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.

Abstract: A turbine configuration includes a turbine shaft having a surface, and/or turbine blades fastened to the turbine shaft and having surfaces, and a turbine casing surrounding the turbine blades. When the turbine is in operation, a radial gap occurring between the turbine casing and the turbine shaft or between the turbine casing and a turbine blade is monitored. A device for recording a change in position at the turbine configuration includes a glass fiber probe led through the turbine casing, a measurement reference point applied to the surface of at least one turbine blade and/or to the surface of the turbine shaft and formed of nonoxidizing material, for reflecting light from the glass fiber probe, a device for recording differences in intensity in the reflected light, and a device for comparing a difference in intensity with a reference value determined at a previous time.

Abstract: A graphical user interface provides a real-time information display for a supervising engineer in charge of turbine operation so that critical parameter values and undesirable combinations of operating conditions are readily observed and deviations are made apparent so that corrective action can be initiated rapidly. An overview of the operating situation is made more readily apparent by representing the operating expansion and compression processes by lines on a Mollier enthalpy/entropy chart. In combination, real-time parameter values and parameter trends are also presented. Using the Mollier chart information in conjunction with trend and real-time information, the supervising engineer can more quickly identify and correct undesirable and potentially troublesome operation conditions.

Abstract: In the control of a power station installation having a number of power station blocks, in which each power station block is controlled by using at least one reference variable, it is intended to permit reliable determination of especially favorable reference variables while also taking the current installation condition into account. To this end, a management system for the power station installation includes a computer unit which determines reference variables for the power station block or for each of the power station blocks through the use of a genetic algorithm, and an optimization module which is connected to the computer unit. The optimization module is connected to a number of neural networks and one neural network is assigned to each power station block.

Abstract: In a method for the early detection and location of a change in a component of a turbine, in particular in a turbine blade, in the event of a deviation from a standard value in at least one measured value determined during operation of the turbine, an acoustic spectrum generated by the component is measured in the interior of the turbine and compared with a reference spectrum. In order to increase the intensity of signals in the acoustic spectrum, the components of the turbine, preferably runner blades, are excited from outside to acoustic emission (resonance test). An apparatus has a number of sensors for recording operating parameters of the turbine. The sensors are connected to a device for measured value conditioning. In order to detect and locate changes, an acoustic measurement probe which can be inserted from the outside into the interior of the turbine, is connected to the device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for the operational monitoring of a condenser including a steam chamber through which steam to be condensed flows and at least one configuration having a plurality of tubes in the steam chamber through which a coolant fluid passes from an inlet to an outlet end. The steam pressure and/or temperature is measured at least at one measuring point in the steam chamber. In addition, the inlet temperature of the coolant fluid at the inlet end, the outlet temperature of the coolant fluid at the outlet end and the coolant fluid mass throughput are measured at each selected tube. The measurements are evaluated to determine the heat transfer coefficient of each selected tube and the coefficients thus determined are assessed for diagnostic purposes. In particular, a signal is given when at least one heat transfer coefficient differs substantially from a predetermined setting.