Piston-type high-pressure hydraulically controlled system for turbine governors


In accordance with the IEC 61362 standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission, hydraulic‑electrical servo control systems with redundant design are required for turbine governor units. Typically, such systems must ensure full‑stroke operation of at least three servomotors during both opening and closing actions, and they must be capable of fully closing the governor servomotors even under low‑oil‑pressure fault conditions. Furthermore, in normal operating mode, the accumulator can provide fine‑tuning to support the governor’s performance.

 

1. The accumulator system shall be equipped with an energy monitoring system to ensure the implementation of the shutdown function under emergency conditions.

2. When a low-pressure hydraulic control system is employed, an accumulator equipped with a liquid-level monitoring function—typically with a rated working pressure not exceeding 9 MPa—is generally used.

3. When a high-pressure hydraulic control system is employed, a piston-type accumulator system equipped with a liquid-level monitoring system shall be used.

4. In accordance with IEC 61362, clause 5.1.2, since the energy of bladder-type accumulators cannot be directly monitored and bladder rupture cannot be entirely prevented, such systems are, in principle, not recommended.

 

Compared with a medium-pressure hydraulic speed‑control system that uses a 6.3 MPa pressure‑mixing tank, the piston‑type high‑pressure hydraulic control system, equipped with a mature piston‑displacement monitoring device specially developed by Xiwel for hydro‑turbine power‑generation systems, not only ensures reliable monitoring of energy within the pressure‑tank system but also offers the following advantages:

 

1. There is no longer a need to install an air compressor system, which reduces the installed capacity and operating noise while significantly decreasing the maintenance workload of the hydraulically controlled power‑supply system.

2. High-pressure piston‑type systems offer greater energy density, accommodate a wide range of system sizes, enhance the compactness of system installation, and enable long‑term maintenance‑free operation.

Precautions for using high-pressure hydraulic systems:

1. Users must select high-pressure piston accumulators that comply with the special equipment regulations of the installation location. For example, in China, accumulators are required to have a type‑test report, a TS stamp, and a supervision‑inspection certificate issued by a qualified Chinese government agency.

2. Bladder accumulators are not suitable for high‑pressure hydraulic systems, as their design does not allow for effective monitoring of the compressed gas energy within the system and poses the risk of pressure surges entering the working system in the event of bladder rupture.

3. Piston-type accumulators equipped with a reliable energy-monitoring system should be selected to ensure that their gas-compression energy can be monitored.

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What are the causes of severe pressure drop and shortened service life in bladder-type accumulators?

What are the causes of severe pressure drop and short service life in bladder-type accumulators? The structure of a bladder-type accumulator is quite simple, consisting mainly of an oil chamber surrounding the bladder and a gas chamber equipped with a gas‑tight seal. During operation, the hydraulic fluid must be connected to the hydraulic circuit; when the system pressure rises, the fluid flows into the accumulator, compressing the gas until the pressure in the system pipeline stabilizes.


How can we reduce failures when an accumulator malfunctions?

If an accumulator malfunctions, its performance will be directly affected, potentially leading to abnormal pressures and system failure. Therefore, it should receive close attention during routine operation, and appropriate measures must be implemented to mitigate risks. So, how can we minimize failures when an accumulator malfunctions? The following sections address this issue.


In a hydraulic circuit with multiple accumulators connected in parallel, if one bladder ruptures, will the other accumulators experience any change in volume?

Accumulators are intriguing components in hydraulic systems, analogous to capacitors in electrical circuits or springs in mechanical systems. As critical energy‑storage elements, they serve a variety of sophisticated functions, including hybrid‑power applications, shock absorption, pressure stabilization (and sometimes flow‑rate regulation), and the rapid release of stored energy to simulate impacts.


Is a bladder-type accumulator suitable for use in series with gas cylinders or cylinder banks?

1. Bladders typically have a shorter service life than piston‑type accumulators, and their quality varies significantly among different manufacturers. 2. Many factors can shorten a bladder’s lifespan and lead to rupture, including variations in the bladder’s intrinsic quality and durability; improper handling during assembly (e.g., failure to pre‑fill with fluid for lubrication); incorrect procedures during pre‑charging (e.g., insufficiently slow inflation); errors in calculating the pre‑charge pressure; oil‑port flow velocities approaching or exceeding 7 m/s; single‑stroke reciprocation times of 10 seconds or less when used for energy storage; collisions between the bladder and check valves during operation; large temperature fluctuations (including significant seasonal differences); prolonged lateral vibration; fluid‑induced corrosion; and inertial impacts from minute solid contaminants in the working medium, among others.