Question 579Steam Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is B) erratic governor operation. Slugs of water in the steam supply to a turbine-driven pump can lead to erratic governor operation. The sudden impact of the water slugs on the turbine blades can cause the turbine speed to fluctuate, leading to an unstable governor response. This erratic operation of the turbine governor can result in undesirable variations in the pump's speed and output. The other options are incorrect because: A) Loss of load with resultant turbine overspeed is not a direct consequence of water slugs, which would more likely lead to erratic rather than excessive speed. C) Thermal shock to the bearings is a possibility, but not the primary issue caused by water slugs. D) Overheating of the wearing rings is not a direct effect of the water slugs in the steam supply.