What happens when a steam turbine reaches critical speed?

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Multiple Choice

What happens when a steam turbine reaches critical speed?

Explanation:
When the rotor speed matches a natural bending frequency of the turbine’s shaft, the system experiences resonance. This causes the vibration amplitude to grow dramatically, so the rotor begins to vibrate violently as it crosses that critical speed. The key idea is that critical speed is about resonance-driven vibration, not about flow stalling, heat buildup, or uncontrolled acceleration. Stalling comes from aerodynamic instability, overheating from excessive heat input or friction, and runaway acceleration requires loss of speed control or feedback, none of which are the resonance issue at hand.

When the rotor speed matches a natural bending frequency of the turbine’s shaft, the system experiences resonance. This causes the vibration amplitude to grow dramatically, so the rotor begins to vibrate violently as it crosses that critical speed. The key idea is that critical speed is about resonance-driven vibration, not about flow stalling, heat buildup, or uncontrolled acceleration. Stalling comes from aerodynamic instability, overheating from excessive heat input or friction, and runaway acceleration requires loss of speed control or feedback, none of which are the resonance issue at hand.

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