Involving Feed From Source Means To Separate Motor Stages Or Utilizing Means Patents (Class 60/662)
  • Patent number: 11255224
    Abstract: A method for the short-term adjustment of the output of a steam turbine of a combined-cycle power plant, includes: opening, respectively closing, a backed-up turbine valve of a pressure stage, according to a required change in output; comparing a desired pressure with a pressure measurement upstream of the turbine valve to measure pressure of steam mass flow flowing into the pressure stage; and opening, respectively closing, a feed line for introducing a variable proportion of water into the steam mass flow as soon as the pressure falls below or exceeds the desired pressure; the variable proportion of water is introduced into the steam mass flow until an adjusted desired steam temperature is reached, which is determined from the difference between a basic specified desired steam temperature and the default value of a controller which operates at least proportionally and evaluates the difference between the pressure measurement and the desired pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Zsuzsa Preitl, Frank Thomas, Bernd Weissenberger
  • Patent number: 10989142
    Abstract: The regenerative cooling system (100) is provided for a regenerative heat engine (1) and comprises a cooling chamber (79) which surrounds a gas expander (78), leaving open a gas circulation space (80) between said chamber (79) and said expander (78), a working gas (81) expelled from the gas expander (78) circulating in said space (80) before returning to a regenerative heat exchanger (5) where it is cooled, a large portion of the heat of said gas (81) being reintroduced into the thermodynamic cycle of the regenerative heat engine (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Vianney Rabhi
  • Patent number: 10260347
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention is steam turbines including a steam feed circuit based on a functional steam generator set that may be nuclear- or fossil-fuel powered, and in particular a steam feed circuit (1) of a turbine (2), comprising n main steam lines (3) and n? steam admission lines (4) to the turbine, the number n? of steam admission lines (4) to the turbine being strictly greater than the number n of main steam lines (3), characterized in that there are n direct steam admission lines (5) to the turbine linking the as main steam lines (3) directly to the steam admission lines (4) to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Vincent Jourdain, Bernard Viola, Damien Milet
  • Patent number: 9121648
    Abstract: A process for continuously providing superheated liquid to a chemical process vessel by providing a first heating device capable of heating an entire liquid effluent stream from the vessel, the first heating device receiving the entire liquid effluent stream from the vessel and returning a heated liquid stream to the vessel; filling a similar second heating device with liquid from the liquid effluent stream prior to applying any heat to the second heating device; heating and increasing the liquid effluent stream supplied to the second heating device while decreasing the liquid effluent stream provided to the first heating device until the second heating device is receiving and returning all the heated liquid stream to the vessel, while adjusting heat to the devices as needed to maintain the heated liquid below the flash point and maintain the desired total amount of superheated liquid provided to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: David S. Bell, Jorge J. Castro Velez, Robert K. Cox, Donald Hugh Marlow, Charles A. Orrock, Ronald William Pagano
  • Publication number: 20150107218
    Abstract: A combined cycle plant including a gas turbine, a heat recovery boiler for generating steam using exhaust heat of the gas turbine, and a steam turbine for feeding the steam generated by the heat recovery boiler from the heat recovery boiler through a steam system, characterized in that, the steam system is disposed so as to branch to a first steam system for introducing the steam to a first stage entrance of the steam turbine and a second steam system for introducing the steam to a stage entrance on a downstream side of the first stage of the steam turbine, and a flow rate of the steam fed to the steam turbine via the first steam system and the second steam system is adjusted on the basis of a steam flow rate generated by the heat recovery boiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Tateki NAKAMURA, Koji OGATA, Eiji KUMAKURA, Takeshi KUDO
  • Patent number: 9003798
    Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cyclect Electrical Engineering Pte.
    Inventor: Hideharu Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20140373541
    Abstract: A safety operation method includes detecting a steam pressure inside a high-pressure casing of the high-pressure part and a steam pressure inside a low-pressure casing of the low-pressure part; obtaining a low-pressure casing limit pressure as a reference corresponding to a pressure of the high-pressure casing in each detection, on a basis of a pressure correlation line expressing a prescribed special relation between preset high-pressure casing pressure and low-pressure casing pressure of the extraction steam turbine; comparing the low-pressure casing limit pressure with the detected pressure of the low-pressure casing; and forcibly throttling an opening of the main steam control valve to reduce the flow rate of steam flowing into the high-pressure part, in a state in which the extraction control valves continue controlling an operation of the extraction steam pressure, when the detected pressure of the low-pressure casing is judged to be higher than the low-pressure casing limit pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Yoshifumi KATO
  • Patent number: 8857184
    Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a startup phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the startup phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dileep Sathyanarayana, Steven Craig Kluge, Dean Alexander Baker, Steven Di Palma
  • Patent number: 8820077
    Abstract: A saturated steam or weakly superheated steam thermodynamic cycle in an electricity generating plant includes at least a nuclear energy source and a turbine having at least a high-pressure module, a medium-pressure module and a low-pressure module. The steam flows successively through the high-pressure, medium-pressure and low-pressure modules. The steam undergoes a first drying and/or superheating cycle between the high-pressure and medium-pressure modules and also a second cycle comprising at least a drying and/or a superheating process between the medium-pressure module and the low-pressure module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Vincent Jourdain, Jérôme Colin, Hoan Levan
  • Patent number: 8776523
    Abstract: A steam-driven power plant includes a steam source providing steam at a desired pressure and a steam turbine operably connected to the steam source. The steam turbine includes a low pressure section and an intermediate pressure section. A low pressure admission conduit is configured to convey steam from the steam source to an entrance of the low pressure section and an intermediate pressure admission conduit is configured to convey steam from the steam source to a mid-steampath point of the intermediate pressure section. One or more valves are located between the steam source and the steam turbine to control a flow of steam from the steam source through the low pressure admission conduit and/or the intermediate pressure admission conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nachiket Chilhatey, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8776521
    Abstract: The present application describes a heat recovery steam generator. The heat recovery steam generator may include a superheater, a first turbine section, a first main steam line in communication with the superheater and the first turbine section, and a first prewarming line positioned downstream of the first main steam line such that a flow of steam from the superheater preheats the first main steam line without entry into the first turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leslie Yung-Min Tong, Diego Rancruel, SriHarsha Vedavyasachar
  • Patent number: 8752383
    Abstract: A boiler system for producing steam from water includes a plurality of serially arranged oxy fuel boilers. Each boiler has an inlet in flow communication with a plurality of tubes. The tubes of each boiler form at least one water wall. Each of the boilers is configured to substantially prevent the introduction of air. Each boiler includes an oxy fuel combustion system including an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a purity of greater than 21 percent, a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel and at least one oxy-fuel burner system for feeding the oxygen and the carbon based fuel into its respective boiler in a near stoichiometric proportion. The oxy fuel system is configured to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to a predetermined tolerance. The boiler tubes of each boiler are configured for direct, radiant energy exposure for energy transfer. Each of the boilers is independent of each of the other boilers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Jupiter Oxygen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Patrick, Tom L. Ochs, Danylo B. Oryschyn, Cathy A. Summers
  • Publication number: 20140096524
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure generally provide a heat engine system and a method for regulating a pressure and an amount of a working fluid in a working fluid circuit during a thermodynamic cycle. A mass management system may be employed to regulate the working fluid circulating throughout the working fluid circuit. The mass management systems may have a mass control tank fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit at one or more strategically-located tie-in points. A heat exchanger coil may be used in conjunction with the mass control tank to regulate the temperature of the fluid within the mass control tank, and thereby determine whether working fluid is either extracted from or injected into the working fluid circuit. Regulating the pressure and amount of working fluid in the working fluid circuit selectively increases or decreases the suction pressure of the pump to increase system efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: ECHOGEN POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy James Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Michael Vermeersch, Tao Xie
  • Patent number: 8661821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing coal consumption in coal fired plant with fluidized-bed drying, namely a fluidized-bed drying system is provided between a coal powder bunker as well as a weighing belt and a coal grinding mill of the prior coal fired boiler generating set, and superheated steam which has done partial work is extracted from an steam turbine and used as a drying medium, moisture contained in the coal powder is evaporated with sensible heat and latent heat of the superheated steam, water resulted from the condensation of the superheated steam is fed into a deaerator of the steam turbine via a condensate pump for recirculation. The present invention has advantages of reducing coal consumption and saving coal, recovering residual heat, reducing emission of carbon dioxide and adopting to the national industrial policy on energy saving and emission reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Tianhua Institute of Chemical Machinery and Automation, National Engineering Technology Research Center of Drying Technology & Equipment, Lanzhou Ruide Drying Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xu Zhao, Maikui Zhang, Yan Dou, Yongzhong Jiang, Jinwen Shi
  • Patent number: 8650878
    Abstract: A turbine system includes a valve coupled to a leak off line from a leak packing of a first turbine, the valve controlling a first steam flow used to maintain a constant self-sustaining sealing pressure to a second turbine across numerous loading conditions. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Singh Mehra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Jegadeesan Maruthamuthu, Rajasekar Natarajan, Manikandan Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20130205749
    Abstract: A steam turbine plant has a steam turbine and an inlet steam collection line with an inlet steam collection line segment is provided. The inlet steam collection line supplies a steam consumer and is introduced into outlet steam flow of the steam turbine at an inlet steam introduction point of the inlet steam collection line segment. A supply steam device has a switching armature for connecting the supply steam device to the inlet steam collection line segment upstream of the inlet steam introduction point. The armature is triggered and switched such that if outlet steam pressure in the inlet steam collection line segment is lower than target pressure, the inlet steam collection line segment is connected to the supply steam device for conducting steam and disconnected between the armature and the inlet steam introduction point, otherwise the supply steam device is separated from the inlet steam collection line segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Norbert Pieper, Michael Wechsung
  • Patent number: 8505299
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kamlesh Mundra, Nestor Hernandez Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8453450
    Abstract: An exemplary steam plant having a steam circuit which includes a superheater defining a boundary between a superheated steam region and an unsuperheated steam region. The steam circuit includes a branch, from a superheated steam region of the steam circuit, with a branch valve and a steam desuperheater upstream of the branch valve. The desuperheater provides cooling to the branch during flow mode operation of the branch. During a no flow mode, a first preheat line and a second preheat line provide the cooling by supplying unsuperheated steam to the branch and directing this flow through to a lower pressure region of the steam circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Fred Berger
  • Patent number: 8297056
    Abstract: Thermo-dynamic battery is an energy storage unit for converting compressed gas energy into consumable electrical power for application uses with any device that requires electrical power to function. A method for storing electrical energy in the form of compressed gas and converting the same energy to electric power includes compressing gas and storing the compressed gas for release to drive a generator. A system and method for storing, disseminating, and utilizing energy in the form of gas compression and expansion comprises a method for expanding compressed gas in at least two stages and further provides for storing energy in the form of compressed gas through compression in at least two stages. Apparatus is provided to operate in accordance with the described procedure to contribute at or about 90% efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Ashikian
  • Publication number: 20120111009
    Abstract: A system includes a syngas cooler configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a first syngas cooler section configured to cool the syngas and a second syngas cooler section configured to cool the syngas and generate a first superheated steam with an enthalpy of less than approximately 3800 kJ/kg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Judeth Brannon Corry, Leroy Omar Tomlinson, James Michael Storey, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Mark Joseph Steffen, Wei Chen, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Richard Anthony De Puy
  • Patent number: 6647727
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a steam turbine installation having a reheater (7) arranged between high-pressure turbine (2) and medium-pressure turbine (3) or low-pressure turbine (4), a low-pressure bypass (18) with a low-pressure bypass valve (19) also being present, which bypass leads from the reheater outlet into a condenser (5), a flexible and optimum control with respect to variable high-pressure turbine exhaust steam temperature (THD) is achieved in that characteristic curves for the required value of the reheater pressure are used for controlling the low-pressure bypass valve (19) during run-up, during (partial) load rejection procedures or during idling, which characteristic curves depend on the load (L) applied to the installation, and/or on the pressure (P) before the high-pressure turbine blading and/or on the reheater steam flow (M), and also on the high-pressure turbine exhaust steam temperature (THD), and/or on the temperature (TFD) and/or on the pressure (pFD) of the live steam introduced into t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Klatt, Kurt Schnaithmann
  • Patent number: 6094914
    Abstract: A method and a device for cooling a low-pressure turbine section of a steam turbine connected in a water/steam circuit, include feeding a coolant flow through parts of the low-pressure turbine section, in particular during idling operation. Condensate bled from a condenser connected downstream of the steam turbine is used as a coolant for especially effective cooling while simultaneously utilizing heat obtained in the process. The condensate emits heat absorbed during the cooling to the water/steam circuit. A coolant line which is connected to the outflow side of the condenser is connected to the low-pressure turbine section. A heat exchanger is connected to the coolant line and in the water/steam circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Zorner
  • Patent number: 5490386
    Abstract: A method is provided for cooling a low pressure steam turbine operating in a ventilation mode. The low pressure steam turbine has a closable inlet through which steam can be delivered when operating in a power generation mode and which is blocked off when operating in ventilation mode, an outlet which communicates with a condenser for condensing the steam to condensate and a bleed port between the inlet and the outlet. A bleed pipe is connected to the bleed port for diverting steam and/or condensate during operation in the power generation mode. Steam is supplied through a steam transfer pipe to the bleed pipe in order to cool the low pressure steam turbine when operating in the ventilation mode. Condensate may also be supplied to the bleed pipe. The cooling effect in the low pressure steam turbine is largely limited to those components which suffer most when it is operating in the ventilation mode, and the cooling provisions are extracted from resources that are already available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Keller, Dietmar Bergmann
  • Patent number: 5483797
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of a valve that regulates the flow of geothermal fluid that comprises geothermal brine and steam flowing through the valve to a geothermal plant. The method includes determining the maximum permitted value of at least one parameter or quantity affecting the operation of the geothermal plant, and setting a predetermined value for the at least one quantity which is less than the maximum value of the quantity. The flow of fluid through the valve is reduced when the value of said at least one quantity reaches its preset value for maintaining the operation of the geothermal plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Rigal, Amir Karas, Aba Nathan, Yechiel Rifner, Naday Amir, Lucien Y. Bronicki, Moshe Grassianni
  • Patent number: 5464318
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system for controlling injection and extraction of steam in a steam turbine (1), the same valves (5,6) being used both for injection of steam to the turbine (1) and for extraction of steam from the turbine (1) . The valves (5, 6) commonly used for injection and extraction are controlled to be timely opened and closed in dependence on the pressure conditions at injection points (2,3) and extraction points (2,3), respectively, in the turbine and on the pressure (P3) prevailing in a process network connected to the valves (5, 6) such that injected or extracted steam is utilized in an optimal manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: ABB Stal AB
    Inventors: Sivert Eklund, Claes Jonsson, Lars-Goran Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 4576008
    Abstract: A steam turbine generator power plant which includes a main steam bypass path and an auxiliary steam bypass path which bypasses the high pressure turbine. The auxiliary bypass path includes a steam jet compressor which functions to pump up the pressure at the high pressure turbine exhaust to a value compatible with discharge into the main bypass path, and does so in response to measurement of the high pressure turbine output temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: George J. Silvestri, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4556956
    Abstract: An adjustable gain controller for a steam turbine valve position control loop includes an electronic operator, a proportional controller, a derivative controller and an integral controller. A steam flow condition error signal is amplified by the reciprocal of the valve's regulation value. The amplified error signal is supplied to the electronic operator and to the integral controller. The electronic operator includes means for initially selecting a value of A and n and generating a gain factor from a nonlinear gain characteristic function utilizing those values in combination with the valve's regulation value and the normalized error signal. The electronic operator multiplies the amplified error signal by the gain factor and applies the resultant signal to the proportional controller and the derivative controller. The output signals from the proportional, derivative and integral controllers are summed together and that sum is input into an electrohydraulic valve actuator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Royston J. Dickenson, Vijay C. Jaswa
  • Patent number: 4537032
    Abstract: The turbine of a Rankine cycle power plant has a plurality of modular units constituting a turbine to which vaporized working fluid from a boiler is supplied in parallel through respective adjustable throttle valves. Exhaust vapor is removed from the modular units in parallel; and the load on the turbine is controlled by controlling the operation of each throttle valve such that, under any load condition, only one throttle valve at a time is adjusted and all of the others are either fully open or fully closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines (1965) Ltd.
    Inventor: Uri Kaplan
  • Patent number: 4516403
    Abstract: A feed water supply pump and a second control valve are provided in a water supply line system and a first control valve is provided at a second steam line. Further, a third control valve is provided at a hot water supply line. In this manner, the terminal temperature difference between the circulating water and the exhaust gas at the inlet and outlet of a preheating portion of an exhaust gas economizer are so controlled as to become equal. In addition, steam discharged from an exhaust outlet of a multi-pressure steam turbine is turned to water by means of a condenser and then, the condensed water is returned to a drain tank while withdrawing and collecting heat energy respectively in a lubricating oil cooler, a fresh water cooler and an air cooler of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4478783
    Abstract: A system for controlling the feedwater system in a nuclear power plant is disclosed. The system utilizes a logic calculations subsystem (50) which selects the operational mode of the system to be monitored from a plurality of operational modes. A disturbance estimate calculations subsystem (52) contains a dynamic mathematic model of the feedwater system and compares measured system variables with corresponding dynamic model variables contained therein to produce signals representative of deviations therebetween. A modified feedforward calculations subsystem (54) utilizes these signals and other system parameters as inputs to a steady-state mathematical model to produce control signals to determine valve positions and pump speeds so that the control valve flows, minimum control valve pressure drop, and feedwater pump flows are at their respective demanded values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Broadwater
  • Patent number: 4458493
    Abstract: A closed Rankine-cycle power plant (10) has a boiler (24) for vaporizing an organic working fluid and a first nozzle box (58) for receiving vaporized working fluid from the boiler (24) and for furnishing the fluid to a set of axial flow turbine blades (30) located on the periphery of a turbine rotor (50). The vaporized working fluid from the nozzle box (58) expands on passing through the blades (30) producing work that drives a generator (34) coupled to the turbine (28). A second nozzle box (62) receives vaporized working fluid that exits from the axial flow blades (30) on the rotor (50) and applies the working fluid to a second set of radial flow blades (66) on the rotor (50) adjacent the second nozzle box (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nadav Amir, Meir Rigal
  • Patent number: 4448026
    Abstract: A steam turbine system which includes a steam generator and a steam bypass path for bypassing steam around the turbine. The outlet throttle pressure of the steam generator is controlled by controlling admission of steam into the bypass path by means of a bypass valve. A desired throttle pressure set point is generated which is independent of steam flow and this set point is compared with the actual throttle pressure for governing the bypass valve during turbine start-up. When the turbine is fully operational the bypass valve control is effected by a comparison of the actual throttle pressure with the desired throttle pressure set point plus some bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Morton H. Binstock, Thomas H. McCloskey, Leaman B. Podolsky
  • Patent number: 4403476
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a steam turbine using turbine reserve capacity for attaining operation at elevated loads. In a preferred form of the invention, a bypass overload valve is provided in parallel with the steam admission control valves but is connected to discharge steam to a lower pressure stage of the turbine. During operation of the turbine at less than full load, the bypass overload valve is maintained closed and the control valves are positioned to sustain a preselected load. As load on the turbine increases, the control valves are increasingly opened until they have all reached their fully opened position corresponding to a nominal rated capacity of the turbine. Then, at the discretion of operating personnel, the bypass overload valve is fully opened while simultaneously one or more of the control valves is throttled to offset any steam passing through the bypass overload valve in excess of the amount required to sustain the preselected turbine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lloyd H. Johnson, Robert S. Couchman, Robert C. Spencer, Jr., John A. Booth, Russell J. Holman
  • Patent number: 4398393
    Abstract: Control apparatus is disclosed for limiting overspeed in a steam turbine following a sudden loss in load. The apparatus includes at least one valve disposed in the steam conduit interconnecting higher and lower pressure sections of the turbine and an actuator for controlling operation of the valve between a fully open position and a pressure-relief position wherein the valve functions as a pressure relief valve. During normal operation, the valve is maintained in the fully open position. On receipt of a turbine overspeed signal, the valve is actuated to the pressure relief position and a volume of steam at a preselected pressure, necessary to open the valve, is held back within the turbine stages, crossovers, and so forth. This retained steam is thus prevented from adding energy to increase the speed of the turbine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Peter G. Ipsen
  • Patent number: 4357803
    Abstract: A control system for a steam turbine operated with a steam bypass system. In the control system, bypass valve control is according to setpoints generated as a function of a combined flow reference (CFR) signal. The CFR signal is representative of boiler outlet flow under all turbine operating phases and is generated by multiplying the sum of the steam admission control valve flow demand and the high pressure bypass flow demand by boiler pressure. An actual load demand (ALD) signal indicative of the turbine demand for steam is produced from the product of the steam admission control valve flow demand and boiler pressure, and is used for intercept valve control. Excessive steam flow in the lower pressure bypass subsystem is prevented by providing an override for the normal control to prevent high heat impact to the condenser and latter stages of the turbine high pressure section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Royston J. Dickenson
  • Patent number: 4353215
    Abstract: A fluidic turbine control system provided to interrelate and control first and second turbine operating conditions, has fluidic computing means operable to proportionally combine fluidic input signals which are representative of the differences, if any, between the actual and desired values of said first and second turbine operating conditions and provide therefrom first and second fluidic control signals for control of said first and second turbine operating conditions. In the preferred form the fluidic turbine control systems as applied to a Steam Turbine and extraction pressure to control turbine operation as a function of the extraction pressure and extraction pressure as a function of the turbine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester M. Anderson, John D. Warnock
  • Patent number: 4353216
    Abstract: A solution to the problem of excessive rotation loss heating in a bypass steam turbine has been provided by the introduction of a reverse flow of steam to the high-pressure section of the turbine during those operating periods in which such heating is of concern. The present invention is directed to a control system for automatically selecting either the forward or reverse steam flow regime as is most appropriate, depending on turbine and other related operating conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the control system includes means for selecting either a forward or reverse flow control signal to govern the steam admission control valves; means for controlling the reverse flow valve and having decisional logic for determining whether the reverse flow valve shall be open or closed; and means for controlling the ventilator valve and having decisional logic for determining whether the ventilator valve shall be open or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Royston J. Dickenson
  • Patent number: 4309873
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to limit and control rotational loss heating such as occurs in a large steam turbine in the bypass mode of operation under no-load and low-load operating conditions. According to the invention, a portion of the high pressure bypass steam is admitted to the lower pressure sections of the turbine to provide motive fluid for driving the turbine while, simultaneously, a second portion of the high-pressure bypass steam is admitted to the high-pressure section of the turbine in a reverse-flow direction to pass backwards therethrough and limit the rotational loss heating. The two flows may be proportioned to control rotational loss heating in both the high-pressure and lower pressure sections of the turbine. A reverse-flow valve and a ventilator valve are provided for routing the reverse-flow of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Koran, William T. Parry
  • Patent number: 4214451
    Abstract: An energy cogeneration system of the type employed in industrial plants, such as paper mills, is described. The system utilizes the energy of steam to generate electricity, as well as to operate various industrial processes in the plant. The requirements of the processes for steam are continuously monitored, and if the requirements at any given time are significantly less than the steam being delivered thereto, the delivered steam pressure and/or temperature is reduced to make more steam energy available for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Systems Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham E. Coombes, Hiranya S. Rao
  • Patent number: 4205380
    Abstract: In a system and method for automatically starting, synchronizing and operating a steam turbine, control means for valve position limiting wherein such limit can be changed non-linearly. Means are provided whereby the system operator has the ability to manually select a minimum incremental change of the valve position limit as a keyboard-entered constant. If the operator enables a continuing change in the limit it is introduced arithmetically, permitting large swings in a reasonably short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1973
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Andrew Braytenbah
  • Patent number: 4118935
    Abstract: A regulation system for a steam turbine installation comprising a steam generator and a multi-stage turbine installation incorporating a high-pressure stage. The regulation system comprises a regulation valve arranged between the steam generator and the high-pressure stage of the turbine installation and a by-pass valve connected in parallel with said high-pressure stage, as well as control devices with associated control circuits for said valves. The control device for the by-pass valve is influenced by the signal from the control circuit of the regulation valve such that when the opening of the regulation valve exceeds a predetermined magnitude the control device for the by-pass valve opens such by-pass valve to a predetermined magnitude. Further, the control circuit of the by-pass valve is connected in parallel with a differentiation element which influences the degree of opening of the by-pass valve as a function of variations in the signal received from the control circuit of the regulation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: BBC Aktiengesellschaft Brown, Boveri & Cie
    Inventor: Goran Andersson
  • Patent number: 4007596
    Abstract: A power plant including dual steam turbine-generators connected to pass superheat and reheat steam from a steam generator which derives heat from the coolant gas of a high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor. Associated with each turbine is a bypass line to conduct superheat steam in parallel with a high pressure turbine portion, and a bypass line to conduct superheat steam in parallel with a lower pressure turbine portion. Auxiliary steam turbines pass a portion of the steam flow to the reheater of the steam generator and drive gas blowers which circulate the coolant gas through the reactor and the steam source. Apparatus and method are disclosed for loading or unloading a turbine-generator while the other produces a steady power output. During such loading or unloading, the steam flows through the turbine portions are coordinated with the steam flows through the bypass lines for protection of the steam generator, and the pressure of reheated steam is regulated for improved performance of the gas blowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew S. Braytenbah, Karl O. Jaegtnes
  • Patent number: 4007595
    Abstract: An electric power plant having dual turbine-generators connected to a steam source that includes a high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactor. Each turbine comprises a high pressure portion operated by superheat steam and an intermediate-low pressure portion operated by reheat steam; a bypass line is connected across each turbine portion to permit a desired minimum flow of steam from the source at times when the combined flow of steam through the turbine is less than the minimum. Coolant gas is propelled through the reactor by a circulator which is driven by an auxiliary turbine which uses steam exhausted from the high pressure portions and their bypass lines. The pressure of the reheat steam is controlled by a single proportional-plus-integral controller which governs the steam flow through the bypass lines associated with the intermediate-low pressure portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew S. Braytenbah, Karl O. Jaegtnes