GL reserve the right to authorize deviations from the
requirements in the case of low-power turbines.
2.

Documents for approval

For every steam turbine installation, the documents

listed below are to be submitted to GL in triplicate for
approval:

Stationary components

Diaphragms (guide vanes) are to be manufactured

from steel, cast steel, nodular or grey cast iron depending on the temperature and load. Welded construction
may also be approved for steel or cast steel components.

assembly and sectional drawings of the turbines

Grey and nodular cast iron may be used up to a steam

temperature of 300 C.

detail drawings of rotors, casings, guide blading,

blades, valves, bed frames and main condenser
(for gearing, see Section 5)

2.

details of operating characteristics and critical

speeds

proof of a sufficient safety margin in the components subject to the severest loads; for temperatures up to approximately 400 C, the relevant strength characteristic is the yield point at
elevated temperatures; for higher temperatures it
is the long-term creep strength for 100000 hours
at service temperature

details of the welding conditions applicable to

welded components

on request, calculations relating to blade vibration

For small auxiliary turbines with a steam inlet temperature of up to 250 C it is generally sufficient to
submit sectional drawings of the turbines.
Heat flow diagrams for each turbine installation and a
set of operating instructions for at least each turbine
type are to be submitted.

B.

Materials

1.

Approved materials

1.1

Rotating components

Turbine rotors, discs and shafts are to be manufactured

from forged steel.
The rotors of small turbines may also be cast in specialgrade steel. Turbine blades, shrouds, binding and damping wires are to be made of corrosion-resistant materials.

Testing of materials

2.1
The following parts are subject to testing in
accordance with GL Rules II Materials and Welding:

rotating parts such as rotors, discs, shafts, shrink

rings, blades, toothed couplings and other dynamically loaded components as well as valve
spindles and cones

stationary parts such as casings, guide blading,

nozzles and nozzle chests, guide vanes, turbine
casing bolts, bed frames and bearing pedestals

condenser tubes and tube plates

In the case of small auxiliary turbines with a steam

inlet temperature of up to 250 C, the extent of the
tests may be limited to the disc and shaft materials.

C.

Design and Construction Principles

1.

Foundations

The foundations of geared turbine installations are to

be so designed and constructed that only minor relative movements can occur between the turbine and the
gearing which can be compensated by suitable couplings.
For the design of foundation also VI Additional
Rules and Guidelines, Part 4 Diesel Engines, Chapter 3 Guidelines for the Seating of Propulsion
Plants and Auxiliary Machinery have to be considered.

Chapter 2
Page 3a2

2.

Section 3a

Turbomachinery / Steam Turbines

Jointing of mating surfaces

The mating flanges of casings shall form a tight joint

without the use of any interposed material.
3.

Bearing lubrication

The lubrication of bearings are not to be impaired by

adjacent hot parts or by steam.
For the lubricating oil system, see Section 11, H.
4.

Connections

Pipes are to be connected to the turbine in such a way

that no unacceptably high forces or moments can be
transmitted to the turbine.
5.

Drains

Turbines and the associated piping systems are to be

equipped with adequate means of drainage.
6.

Turning gear

Main propulsion turbines are to be equipped with turning gear for both directions of rotation. The rotors of
auxiliary turbines are at least to be capable of being
turned by hand.
7.

Measurement of rotor clearances

After assembly of each turbine in the manufacturer's

works, the rotor position and the clearances are to be
determined. The clearances are to be specified in the
operating instructions.
8.

Vibrations

The range of service speeds of turbine plant is not to

give rise to unacceptable bending vibrations or to vibrations affecting the entire installation 1.

D.

Astern Running, Emergency Operation

1.

Astern power for main propulsion

1.1
The main propulsion machinery is to possess
sufficient power for running astern. The astern power
is considered to be sufficient if, given free running
astern, it is able to attain astern revolutions equivalent
to at least 70 % of the rated ahead revolutions for a
period of at least 30 minutes.
1.2
For main propulsion machinery with reverse
gearing, controllable pitch propellers or an electrical
transmission system, astern running is not to cause any
overloading of the propulsion machinery.

The assessment may be based on ISO 10816-3 "Mechanical

vibration Evaluation of machine vibration by measurements
on non-rotating parts" or an equivalent standard.

2.

I - Part 1
GL 2008

Arrangements for emergency operation

In single screw ships fitted with cross compound

steam turbines, the arrangements are to be such as to
enable safe operation when the steam supply to any
one of the turbines is isolated. For this emergency
operation purpose the steam may be led directly to the
lower pressure turbine and either the high or medium
pressure part may exhaust directly to the condenser.
Adequate arrangements and controls are to be provided for these operating conditions so that the pressure and temperature of the steam will not exceed
those which the turbines and condenser are designed
for, thus enabling a long term safe operation under
emergency conditions.
The necessary pipes and valves for these arrangements
are to be readily available and properly marked. A fit
up test of all combinations of pipes and valves is to be
presented to GL prior to the first sea trials.
The permissible operating conditions (power/speeds)
when operating without one of the turbines (all combinations) are to be specified and accessibly documented on board.
The operation of the turbines under emergency conditions is to be assessed by calculations for the potential
influence on shaft alignment and gear teeth loading
conditions. Corresponding documentation shall be
submitted to GL for appraisal.

E.

Manoeuvring and Safety Equipment

1.

Manoeuvring and control equipment

1.1
The simultaneous admission of steam to the
ahead and astern turbines is to be prevented by interlocks. Brief overlapping of the ahead and astern valves
during manoeuvring can be allowed.
1.2
Fluids for operating manoeuvring equipment,
quick-closing and control systems are to be suitable
for all service temperatures and of low flammability.
1.3
Turbines for main propulsion machinery
equipped with controllable pitch propellers, disengaging couplings or an electrical transmission system are
to be fitted with a speed governor which, in the event
of a sudden loss of load, prevents the revolutions from
increasing to the trip speed.
1.4
The speed increase of turbines driving electric generators - except those for electrical propeller
drive - resulting from a change from full load to noload may not exceed 5 % on the resumption of steady
running conditions. The transient speed increase resulting from a sudden change from full load to no-load
conditions may not exceed 10 % and is to be separated
by a sufficient margin from the trip speed.

I - Part 1
GL 2008

2.

Section 3a

Turbomachinery / Steam Turbines

Safety devices

2.1
Main propulsion turbines are to be equipped
with quick-closing devices which automatically shutoff the steam supply in case of:
a)

overspeed. Excess speeds of more than 15 %

above the rated value are to be prevented

b)

unacceptable axial displacement of the rotor

c)

an unacceptable increase in the condenser pressure

d)

an unacceptable increase in the condenser water

level and

e)

an unacceptable drop in the lubricating oil pressure

F.

Control and Monitoring Equipment

1.

Arrangement

The control and monitoring equipment for each main

propulsion unit is to be located on the control platform.
2.

2.2
In cases a) and b) of 2.1, the quick-closing
devices shall be actuated by the turbine shafts.

Chapter 2
Page 3a3

Scope and design of equipment

Depending on the degree of automation involved, the

scope and design of the equipment is also subject to
the Rules in Chapter 4 Automation.
3.

Control and indicating instruments

When the turning gear is engaged, this fact is to be

indicated visually at the control platform.
Turbine and pipeline drainage valves are either to operate automatically or are to be combined into groups
which can be operated from the control platform.
4.

Equipment for auxiliary turbines

2.3
It also is to be possible to trip the quickclosing device manually at the turbine and from the
control platform.

Turbines driving auxiliary machines are to be provided with the necessary equipment on the basis of 2.
and 3.

2.4
Re-setting of the quick-closing device may be
effected only at the turbine or from the control platform with the control valve in the closed position.

G.

Condensers

1.

Design

2.5
It is recommended that an alarm system
should be fitted which responds to excessive vibration
velocities 1.
2.6
An interlock is to be provided to ensure that
the main turbine cannot be started up when the turning
gear is engaged.
2.7
Steam bleeder and pass-in lines are to be fitted with automatic devices which prevent steam from
flowing into the turbine when the main steam admission valve is closed.
2.8
Turbines driving auxiliary machines at least
are to be equipped with quick-closing devices for contingencies a) and d) of 2.1. An excessive rise in the
exhaust steam pressure is to actuate the quick-closing
device.
2.9
It shall be possible to start up any turbine
only when the quick-closing device is ready for operation.
3.

Other requirements

Depending on the degree of automation involved, the

extent and design of the equipment is also subject to
the requirements in Chapter 4 Automation.

The condenser is to be so designed that the inlet steam

speed does not result in prohibitive stressing of the
condenser tubes. Excessive sagging of the tubes and
vibration are to be avoided, e.g. by the incorporation
of tube supporting plates.
The water chambers and steam space are to be provided
with openings for inspection and cleaning. Anticorrosion protection is to be provided on the water side.
In the case of single-plane turbine installations, suitable measures are to be taken to prevent condensate
from flowing back into the low pressure turbine.
2.

Cooling water supply

The supply of cooling water to the condenser is subject to the requirements contained in Section 11, I.

H.

Tests

1.

Testing of turbine rotors

1.1

Thermal stability test

Rotors forged in one piece and welded rotors are to be

tested for axial stability by submitting them to a thermal stability test.

Chapter 2
Page 3a4

1.2

Section 3a

Turbomachinery / Steam Turbines

Balancing

Finished rotors, complete with blades and associated

rotating parts and ready for assembly, are to be dynamically balanced in the presence of the Surveyor. 2
1.3

Cold overspeed test

Turbine rotors are to be tested at a speed at least 15 %

above the rated speed for not less than three minutes.
GL may accept mathematical proof of the stresses in
the rotating parts at overspeed as a substitute for the
overspeed test itself, provided that the design is such
that reliable calculations are possible and the rotor has
been non-destructively tested to ascertain its freedom
from defects.
2.

Pressure and tightness tests

2.1
All finished casing components are to be subjected to hydrostatic testing in the presence of the Surveyor.

I - Part 1
GL 2008

2.3
Condensers are to be subjected to separate
hydrostatic testing on both the steam and the water
side. The test pressure pp shall be:
pp

= 1,0 bar

on the steam side

pp

= 1,5 pe,zul

on the water side

I.

Trials

1.

Factory trials

Where steam turbines are subjected to a trial run at the

factory, the satisfactory functioning of the manoeuvring, safety and control equipment is to be verified
during the trial run, and such verification shall in any
case take place not later than the commissioning of the
plant aboard ship.

The test pressure pp is calculated as follows:

2.

Shipboard trials

where pe,zul 80 bar:

pp = 1,5 pe,zul

where pe,zul > 80 bar:

pp = pe,zul + 40 bar

2.1
Main turbines are to be subjected to a dock
trial and thereafter, during a trial voyage, to the following tests:

pe,zul = maximum allowable working pressure [bar]

operation at rated rpm for at least 6 hours

For the bodies of quick-closing, manoeuvring and

control valves, the test pressure is 1,5 times the maximum allowable working pressure of the boiler (approval pressure). The sealing efficiency of these
valves when closed is to be tested at 1,1 pe,zul.

reversing manoeuvres

during the dock or sea trials, astern revolutions

equal to at least 70 % of the rated ahead rpm for
about 20 minutes

2.2
Casing parts on the exhaust side of low pressure turbines subjected during operation to the condenser pressure are to be tested at pp = 1,0 bar.

During astern and subsequent forward operation, the

steam pressures and temperatures and the relative expansion are not to reach magnitudes liable to endanger
the operational safety of the plant.

The assessment may be based on ISO 1940-1 standard "Mechanical vibration Balance quality requirements of rigid rotors" or an equivalent standard.

2.2
Turbines driving electric generators or auxiliary machines are to be run for at least 4 hours at their
rated power and for 30 minutes at 110 % rated power.