Analysis and Treatment of Pipeline Vibration Driven by Turbine-Driven Boiler Feed Water Pump

Abstract Boiler feed pumps in thermal power plants are normally powered by electric motors, but turbine-driven pumps are also used to reduce operating costs. However, during the first startup phase, a steam-driven boiler feed pump pipeline encountered unexpected serious vibration. The vibration gradually worsened as the turbine speed rised during the acceleration stage to the rated speed of 3000 rpm. The entire concrete floor kept vibrating due to the severe vibration of the pump inlet pipeline, even with reinforced support. It had been discovered through a series of vibration measurements that the pressure control valve in the reflux pipeline, which has a labyrinth pressure reduction construction, was the primary cause of the vibration. Resonance was brought on by the pressure drop waves that travelled through the fluid and had an impact on the pump’s intake and exit pipelines. Furthermore, the vibration frequency didn’t change with speed, showing frequency locking. When the swing check valve of the pump outlet pipeline was opened normally and the return pipeline was no longer working, the entire system returned to normal. In order to achieve this goal and ensure the construction progress, viscous dampers were added to the pipeline system to absorb vibration, allowing the pump to smoothly reach the rated speed.