Abstract: A method of integrating a supplemental steam source into a combined cycle plant comprising a gas turbine engine, generator and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) by providing a solar steam generation subsystem that captures and transfers heat using solar radiation to produce supplemental superheated steam; providing a steam turbine operatively connected to the gas turbine; and injecting a portion of the steam formed by solar radiation into one or more intermediate stages of the high pressure section of the steam turbine. The exemplary method uses steam produced by the HRSG (having one, two or three pressure levels and with or without reheat), as well as steam produced by a solar steam generation subsystem when the plant is operating at full capacity. Significantly, the throttle pressure of the high pressure steam turbine remains substantially the same when the solar steam generation is either active or inactive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for actively controlling the temperature in at least portions of a steam path associated with a steam turbine are disclosed. An active temperature control unit is configured to activate one or more attemperators to maintain temperatures in at least a portion of the steam path below a pre-determined threshold. By maintaining the temperature, those portions of the steam path may use less expensive materials.

Abstract: A steam turbine flow adjustment system. In one embodiment, the system includes a steam turbine having a first inlet port and a second inlet port for receiving inlet steam; a first conduit and a second conduit operably connected to a first valve and a second valve, respectively, the first conduit and the second conduit for providing the inlet steam to the first inlet port and the second inlet port, respectively; and a control system operably connected to the first valve and the second valve for controlling an amount of inlet steam flow admitted and pressure to each of the first inlet port and the second inlet port based upon a load demand on the steam turbine and an admission pressure of the inlet steam.

Abstract: An external fluid in a closed loop is used to cool hot gas path components of gas turbine. After cooling the turbine components, the heated external fluid is dumped either in the compressor discharge casing or in the one of the turbine's stages. Where the external fluid is nitrogen to be dumped in the turbine compressor's discharge casing, the nitrogen is compressed using diluent nitrogen compressors. Alternatively, where the external fluid is nitrogen to be dumped in one of the stages of the turbine, the nitrogen is not compressed at all. The turbine blade heat exchangers in the turbine stages through which the nitrogen passes can be connected in parallel or in series for cooling the hot gas path components in the turbine stages. The nitrogen can optionally be mixed with air or steam or not mixed at all.

Abstract: A method for assembling an exhaust hood for a turbine is provided. The method includes providing a bearing cone that substantially circumscribes a rotor of the turbine; and positioning a guide radially outward from the bearing cone. The guide and the bearing cone are configured to channel fluid from the turbine. The method also includes extending a guide cap from the guide. The guide cap is oriented to facilitate preventing the generation of fluid vortexes within the exhaust hood.

Abstract: A steam turbine includes a diffuser that has a bearing cone and an inner plate of a steam guide that define a passage through which steam flows. An outer plate is disposed with respect to the inner plate such that an opening is located between the inner and outer plates. At least one hole is located in the inner plate. A water tube is disposed in the opening, the water tube having water flowing therethrough which condenses at least a portion of a flow of steam flowing in the passage thereby creating at least a partial vacuum within the opening. The vacuum creates a suction effect through the at least one hole in the inner plate that can cause at least a portion of the flow of steam in the passage to attach itself to an inner surface of the inner plate.

Abstract: A heat recovery steam generator uses heat energy extracted from the exhaust gas of a gas turbine to produce steam. The steam is provided to steam turbines of a combined cycle power plant. Intermediate pressure steam generated by an intermediate pressure evaporator is routed to first and second intermediate pressure superheaters. Also, steam exhausted from a high pressure steam turbine of a combined cycle power plant is reheated by first and second reheaters within the heat recovery steam generator. The steam output by the intermediate pressure superheaters is provided to an interstage admission port of an intermediate pressure steam turbine, and steam output by the first and second reheaters is provided as the main input steam for the intermediate pressure steam turbine of the combined cycle power plant.

Abstract: Combined cycle efficiency can be improved by heating fuel in a gas turbine fuel line in two stages using (i) hot water from an HP economizer of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) in a second stage and (ii) hot water from an IP economizer of the HRSG and water output flow from the second stage in a first stage. Efficiency may be further improved by adding one or more fuel preheaters using hot water from the IP feedpump and sequential injections of hot water into the fuel.

Abstract: A lamp having a lighting source, integral electronics, and a thermal distribution mechanism disposed in a housing. The thermal distribution mechanism may include a variety of insulative, radiative, conductive, and convective heat distribution techniques. For example, the lamp may include a thermal shield between the lighting source and the integral electronics. The lamp also may have a forced convection mechanism, such as an air-moving device, disposed adjacent the integral electronics. A heat pipe, a heat sink, or another conductive heat transfer member also may be disposed in thermal communication with one or more of the integral electronics. For example, the integral electronics may be mounted to a thermally conductive board. The housing itself also may be thermally conductive to conductively spread the heat and convect/radiate the heat away from the lamp.

Abstract: A structure, system, and method for controlling a power output and flue gas temperature of a power plant by adjusting final feedwater temperature are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a turbine having a plurality of valved steam extraction ports is provided. Each steam extraction port is fluidly connected with a feedwater heater. Each of the plurality of valves in the valved steam extraction ports may be opened and closed to the passage of steam therethrough, in order to vary a final feedwater temperature.

Abstract: A steam seal system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the steam seal system includes: a low pressure steam turbine positioned on a shaft; a pair of end packings surrounding the shaft, each of the pair of end packings located proximate an axial end of the low pressure steam turbine along the shaft; and an pair of extraction conduits fluidly connected to the low pressure steam turbine and the shaft, the pair of extraction conduits connected to the shaft at a location axially outward of the pair of end packings and the low pressure steam turbine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of minimizing losses in a multiple-last-stage bucket turbine. The method includes, determining an inlet flow available for the multiple-last-stage bucket turbine, and selecting multiple last-stage buckets from a set of pre-designed last-stage buckets. The multiple last-stage buckets having inlet flows different from one another that when combined match the inlet flow available with a lower total exhaust loss than from multiple same sized last-stage buckets from the set of pre-designed last-stage buckets.

Abstract: A steam turbine flow adjustment system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a steam turbine having a first inlet port and a second inlet port for receiving inlet steam; a first conduit and a second conduit operably connected to a first valve and a second valve, respectively, the first conduit and the second conduit for providing the inlet steam to the first inlet port and the second inlet port, respectively; and a control system operably connected to the first valve and the second valve for controlling an amount of inlet steam flow admitted and pressure to each of the first inlet port and the second inlet port based upon a load demand on the steam turbine and an admission pressure of the inlet steam.

Abstract: A steam turbine includes a diffuser that has a bearing cone and an inner plate of a steam guide that define a passage through which steam flows. An outer plate is disposed with respect to the inner plate such that an opening is located between the inner and outer plates. At least one hole is located in the inner plate. A water tube is disposed in the opening, the water tube having water flowing therethrough which condenses at least a portion of a flow of steam flowing in the passage thereby creating at least a partial vacuum within the opening. The vacuum creates a suction effect through the at least one hole in the inner plate that can cause at least a portion of the flow of steam in the passage to attach itself to an inner surface of the inner plate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of minimizing losses in a multiple-last-stage bucket turbine. The method includes, determining an inlet flow available for the multiple-last-stage bucket turbine, and selecting multiple last-stage buckets from a set of pre-designed last-stage buckets. The multiple last-stage buckets having inlet flows different from one another that when combined match the inlet flow available with a lower total exhaust loss than from multiple same sized last-stage buckets from the set of pre-designed last-stage buckets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving reduced-load operation of steam turbines. The apparatus may include a number of low pressure sections and a flow control system operable to limit the flow of steam to at least one of the number of low pressure sections. The method may include providing a number of low pressure sections, providing a flow control system operable to limit the flow of steam to at least one of the number of low pressure sections, and operating the flow control system to limit the flow of steam to the at least one of the number of low pressure sections when the load is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for assembling an exhaust hood for a turbine is provided. The method includes providing a bearing cone that substantially circumscribes a rotor of the turbine; and positioning a guide radially outward from the bearing cone. The guide and the bearing cone are configured to channel fluid from the turbine. The method also includes extending a guide cap from the guide. The guide cap is oriented to facilitate preventing the generation of fluid vortexes within the exhaust hood.

Abstract: A lamp having a lighting source, integral electronics, and a thermal distribution mechanism disposed in a housing. The thermal distribution mechanism may include a variety of insulative, radiative, conductive, and convective heat distribution techniques. For example, the lamp may include a thermal shield between the lighting source and the integral electronics. The lamp also may have a forced convection mechanism, such as an air-moving device, disposed adjacent the integral electronics. A heat pipe, a heat sink, or another conductive heat transfer member also may be disposed in thermal communication with one or more of the integral electronics. For example, the integral electronics may be mounted to a thermally conductive board. The housing itself also may be thermally conductive to conductively spread the heat and convect/radiate the heat away from the lamp.

Abstract: A lamp having a lighting source, integral electronics, and a thermal distribution mechanism disposed in a housing. The thermal distribution mechanism may include a For example, the lamp may include a thermal shield between the lighting source and the integral electronics. The lamp also may have a forced convection mechanism, such as an air-moving device, disposed adjacent the integral electronics. A heat pipe, a heat sink, or another conductive heat transfer member also may be disposed in thermal communication with one or more of the integral electronics. For example, the integral electronics may be mounted to a thermally conductive board. The housing itself also may be thermally conductive to conductively spread the heat and convect/radiate the heat away from the lamp.

Abstract: A brush seal is provided between static components of a turbine. The turbine flowpath has an inlet spaced from another the inner web of the first stage nozzle. A brush seal is disposed between the two static components to minimize leakage flow to the packing casing region. The bristles of the brush seal are preloaded to fill any gap between the static components caused by distortion or out-of-roundness of the opposed surfaces being sealed. A side plate may contact the opposed sealing surface, increasing the pressure capability of the brush seal and minimizing overall seal leakage by providing the minimum possible flow area restricted solely by the bristles.