Abstract: Condensate purification such as demineralization, filtration or sterilization for use in a power plant of the type having at least one main condenser with a hot well as part of the steam cycle and in which the condenser is connected to receive steam from a turbine generator and the hot well is connected to discharge to a main condensate pump. Purification of the condensate is executed with improved method and apparatus comprising a side stream demineralization system. The improvement includes a baffle mounted within said main condenser defining an upstream portion of the condenser on one side of the baffle and a downstream portion of the condenser on the other side of said baffle. The condenser hot well is located on the downstream side of the baffle. A passageway is defined over the baffle for flowing fluid therethrough to the hot well. The passageway includes a weir cooperatively disposed therewith on the upstream side of the baffle to hold back a pool of fluid from flowing through the passageway.

Abstract: A steam turbine construction wherein the turbine rotor shafting is mounted in bearing means located in the end walls of the turbine housing and wherein the bearings are lubricated with water condensed from the working steam supplied to the turbine. The lubricant flows in a re-circulating system tapped from the condensate-return line leading back to the boiler from the condenser after the turbine has been started and is supplying power, and an auxiliary supply of lubricant water is taken from a reserve gravity flow tank to supply water to the bearings during the starting and stopping runs of the turbine.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for sealing about a shaft employed for conveying power between the interior of a working chamber having working fluid under high pressure, and the exterior of such chamber. The working fluid is sealed from escape along the shaft by interposing a liquid lubricated seal to sustain substantially all of the pressure differential, and between the working chamber and the lubricated seal interposing a second seal employing a sealing fluid which is preferably gaseous at the temperatures and pressures to which it is subjected. This second seal fluid is not significantly soluble in the first seal fluid used in the lubricated seal and is compatible with the working fluid used in the working chamber.

Abstract: Steam is removed from the steam cycle of a turbine when the back pressure on the turbine exceeds a predetermined level. Heat is then extracted from the removed steam and dissipated in a cooling tower of a cooling system for the turbine's condenser. Increased temperatures in the cooling tower augment thermal fan action, resulting in lower coolant temperatures and limiting the back pressure on the turbine. When the back pressure on the turbine decreases to an acceptable level, the steam is redirected into the steam cycle.In a preferred embodiment, heat is extracted from steam by passing the steam through the high temperature coil of a vapor-absorption generator. The high temperature vapor formed in the generator transfers the heat to the heat dissipating surfaces of a cooling tower or into heat-exchange relationship with an exhaust coolant discharged from a steam condenser.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus having a noise and vibration suppression arrangement associated therewith. A suitable piping arrangement permits introduction of a pressurized fluid into a chamber above a valve plug movably disposed within the casing of the flow control apparatus. The fluid is conducted into the plug chamber from a region having a pressure therein higher than the pressure immediately beneath the valve plug and passes from the plug chamber to mix with the high velocity inlet flow entering the flow control apparatus to dissipate the energy associated with the influent flow and to prevent excessive noise and vibration levels within the flow control apparatus.

Abstract: A moisture indicating apparatus for indicating the presence of moisture in a vapor flow confined within a conduit. Sonic energy generated within the conduit is detected at predetermined locations along the conduit by non-intrusively mounted detection devices. The sonic energy is converted into an electrical signal and the magnitude of the electrical signal from each detection device and the time difference therebetween are compared to predetermined magnitude and time-difference standards. If the electrical signals indicate the presence of moisture, responsive action is initiated by a suitable control arrangement connected to the apparatus. In addition to indicating moisture presence, the quality of moisture with the vapor flow is detectable.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an electrically driven fan blows ambient temperature-air across heat exchanger heat-exchanging tubes for the taking of heat from the air into gaseous freon 12 which warmed gas is thereafter further heated by heat of compression when passed through a compressor pump, another part of the combination, the total heat of which is heat-exchanged in isolated (separated) heat exchange relationship with another closed cycle of freon 11 in a condenser boiler adapted to vaporize the freon 11 which is channeled to a gas turbine drivably connected to an electric generator for the generation of electricity, the extraneous and/or waste heat energy emanating from around the turbine being collected by a heat exchanger and coolant thereof which turbine coolant is, in the heated state, channeled to another heat exchanger tubing in separate closed cycle, over which tubing the fan also blows to both cool the heated turbine coolant and the thereby warmed air thereafter striking the freon 12-containing he

Abstract: A flow control apparatus which has an external conduit for conducting fluid from a region having a pressure therein higher than the pressure immediately beneath a valve plug into an internal cavity disposed within the valve plug is provided with an unbalance actuator for isolating the cavity from the region when, for any reason, the pressure within the cavity exceeds the pressure within the region.

Abstract: The power-generation system comprises an engine actuated by the expansion a liquefiable gaseous fluid within a chamber which undergoes a cyclic variation in volume, an evaporator supplied from a hot source such as a solar or geothermal heat collector and a condenser associated with a cold source. A driving fluid which is vaporized under pressure in the evaporator is employed at least partly for lubrication of the engine, the liquid elements entrained by the vaporized fluid being collected by means of a separator and conveyed to the engine casing through a drawing-off line.

Abstract: In a steam turbine structure, a stuffing box is conventionally provided for the rotor shaft at the shaft passthrough opening in the turbine casing and blocking steam is admitted to the stuffing box. In order to prevent thermal-shock damage to the shaft at the stuffing box during a re-start of the turbine while the shaft temperature is still approximately at its normal operating temperature and while the blocking steam is then temporarily in a wet state, the blocking steam is prevented from reaching the stuffing box, the wet steam being diverted by way of a controllable valve through a by-pass leading to a condenser. After the blocking steam has reached its dry state, the valve closes off the by-pass to the condenser and opens the blocking steam line leading to the stuffing box.

Abstract: Rotary closed Rankine cycle engine powered electric generating apparatus including a rotary boiler, power fluid expander and means for condensing the exhaust vapor from the expander. The power fluid expander is rotatably driven at a predetermined speed by pressure fluid generated in the boiler and in turn drives an alternator that is hermetically sealed in a casing rotatable with the boiler and condensing means as a unit. The alternator is rotatably mounted in gas bearings and a portion of the power fluid condensed in said condensing means is utilized to cool the alternator and to provide power fluid vapor at a constant low pressure which is supplied to the gas bearings to lubricate said bearings. In the disclosed embodiments a magnetic-harmonic drive between the alternator and the rotary engine rotatably drives the latter at a predetermined speed substantially slower than the speed of the expander and alternator.

Abstract: A closed vapor cycle engine which uses a trifluoroethanol working fluid improved by the addition of ammonia for corrosion protection. The working fluid may contain water. The improvement improves life and reduces maintenance of the engine.

Abstract: A rotary system including a rotor, a rotating shaft, and a housing surrounding the shaft and the rotor, sealing between a process zone containing the rotor and a lubricant zone being provided by a seal fluid injected into the housing between the two zones at a relatively high pressure, the seal fluid having been separated from the working fluid used in the process zone.

Abstract: A reheater arrangement for providing steam within a predetermined temperature and pressure range for turbine rotor gland seal devices. Steam taken from a steam source is divided by suitable control means into a first and a second portion. The first portion of steam is directed into the tubes of a shell and tube reheater element while the second portion is throttled to an appropriate pressure usable in the glands. The throttled second portion of the steam is then passed through the shell of the reheater element where heat from the first portion from the source of steam is exchanged with the second throttled portion of the steam to provide steam at the appropriate temperature and pressure for use in the gland seals.