Abstract: An improved industrial process includes: receiving in a processor a plurality of data items related to an industrial process, each data item being time stamped so that each data item includes time stamp and industrial process data regarding an industrial process occurring at a time; analyzing the plurality of data items in a processor via a plurality of rules, the analyzing identifying deviations of at least one variable of the plurality of data items from a mean value of the variable; setting a statistical control parameter as an achievable quantity for the at least one variable; identifying the plurality of data items where the at least one variable exceeds the statistical control parameter to define at least one excess; and eliminating the at least one excess by shifting resources or altering the process related to the at least one quantity, the shifting or altering being a function of the analyzing of the plurality of data items.

Abstract: An energy-saving method and system for distilling, desalinating or purifying water relating to a method of increasing the amount of heat recycled back into the system. The system involves powering a compressor using a series of expanders and the energy derived from each expander cumulatively powers the compressor. The compressor draws vapor from seawater contained in an evaporator and compresses it into a condenser. The heat given off by the condenser is absorbed by the evaporator and recycled back into the system.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes an engine, a transmission, a differential, and a waste heat recovery (WHR) drive that converts thermal energy into mechanical and electrical energy. The WHR drive can include a WHR power unit structured to convert thermal energy into rotation of a WHR drive shaft. A motor/generator having a motor/generator shaft can selectively operate as a motor or a generator. A mechanical linkage is structured to selectively link an output shaft to one of the WHR drive shaft and the motor/generator drive shaft independently of the other of the WHR drive shaft and the motor/generator drive shaft. The output shaft is selectively coupled to one of the engine, the transmission, or the differential. The vehicle system may also include a traction motor to provide drive to the vehicle. The output shaft can be selectively coupled to the traction motor or the engine.

Abstract: A condition-based monitoring system receives a plurality of measurements from sensors measuring mechanical and electrical aspects of a prime mover and a synchronous machine. The condition-based monitoring system determines a correlation between the mechanical measurements and electrical measurements to estimate parameters of the model. The condition-based monitoring system also updates the model as sensors obtain additional measurements during operation of the prime mover.

Abstract: Provided herein is a power generation system and method for transforming thermal energy, such as waste heat, into mechanical energy and/or electrical energy. The system employs features designed to accelerate start times, reduce size, lower cost, and be more environmentally friendly. Tire system may include multiple compressors on separate pinion shafts with multiple expanders, a temperature valve upstream of compressors with a mass management system downstream, an intercooler between compressors, and a cascade exchanger. In one embodiment, the system is configured to drive a synchronous generator, with the separate pinion shafts rotating at two separate, but constant, speeds.

Abstract: Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A bypass valve, positioned on a bypass pipeline connecting the supply pipeline to the return pipeline, may be adjusted to a position sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of gas above a threshold based on the inlet and outlet temperature.

Abstract: A steam valve has a tubular stop valve configured to move toward an upper/lower end side along a direction of an axis when the stop valve is opened/closed; and a valve main body accommodating the stop valve, wherein a base end portion including an end portion of the stop valve at the upper end side is accommodated in a first accommodation space formed in the valve main body, the base end portion has a plurality of inclination surfaces formed on an outer circumference of the base end portion which are inclined such that a distance from the axis to each of the plurality of inclination surfaces decreases toward the upper end side, and a plurality of contact surfaces are formed in the first accommodation space to come in contact with the plurality of inclination surfaces respectively when the stop valve moves toward the upper end side.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium having a verification program recorded thereon, wherein the verification program is executed by computer and causes the computer to function as: a test information acquisition unit which acquires test information showing a test signal generated by a field device installed in a plant; a result information acquisition unit which acquires result information showing a test result signal output by a monitor device installed in the plant in response to the field device generating the test signal; and a verification unit which verifies, based on the test information and the result information, whether or not a relationship is established between the test signal and the test result signal, the relationship depending on a performed change of a signal that is generated by the field device and output from the monitor device before the signal is output from a monitor device.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor comprises a nuclear reactor core disposed in a pressure vessel. An isolation valve protects a penetration through the pressure vessel. The isolation valve comprises: a mounting flange connecting with a mating flange of the pressure vessel; a valve seat formed into the mounting flange; and a valve member movable between an open position and a closed position sealing against the valve seat. The valve member is disposed inside the mounting flange or inside the mating flange of the pressure vessel. A biasing member operatively connects to the valve member to bias the valve member towards the open position. The bias keeps the valve member in the open position except when a differential fluid pressure across the isolation valve and directed outward from the pressure vessel exceeds a threshold pressure.

Abstract: A method for operating a steam turbine where steam turbine has at least two sub-turbines, wherein the steam turbine is paired with a steam turbine controller which has a sub-turbine controller for each of the sub-turbines, and each sub-turbine controller compares respective target values with respective actual values of the respective sub-turbine during operation in order to determine a respective control deviation for each sub-turbine.

Abstract: A method for operating a steam turbine where steam turbine has at least two sub-turbines, wherein the steam turbine is paired with a steam turbine controller which has a sub-turbine controller for each of the sub-turbines, and each sub-turbine controller compares respective target values with respective actual values of the respective sub-turbine during operation in order to determine a respective control deviation for each sub-turbine.

Abstract: The present application provides a steam turbine system. The steam turbine system may include a rotor, a high pressure section positioned about the rotor, one or more high pressure extraction conduits extending from the high pressure section, a high pressure control valve positioned on each of the high pressure extraction conduits, an intermediate pressure section positioned about the rotor, one or more intermediate pressure extraction conduits extending from the intermediate pressure section, an intermediate pressure control valve positioned on each of the intermediate pressure extraction conduits, and a controller in communication with the high pressure control valves and the intermediate pressure control valves and operable to selectively adjust respective positions of the high pressure control valves and the intermediate pressure control valves to balance thrust acting on the rotor.

Abstract: A refrigerating system according to the invention includes a refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor, a condenser/gascooler, an intermediate pressure container, at least one evaporator and a respective expansion device before said at least one evaporator, and refrigerant pipes connecting said elements and circulating a refrigerant therethrough; a high pressure regulating device between the condenser/gascooler and the intermediate pressure container, expanding the refrigerant from a high pressure level to an intermediate pressure level; an intermediate pressure sensor sensing the intermediate pressure level; and a control unit controlling the high pressure regulating device. The control unit in operation limits the maximum refrigerant flow through the high pressure regulating device to a maximum flow value FMax, if the sensed intermediate pressure level exceeds a predetermined threshold value PIntTh.

Abstract: A method for expanding a gas flow between an inlet for the supply of the gas flow at certain inlet conditions of inlet pressure and inlet temperature and an outlet for the delivery of expanded gas at certain desired outlet conditions of outlet pressure and outlet temperature, whereby this method at least comprises the step of at least partly expanding the gas flow between the inlet and the outlet through a pressure reducing valve and at least partly expanding it through a pressure reducing unit with a rotor driven by the gas for converting the energy contained in the gas into mechanical energy on this shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear plant in which the power of a nuclear reactor is controlled via demand of a connected electric grid. A naturally circulating nuclear reactor coolant loop is linked to a water/steam loop by means of a steam generator. The water/steam loop consists of an electric power generating unit and a water recirculating and steam control system. The generator is coupled to an external power grid. As power requirements of the grid change, a controller linked to the generator and a three way valve divides steam flow between the expansion turbine and a feedwater heater to boost or retard the power output. Altering the steam flow changes the pressure and temperature in the water/steam system and thus the coolant flow rate. The change in coolant flow allows the reactor core to regulate its reactivity to reach a state of equilibrium to the demand for electric power.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling a load generated by a power generating system may include controlling at least a portion of the system using model-based control techniques. The model-based control techniques may include a dynamic matrix controller (DMC) that receives a load demand and a process variable as inputs and generates a control signal based on the inputs and a stored model. The model may be configured based on parametric testing, and may be modifiable. Other inputs may also be used to determine the control signal. In an embodiment, a turbine is controlled by a first DMC and a boiler is controlled by a second DMC, and the control signals generated by the first and the second DMCs are used in conjunction to control the generated load. Techniques to move the power generating system from Proportional-Integral-Derivative based control to model-based control are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compressor system includes a first compressor having a first variable diffuser having a diffuser area; a second compressor having a second variable diffuser having a diffuser area; a third compressor configured to compress fluid discharged by the second compressor; a fourth compressor configured to compress fluid discharged by the third compressor; a fifth compressor configured to compress fluid discharged by the fourth compressor; a first channel configured to connect an outlet of the second compressor to an inlet of the third compressor; a first valve provided to the first channel; a second channel configured to connect the outlet of the second compressor to the inlet of the third compressor; a second valve provided to the second channel; a first intercooler; a second intercooler and a controller configured to control the first valve, the second valve, the first variable diffuser, and the second variable diffuser.

Abstract: An automatic adaptation of a control of a technical system, in particular of a power plant, is provided. Control circuits are created for controlling the technical system, wherein at least one control circuit and a second control circuit are coupled using a decoupling member. The decoupling member has at least one adaptable parameter. The at least one adaptable parameter of the decoupling member is automatically adapted in an online operation of the technical system to an actual, dynamic process behavior of the technical system, i.e., automatic online adaptation.

Abstract: An energy management system uses an expert engine and a numerical solver to determine an optimal manner of using and controlling the various energy consumption, producing and storage equipment in a plant/communities in order to for example reduce energy costs within the plant, and is especially applicable to plants that require or that are capable of using and/or producing different types of energy at different times. The energy management system operates the various energy manufacturing and energy usage components of the plant to minimize the cost of energy over time, or at various different times, while still meeting certain constraints or requirements within the operational system, such as producing a certain amount of heat or cooling, a certain power level, a certain level of production, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a steam turbine power plant adapted to start operating safely even if prediction accuracy of its startup constraints cannot be obtained. The system calculates predictive values and current values of startup constraints of a steam turbine from process variables of plant physical quantities, next calculates in parallel both a first control input variable for a heat medium flow controller based on predictive values, and a second control input variable for a main steam control valve based on the current values, and while preferentially selecting the first control input variable, if the first control input variable is not calculated, selects the second control input variable instead. After the selection of at least one of the first and second control input variables, the system outputs an appropriate command value to the heat medium flow controller and the main steam control valve according to the kind of selected control input variable.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems for controlling the flow of main steam from a high-pressure (HP) turbine to a turbine packing. In some cases, a system is disclosed including: a high pressure (HP) turbine including a plurality of stages, the plurality of stages including an early stage, a middle stage and a later stage; an intermediate pressure (IP) turbine operably connected with the HP turbine; a packing separating the HP turbine and the IP turbine; a main conduit fluidly connecting the middle stage of the HP turbine and the packing, the main conduit including a main valve; and a bypass conduit fluidly connected to the main conduit and bypassing the main valve, the bypass conduit including: a blocking valve; and an opening between the blocking valve and a downstream connection with the main conduit.

Abstract: A steam turbine plant activation control device is provided, which generates an activation schedule that enables a reduction in a time period required for the activation of a steam turbine plant without complex calculation such as prediction and calculation of a temperature and calculation of thermal stress.

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 blade vibration monitor backpressure limiting system (BVMBLS), that in addition to direct blade vibration and condenser backpressure monitoring utilizes other plural types of other parallel, real time monitored power plant operation state (OS) information that influences blade vibration. The system references previously stored information in an information storage device that associates respective types of monitored OS information with blade vibration. The BVMBLS determines in real time a likelihood of whether any of the monitored operation states, alone or in combination with other types of monitored operation states, is indicative of a turbine blade vibration safe operation (SO). The BVMBLS determination is utilized to increase or reduce power generation load incrementally so that power efficiency and maximum load is enhanced while turbine blade vibration is maintained in a safe operation state. The previously stored information is updated to new association information.

Abstract: Provided is a steam turbine plant activation control device that can flexibly handle an initial state amount of a steam turbine plant and activate a steam turbine at a high speed. The activation control device 21 for the steam turbine plant includes a heat source device 1 configured to heat a low-temperature fluid using a heat source medium and generate a high-temperature fluid, a steam generator 2 for generating steam by thermal exchange with the high-temperature fluid, a steam turbine 3 to be driven by the steam, and adjusters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 configured to adjust operation amounts of the plant.

Abstract: Providing a steam turbine power plant that can be safely activated at a high speed while maintaining thermal stress at a level equal to or lower than a limit in consideration of operational results of the plant, and a method for activating the steam turbine power plant.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for operating a steam turbine power plant, and also a device for generating steam for the purpose of power generation. The method for operating a steam turbine power plant comprises at least one steam generator which is fired with a solid, granular fuel, for example with brown coal, wherein the fuel is first subject to an indirect drying in a fluidized bed drier and the fluidized bed drier is at least partially heated with steam from the water-steam cycle of the steam generator. The method is characterized in that temperature controlling in the drier is carried out in two stages in dependence upon the moisture content of the fuel, wherein first of all the temperature of the fluidized bed drier is controlled via the steam pressure of the heating steam and downstream of this controlling, a controlling of the superheating temperature of the heating steam is carried out in dependence upon the steam pressure.

Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device provided with a Rankine cycle, capable of preventing opportunities for actuating the Rankine cycle from being decreased and capable of efficiently operating the Rankine cycle. An exhaust heat recovery device 1 recovering and using exhaust heat of an engine 10 includes: a Rankine cycle 2 including a heater 22, an expander 23, a condenser 24, and a pump 25; a bypass flow passage 26 allowing the refrigerant to circulate while bypassing the expander 23; a bypass valve 27 opening and closing the bypass flow passage 26; and a control unit 4. When starting up the Rankine cycle 2, the control unit 4 executes start-up control of the Rankine cycle 2 in which the pump 25 is actuated with the bypass valve 27 open and then the bypass valve 27 is closed.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle apparatus (1A) of the present disclosure includes a main circuit (10), a heat exchange portion (HX), a bypass flow path (20), a flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3), and a pair of temperature sensors (7A). The main circuit (10) is formed by an expander (11), a condenser (13), a pump (14), and an evaporator (15) that are circularly connected in this order. The heat exchange portion (HX) is located in the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the pump (14). The bypass flow path (20) branches from the main circuit (10) at a position between an outlet of the evaporator (15) and an inlet of the expander (11), and joins to the main circuit (10) at a position between the outlet of the expander (11) and an inlet of the heat exchange portion (HX). The flow rate-adjusting mechanism (3) adjusts the flow rate of the working fluid in the bypass flow path (20).

Abstract: A power generation system in which a thermally expandable fluid, e.g., R134a, CO2, is circulated in a loop between a first location and a second location, the second location being at a higher elevation than the first location. The fluid is heated at the first location to expand it, so that it rises to the second location where it is cooled and contracted. The cooled fluid, being denser, then falls back to the first location under hydrostatic pressure, causing a circular fluid flow. This flow is used to generate power in a power transfer system. The system is regulated so that the fluid does not flash to a vapor, i.e., the fluid does not change state, which improves the efficiency of the system. The system is suitable for use in any situation where a height difference exists, and is particularly suited for geothermal heating sources.

Abstract: A power generation control system includes a converter and a controller. The converter controls a generator of a Rankine cycle system, the Rankine cycle system including an expander, the generator, which is interconnected to the expander, a pump which feeds a working fluid, and an evaporator which evaporates a working fluid. The controller causes the converter to execute, in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system, first control in at least one of a startup operation and a shutdown operation of the Rankine cycle system such that the expander is prevented from expanding a working fluid if the working fluid at an outlet of the evaporator contains a liquid component while the pump is operating.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a heat engine system containing working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) within high and low pressure sides of a working fluid circuit and a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source to the working fluid. The heat engine system further contains an expander for converting a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy, a shaft coupled to the expander and configured to drive a device (e.g., generator or pump) with the mechanical energy, a recuperator for transferring thermal energy between the high and low pressure sides, and a cooler for removing thermal energy from the working fluid in the low pressure side. The heat engine system also contains a pump for circulating the working fluid, a mass management system (MMS) fluidly connected to the working fluid circuit, and a supply tank fluidly connected to the MMS by a supply line.

Abstract: A waste heat steam generator for a gas and steam turbine power plant is provided. The generator has economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces which form a flow path and through which a flow medium flows. An overflow line branches off from the flow path and leads to injection valves arranged downstream at a flow side of a superheater heating surface in the flow path. The overflow line permits a brief power increase of a downstream steam turbine without resulting in an excessive loss in efficiency of the steam process. The brief power increase is permitted independently of the type of waste heat steam generator. The branch location of the overflow line is arranged upstream of an evaporator heating surface at the flow medium side and downstream of an economizer heating surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for model based steam flow control to and/or through a steam turbine component are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: at least one computing device configured to control a steam flow in a power generation system by performing actions comprising: generating a flow model for the steam flow based at least in part on operational data about the steam flow in the power generation system; and adjusting a characteristic of the steam flow based upon the flow model.

Abstract: A start control unit for a steam turbine plant, wherein inputting a measured value of a steam temperature fed to a steam turbine, a measured value or an estimated value of a rotor temperature of the steam turbine, and a measured value of a casing temperature of the steam turbine, and controlling a steam flow rate so as to increase the steam flow rate fed to the steam turbine when a difference between the steam temperature and the rotor temperature is smaller than a first regulated value and a difference between the rotor temperature and the casing temperature is a second regulated value or larger.

Abstract: A steam engine and an electric motor are arranged, which respectively drives an air compressor. The compressed air from the air compressor is supplied to a compressed air using device through a common air tank. The steam is supplied to the steam engine through a steam supply path, and the steam used in the steam engine is supplied to a steam using device through a steam exhaust path. The steam pressure is monitored by a pressure sensor arranged in a steam header ahead of the steam exhaust path. The air pressure is monitored by a pressure sensor arranged in an air tank. A steam supply valve is controlled based on the steam pressure and the air pressure, and the electric motor is controlled based on the air pressure. The steam engine is preferentially driven over the electric motor by shifting the target value of the air pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cryogenic thermal energy conversion that include the use of a heat engine in the regasification process for cryogenic liquids such that energy is created while regasifying the cryogenic liquid and no additional heat component is required.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system uses a receiver with a maximum liquid working fluid level lower than the minimum liquid working fluid level of a sub-cooler of the waste heat recovery system. The receiver may have a position that is physically lower than the sub-cooler's position. A valve controls transfer of fluid between several of the components in the waste heat recovery system, especially from the receiver to the sub-cooler. The system may also have an associated control module.

Abstract: A method is provided for connecting at least one further steam generator to a first steam generator in a power plant. The power plant includes at least two steam generators and a steam turbine, in which a fluid used to drive the steam turbine is conveyed in a fluid circuit having a plurality of steam systems. The steam systems are assigned individual steam generators and are able to be separated from one another by shut-off valves. The fluid of at least the first steam generator is connected to the steam turbine. The method involves opening the shut-off valve of at least one first steam system of the at least one further steam generator before the steam of the at least one further steam generator has reached approximately the same steam parameters as the steam of the first steam generator, so that steam can flow into the further steam generator.

Abstract: A pressure sensor measures an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) working fluid pressure in front of a radial inflow turbine, while a temperature sensor measures an ORC working fluid temperature in front of the radial inflow turbine. A controller responsive to algorithmic software determines a superheated temperature of the working fluid in front of the radial inflow turbine based on the measured working fluid pressure and the measured working fluid temperature. The controller then manipulates the speed of a working fluid pump, the pitch of turbine variable inlet guide vanes when present, and combinations thereof, in response to the determined superheated temperature to maintain the superheated temperature of the ORC working fluid in front of the radial inflow turbine close to a predefined set point. The superheated temperature can thus be maintained in the absence of sensors other than pressure and temperature sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method of converting a portion of the specific energy of a fluid in gas phase into mechanical work are described, the apparatus (1) comprising: at least one housing (3, 3?) which is provided with at least one gas-supply portion (7, T) and at least one exhaust portion (9, 9?)/each of the at least one housing (3, 3?) comprising: a blade wheel (5) which is rotatably arranged in the housing (3, 3?) and which includes: a shaft (51) enclosed by a drum (53); at least two blades (55) which are movably arranged to the drum (53) so that a portion (57) of the blades (55) is arranged to be moved towards the internal casing surface (31) of the housing (3, 3?) in such a way that the drum (53), the internal casing surface (31) of the housing (3) and the blades (55) define chambers (59) arranged to contain gas, an effective area of a blade (55) which is immediately upstream of the exhaust portion (9, 9?) being larger than an effective area of a blade (55) which is immediately upstream of the gas-supply

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a waste heat recovery (WHR) system and to a system and method for regulation of a fluid inventory in a condenser and a receiver of a Rankine cycle WHR system. Such regulation includes the ability to regulate the pressure in a WHR system to control cavitation and energy conversion.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus that suppress cavitation includes a first on/off valve provided between a steam generator and an expander in a circulating channel; a bypass channel connected between an area between the steam generator and the first on/off valve and an area between the expander and a condenser; a second on/off valve provided in the bypass channel; a third on/off valve provided between a pump and the steam generator; and a controller. When stopping the pump, the controller outputs a control signal that stops the pump, a control signal that closes the first on/off valve, a control signal that opens the second on/off valve, and a control signal that closes the third on/off valve. In the case where a predetermined condition has been met, the controller outputs a control signal that closes the second on/off valve.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus including a boiler feedwater pump turbine control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a power generation apparatus is disclosed, including: a boiler feedwater pump turbine having a low pressure steam inlet and a high pressure steam inlet; a high pressure control valve for controlling admission of high pressure steam to the high pressure steam inlet; a low pressure control valve for controlling admission of low pressure steam to the low pressure steam inlet; and a control system operably coupled to the high pressure control valve and the low pressure control valve, the control system configured to close the low pressure control valve and prevent flow of the low pressure steam to the boiler feedwater pump turbine in response to a request for increased power output from a power grid.

Abstract: A system and process for generation of electrical power is provided. Electrical power is generated by a system including two integrated power cycles, a first power cycle utilizing water/steam as a working fluid and the second power cycle utilizing a fluid selected from the group consisting of molecular nitrogen, argon, a chemical compound having a boiling point of at most 65° C. at 0.101 MPa and a latent heat of vaporization of at least 350 kJ/kg, and a chemical compound having a boiling point of at most 65° C. at 0.101 MPa and a specific heat capacity as a liquid of at least 1.9 kJ/kg-° K as a working fluid. The working fluid of the second power cycle is expanded through a two-phase expander to produce power in the second power cycle, where the expanded working fluid of the second cycle has a temperature of at most 10° C.

Abstract: In a method for recovering energy from the heat dissipated by an internal combustion engine and to an internal combustion engine wherein the pressure and temperature of a liquid working medium are increased from a lower process pressure and a first temperature to an upper process pressure at which the working fluid is heated to a second temperature whereby it is converted to a gaseous phase; the working medium is then expanded back to the lower process pressure whereby mechanical power is generated and the working medium is converted back to a liquid phase, the upper process pressure being adjusted in such a way that the working medium is expanded into the wet steam area close to the saturated steam limit.

Abstract: In a steam power plant, a first cooling circuit includes a condenser for condensing steam and a first pump for pumping a first cooling fluid through the condenser in order to cool the condenser. A third cooling circuit is a closed cycle cooling circuit that utilizes a second cooling fluid for cooling down at least one component that is different from the condenser. A second cooling circuit includes a heat exchanger that thermally couples the first cooling fluid and the second cooling fluid and utilizes the first cooling fluid in the heat exchanger for cooling down the second fluid and further includes a second pump for pumping the first cooling fluid through the second cooling circuit independently from an operation of the first pump.

Abstract: In a power generation apparatus, a working medium is evaporated in an evaporator using a heating medium supplied from outside, and the evaporated working medium is subsequently introduced into an expander, which is connected to an electric generator, to convert a thermal expansion force of the working medium into a rotation force inside the expander for generation of electric power. Then, the working medium exhausted from the expander is fed into a condenser in which the working medium is condensed by cooling the working medium with a coolant medium supplied from outside, and the condensed working medium is pressurized by a circulating pump to resupply the evaporator with the pressurized working medium. In the power generation apparatus, when a condensing pressure in the condenser is high, a rotational speed of the circulating pump and a suction volume of the evaporator are increased.

Abstract: A steam turbine installation that has a steam turbine, a steam generator and a feed water pre-heating unit operated by process steam is provided. The steam turbine has an overload bypass line with which main steam can be fed to the feed water pre-heating unit between the steam turbine input and the extraction point during overload operation of the steam turbine, wherein the feed water pre-heating unit has an auxiliary extraction line that is connected to the overload bypass line in such a way that process steam can be extracted from the steam turbine during partial load operation of the steam turbine and added to the feed water pre-heating unit for the additional pre-heating of feed water.

Abstract: Embodiments of an ORC system can be configured to reduce ingress of contaminants from the ambient environment. In one embodiment, the ORC system can comprise a pressure equilibrating unit that comprises a variable volume device for holding a working fluid. The variable volume device can be fluidly coupled to a condenser so that working fluid can move amongst the condenser and the variable volume device. This movement can occur in response to changes in the pressure of the working fluid in the ORC system, and in one example the working fluid is allowed to move when the pressure deviates from atmospheric pressure.