Abstract: Method for operating a solar installation. The solar installation includes a solar field with direct evaporation accompanied by the generation of superheated live steam, a turbine for expanding the live steam, and a generator driven by the turbine for generating electrical energy. At least one valve is associated with the turbine by which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted. The valve, or each valve, through which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted such that an actual value of a live steam pressure occurring upstream of the turbine follows a reference value determined depending on a live steam temperature of the live steam upstream of the turbine.

Abstract: A turbine includes a stator (10) and a rotor (20); a plurality of turbine stages (30) through which a flow path of an operating fluid extends; an axial thrust balancing piston (40) arranged at the rotor and a first piston chamber (41) connected to one of the turbine stages (30.1) so that the operating fluid can be conveyed into the first piston chamber with a first fluid pressure, and a second piston chamber (42) has a counterpressure so that an axial thrust opposed to a flow direction of the operating fluid can be exerted on the rotor; and a pressure control device (60) connected to the second piston chamber. The pressure control device constructed to vary the counterpressure by controlled removal of fluid from the second piston chamber so that the axial thrust of the axial thrust balancing piston can be varied.

Abstract: Method for operating a solar installation. The solar installation includes a solar field with direct evaporation accompanied by the generation of superheated live steam, a turbine for expanding the live steam, and a generator driven by the turbine for generating electrical energy. At least one valve is associated with the turbine by which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted. The valve, or each valve, through which the amount of live steam fed to the turbine is adjusted such that an actual value of a live steam pressure occurring upstream of the turbine follows a reference value determined depending on a live steam temperature of the live steam upstream of the turbine.