Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include systems for controlling cold-reheat extraction in a turbomachine system. Some embodiments include a system having: a high-pressure (HP) turbine section including an exhaust; a reheater conduit fluidly connected with the exhaust of the HP turbine and a reheater, the reheater conduit for passing HP exhaust steam from the HP turbine section to the reheater; a cold-reheat extraction conduit fluidly connected with the reheater conduit upstream of the reheater and downstream of the HP turbine section exhaust; and a control system coupled with the HP turbine section and the cold-reheat extraction conduit, the control system configured to: obtain data about a temperature of the HP exhaust steam; and provide instructions to modify a flow rate of the HP exhaust steam to the reheater in response to the temperature of the HP exhaust steam exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: Solutions for clutching turbine wheels are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a turbine rotor shaft; a plurality of turbine wheels affixed to the turbine rotor shaft; an independent turbine wheel engagably attached to the turbine rotor shaft; and a clutch operably connected to the turbine rotor shaft, the clutch configured to couple and decouple the independent turbine wheel from the turbine rotor shaft.

Abstract: A system includes an electrodynamically suspended seal. The electrodynamically suspended seal includes a first element that includes an electrically conducting material and a second element that includes a magnetic material. At least one of the first and second elements is configured to rotate about an axial axis. The first and second elements are disposed adjacent one another. The rotational movement of at least one of the first and second elements creates a levitation force such that the first and second elements are repelled away from one another. The electrodynamically suspended seal also includes a third element configured to create a counteracting force.

Abstract: A power plant is provided and includes components for generating power from fluids at high and intermediate pressures, a pathway defined between the components along which a heated fluid flows to the one of the components for generating power from fluids at intermediate pressures and a circuit fluidly coupled to the pathway to cool a portion of the heated fluid prior to the portion of the heated fluid reaching the one of the components for generating power from fluids at intermediate pressures.

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: Steam turbine system and control system therefor are provided. In one embodiment, a steam turbine system includes an auxiliary turbine in fluid communication with an IP turbine via an auxiliary turbine inlet conduit branch of an IP exhaust conduit. A heat exchanger system may remove heat from an IP exhaust steam, and may add the removed heat to water flowing through a boiler feed-water conduit to a boiler of the steam turbine system.

Abstract: The present application provides a steam turbine driven by a flow of steam. The steam turbine may include a rotor, a number of nozzles positioned about the rotor, and a number of nozzle diaphragms. One or more of the nozzle diaphragms may include an inducer.

Abstract: Steam turbine system and control system therefor are provided. In one embodiment, a steam turbine system includes an auxiliary turbine in fluid communication with an IP turbine via an auxiliary turbine inlet conduit branch of an IP exhaust conduit. A heat exchanger system may remove heat from an IP exhaust steam, and may add the removed heat to water flowing through a boiler feed-water conduit to a boiler of the steam turbine system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include a system including: at least one computing device operably connected with a steam turbomachine and an extraction conduit fluidly connected with the steam turbomachine and a steam seal header fluidly coupled with the steam turbomachine, the at least one computing device configured to modify an output of the steam turbomachine by performing actions including: determining a pressure within the steam turbomachine; comparing the pressure within the steam turbomachine with a pressure threshold range; and instructing the extraction conduit to extract steam seal header steam from the steam seal header and provide the extracted steam seal header steam to the steam turbomachine in response to determining the pressure within the steam turbomachine deviates from the pressure threshold range.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include systems for controlling cold-reheat extraction in a turbomachine system. Some embodiments include a system having: a high-pressure (HP) turbine section including an exhaust; a reheater conduit fluidly connected with the exhaust of the HP turbine and a reheater, the reheater conduit for passing HP exhaust steam from the HP turbine section to the reheater; a cold-reheat extraction conduit fluidly connected with the reheater conduit upstream of the reheater and downstream of the HP turbine section exhaust; and a control system coupled with the HP turbine section and the cold-reheat extraction conduit, the control system configured to: obtain data about a temperature of the HP exhaust steam; and provide instructions to modify a flow rate of the HP exhaust steam to the reheater in response to the temperature of the HP exhaust steam exceeding a threshold.

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: Various embodiments of the invention include a system including: at least one computing device operably connected with a steam turbomachine and an extraction conduit fluidly connected with the steam turbomachine and a steam seal header fluidly coupled with the steam turbomachine, the at least one computing device configured to modify an output of the steam turbomachine by performing actions including: determining a pressure within the steam turbomachine; comparing the pressure within the steam turbomachine with a pressure threshold range; and instructing the extraction conduit to extract steam seal header steam from the steam seal header and provide the extracted steam seal header steam to the steam turbomachine in response to determining the pressure within the steam turbomachine deviates from the pressure threshold range.

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.

Abstract: Solutions for clutching turbine wheels are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a turbine rotor shaft; a plurality of turbine wheels affixed to the turbine rotor shaft; an independent turbine wheel engagably attached to the turbine rotor shaft; and a clutch operably connected to the turbine rotor shaft, the clutch configured to couple and decouple the independent turbine wheel from the turbine rotor shaft.

Abstract: Solutions for clutching turbine wheels are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a turbine rotor shaft; a plurality of turbine wheels affixed to the turbine rotor shaft; an independent turbine wheel engagably attached to the turbine rotor shaft; and a clutch operably connected to the turbine rotor shaft, the clutch configured to couple and decouple the independent turbine wheel from the turbine rotor shaft.

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.

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: A system includes an electrodynamically suspended seal. The electrodynamically suspended seal includes a first element that includes an electrically conducting material and a second element that includes a magnetic material. At least one of the first and second elements is configured to rotate about an axial axis. The first and second elements are disposed adjacent one another. The rotational movement of at least one of the first and second elements creates a levitation force such that the first and second elements are repelled away from one another. The electrodynamically suspended seal also includes a third element configured to create a counteracting force.

Abstract: The present application provides a steam turbine driven by a flow of steam. The steam turbine may include a rotor, a number of nozzles positioned about the rotor, and a number of nozzle diaphragms. One or more of the nozzle diaphragms may include an inducer.

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.