Experience of Operation of Saturated Steam Turbines of Nuclear Power Plants.

Specific features of saturated steam turbines which have caused many failures of turbine equipment both in the USSR and abroad are considered. Above all, the effect of wet steam which causes erosion and corrosion wear is examined. Secondly, following steam consumption changes, phase transitions may bring about considerable temperature gradients. Thirdly, there are considerable thermal stresses in some nuclear power plant installations. Reliability indices are considered and breakdowns of turbines made by Kharkov Turbogenerator Plant and of foreign-made ones are analyzed. It is concluded that, statistically, the number of breakdowns of nuclear power plant turbines is no higher than that of fossil-fired plants but these breakdowns are more costly. The saturated steam turbines require further improvements, and consequently, further research is necessary.