B&K Vibro to Supply VC-8000 Protection System for Chinese Gas Turbines

Brüel & Kjær Vibro (B&K Vibro) was selected to supply its VC-8000 protection system and replace the legacy system for the M701F3 and F4 gas turbines manufactured in China. In a joint venture, Dongfang Electric Corp. (DEC), a Chinese manufacturer of power plant machinery, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Power Systems (MHPS) manufacture, install, and service M701F3 and F4 gas turbines for combined-cycle power plants throughout China.

DEC photo of the M701F gas turbine. Credit: B&K Virbo

The gas turbine, generator, and exciter will be monitored by a pair of B&K Vibro ds822 X-Y displacement sensors at each bearing of the turbo-generating train. In addition to the sensors for monitoring the shafts and bearings, several ds822 displacement sensors will also be installed for phase/reference/speed measurements and for overspeed monitoring.

Sensors installed on the M701F gas turbine for protection monitoring. There are currently no axial or casing vibration measurements being monitored. Credit: B&K Virbo

The VC-8000 takes in the vibration data for processing, monitors these to alarm limits, generates alerts and a machine trip in case of exceeded alarm limits, and sends data to the turbine supervisory system and operators for control and monitoring purposes.

DEC is expected to install the VC-8000 systems on 20 joint-venture M701F gas turbines every year. Each gas turbine will primarily be used for building energy-efficient and low-emission combined-cycle power plants throughout China.

The first M701F gas turbine with the VC-8000 protection system was installed at the Chongqing Tiantai power station in March 2023.