Application Note

Turbine Supervisory
Instrumentation (TSI) –
an overview
By Greg Ziegler and Chris James • SKF

Turbine Supervisory Instrumentation

Turbine Supervisory Instrumentation (TSI) or Turbine Supervision
Equipment (TSE) is a generic term used in the power generation
industry. TSI refers to instrumentation systems that specifically
perform measurements of critical control parameters on large
steam turbine generator trains. The size of the machines can range
between 50 and 1 200 MW and their age can often be in excess of
30 years. TSI systems are normally a mandatory requirement.
The same technology is employed on other turbine types and in
other industries, such as the hydrocarbon-processing sector.
However in these areas, different terminology tends to be used.
This application note briefly introduces Turbine Supervisory
Instrumentation. A detailed examination of each specific TSI
measurement can be found in related SKF Reliability Systems
Figure 1. A TSI monitor module.
application notes.

Turbine Supervisory Instrumentation benefits

• Diagnostic and troubleshooting
The use of, and experience with, TSI assists in reducing operating The trending of TSI data provides the user with the machine’s
costs of the generation units by: basic operating characteristics. Early detection of changes in
trended data and comparison to normal conditions allows
• Reducing turbine roll time decisions to be made more quickly and inexpensively. More
During the run-up and coast-down of large turbines, there are advanced analysis methods of this same raw data can diagnose
extensive soak periods to ensure stationary and rotating parts problems like mass unbalance, misalignment, loose or broken
thermally expand equally. These periods are usually of a parts, shaft cracks, seal rubs, and bearing instabilities caused by
conservative length, but times can be further reduced with improper lubrication or bearing design. Early identification of
continuous and accurate measurement of key expansion these problems allows for corrections to be made at a time that is
clearances (and related parameters) available with TSI systems. convenient to both the work force and system load.

• Time between overhauls

By using precise TSI measurement information, in an outage, the
exact amount of work can be scheduled with reduced risk of
unknown problems occurring after the overhaul is completed.
Figure 2. A Steam turbine generator train.

• Automatic shutdown • Will the installation meet the requirements of the outage
Sometimes unanticipated problems arise quickly, however, TSI schedule?
has the capability to limit damage to the machine and protect • What makes a given TSI system different from any other?
against total destruction or catastrophic failure. Confining damage • How can the cost of the TSI system be justified?
flagged by vibration can make the difference between a two-week
outage and three to six months of down time. To answer these questions, the machine in question should be
scrutinized in detail: design, service, normal operating conditions,
Turbine Supervisory Instrumentation retrofits bearing type and design, and history should all be factored into the
equation.
The turbine generator and boiler units are comprised of a complex Although no TSI system available will prevent 100% of machinery
group of control elements that require constant, reliable, and malfunctions, reliability of the system is a must. Operations and
accurate measurement and control. Hence, TSI measurements of maintenance personnel must be able to depend on the information
varying scope and technology exist that are as old as steam turbines generated by the system. The reliability and accuracy of this
themselves. However, state-of-the-art instrumentation with its information eliminates second-guessing and assures that sound
associated technological benefits develops far more quickly than the decisions are made with confidence.
turbine itself. Over the lifetime of a typical steam turbine (which can
be up to 50 years), the instrumentation may be upgraded by retrofit Turbine Supervisory Instrumentation
several times in order to further maximize the above-mentioned TSI measurements
benefits. Some points to consider are:
TSI system measurements can be broken down into four major
• What information will the new system provide? categories:
• How is this information displayed to the operator?
• How is analytical information displayed? • Motion measurements
• How will this system interface with other systems? Eddy current (proximity) probes, case mounted velocity (seismic)
• What type of transducers should be used? transducers, shaft riders, and/or accelerometers can be used to
• Should the system use absolute or relative measurements? monitor vibrations. Monitoring points may include vibration on
• How will the installation be completed? main turbine generator and exciter, boiler feed pump and turbine,
• How reliable is the existing instrumentation? and FD and ID fans. Eddy current probes may also be used to
• Are spare parts and service readily available? measure rotor eccentricity.

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Figure 3. An example TSI system HMI display.

• Position measurements Each measurement component plays a key role in the success of the
Eddy current probes, LVDTs and linear/rotary potentiometers can overall system monitoring. The correlation of these different
be used to monitor thrust bearing wear, rotor position, casing measurements may also show the effects of one parameter to the
(shell) expansion, differential expansion and control valve position. other.
To maintain safe and efficient operating conditions, it is essential
• Speed measurements that the user be able to apply all available information in
Active or passive electromagnetic or eddy current probes can be determining the condition of the machine.
used to monitor main turbine speed and acceleration, over-speed Here, a good HMI (Human Machine Interface) is essential (Figure
detection, zero speed detection, boiler feed pump speed, FD and 3).
ID fan speeds. TSI measurements have their own conventions and technical
nuances, and are generally challenging for most users to both
• Process measurements understand and implement. The relative difficulty of TSI is the main
Thermocouples or RTDs can be used to monitor bearing white reason why this measurement technology is often, but not
metal temperature, shell differential temperature, and lube oil exclusively, provided by the vibration monitoring industry, which is
temperature. Piezoelectric or strain gauge pressure transducers accustomed to using complex sensor signal conditioning.
can be used to measure oil and hydraulic pressures.

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The following parameters are considered in detail in separate SKF
application/technical notes:

• Eccentricity
• Differential expansion (straight, complementary, ramp)
• Casing (Shell) expansion
• Valve position
• Rotor axial position
• Absolute bearing cap vibration
• Relative shaft vibration
• Absolute shaft vibration
• Speed (zero speed, rotor acceleration, over-speed, phase angle)

This family of SKF Reliability Systems application and technical notes

are designed to help in detailing a solution to the above TSI
challenge.

For additional information on SKF Reliability Systems products, contact:

SKF USA Inc.
5271 Viewridge Court • San Diego, California 92123 USA
Telephone: +1 858-496-3400 • FAX: +1 858-496-3531
Web: www.skf.com/cm
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© SKF Group 2009
The contents of this publication are the copyright of the publisher and may not be reproduced (even extracts) unless prior written
permission is granted. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication but no liability
can be accepted for any loss or damage whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of the use of the information contained
herein. SKF reserves the right to alter any part of this publication without prior notice.
Publication CM3094 EN • February 2009