What happens when a turbine overspeeds by 10%?

When a turbine overspeeds by 10%, the correct consequence is that a centrifugal force is generated. This is due to the nature of turbines, which operate based on the principles of centripetal and centrifugal forces. As the speed increases beyond the design limits, the centrifugal force acting on the turbine components increases significantly, leading to potential structural failure or mechanical stresses on the rotor and blades.

Understanding how turbines are designed to operate within specific speed ranges is crucial. If the turbine exceeds these speeds, it can cause severe problems, including structural damage or failure. This highlights the importance of monitoring turbine speed carefully to prevent overspeed situations.

In contrast, while the turbine may have safety mechanisms in place, such as governors or automatic shut-off systems, these are not guaranteed to function effectively at all times, especially at the point of significant overspeed. This makes the generation of centrifugal force the direct and immediate effect of overspeed, capturing the primary mechanical principle at play.