Abstract: Cooling systems and methods for cooling heat-generating equipment, such as steam driven turbines, can operate in multiple modes including a closed loop mode, an open loop mode and a helper mode. During normal operation in the closed loop mode, cooling water may be circulated in a closed cooling system through an integrated cooling tower, without drawing from or discharging into a water source, thereby minimizing the effect of the cooling system on the water source. In open loop operation, water can be drawn from a water source to cool the equipment without the use of the cooling tower and can then be discharged. The open loop mode can be advantageous when the cooling tower may be out of service. In the helper mode, cooling water drawn from a source cools the equipment and may then be partially or fully circulated through the cooling tower prior to discharge.

Abstract: Cooling systems and methods for cooling heat-generating equipment, such as steam driven turbines, can operate in multiple modes including a closed loop mode, an open loop mode and a helper mode. During normal operation in the closed loop mode, cooling water may be circulated in a closed cooling system through an integrated cooling tower, without drawing from or discharging into a water source, thereby minimizing the effect of the cooling system on the water source. In open loop operation, water can be drawn from a water source to cool the equipment without the use of the cooling tower and can then be discharged. The open loop mode can be advantageous when the cooling tower may be out of service. In the helper mode, cooling water drawn from a source cools the equipment and may then be partially or fully circulated through the cooling tower prior to discharge.

Abstract: A system for draining condensed steam from a closed high pressure feedwater heater installed in a steam turbine power generation cycle, and recycling the drains into the feedwater system at a point between the inlet to the main feedwater pump and an immediately adjacent closed feedwater heater, with controls for regulating the level in the high pressure heater, in conjunction with the normal cascade drain system, and with provisions for preventing the backflow of feedwater into the drain system and then into the high pressure feedwater heater.

Abstract: The improvement of this invention comprises a seal or other means for closing portions of the flow path between blade carriers for extraction steam as it leaves the main flow path of a steam turbine. The seal prevents the extraction of steam from most of the circumference of the turbine, allowing steam to be extracted only from a portion of the circumference. Hot tip leakage steam is thus retained in the turbine over those portions of the circumference where the seals close the extraction flow path wherein it is of substantial benefit in driving the turbine but is of little benefit when used for heating feedwater, with the colder steam being extracted in its place so that the total amount of steam extracted for heating feedwater is essentially unchanged.