Abstract: A waste heat recovery apparatus including a Rankine cycle which includes a heater for heating an operation fluid by waste heat from a heat-generating device, an expansion unit for converting energy of expansion of the operation fluid flowing out from the heater into mechanical energy, and a condenser for condensing and liquefying the expanded operation fluid, a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the operation fluid on the inlet side of the expansion unit, a pressure detector for detecting inlet-side pressure of the expansion unit, a pressure detector for detecting outlet-side pressure of the expansion unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls a command rotational speed of the expansion unit based on superheated degree information at the inlet of the expansion unit obtained from the operation fluid temperature and the inlet-side pressure, and pressure information in which the outlet-side pressure is considered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow control device for controlling fluid flow into a turbine, said turbine comprising: a stator comprising a plurality of vanes extending radially inwards from a casing and arranged to define therebetween a plurality of nozzles extending radially inwards from casing; a rotor located in a fluid flow direction downstream of said stator and comprising a plurality of blades extending radially from said turbine shaft, wherein said fluid is arranged to be admitted to said turbine upstream of said stator and to flow around said plurality of vanes through said plurality of nozzles for impingement upon said plurality of blades of said rotor; and flow control means arranged to control a nozzle area open for fluid flow by altering the radial length of at least one of said plurality of nozzles, said flow control means comprising: an actuating means comprising a plurality of arcuate plates located within a peripheral cavity in a housing of said turbine such that a longer curved edge of ea

Abstract: A storage power station (S), for example an air storage plant, that includes a compressor unit (V), a turbine unit (T) and a storage volume (100) can be operated using a specific method of operation, which allows as fast a reaction as possible to changes in the load demands. Rapid changes in the load demands can be satisfied by controlling the power consumption of the compressor unit (V), which results in a variable net power output, with the power output from the turbine unit (T) remaining constant. The power of the compressor unit can be controlled approximately one order of magnitude more quickly than the power generation machine can be controlled. In the extreme, the compressor unit can simply be shut down, thus resulting in its drive power becoming available to an electricity grid within seconds. During this process, the turbine unit can continue to operate normally, and can slowly follow the power demand, thus reducing the load on the turbine.

Abstract: A method of detecting water induction in a steam turbine that may include the steps of: measuring the temperature of one of the steam lines of the steam turbine at regular intervals; recording the temperature measurements; and determining, from the recorded temperature measurements, whether there has been a sharp decrease followed by a gradual rise in the temperature of the steam line. The method further may include the steps of calculating the rate of change of the decrease in temperature of the steam line and the rate of change of the increase in temperature of the steam line. The sharp decrease followed by a gradual rise in the temperature of the steam line may include a decrease in temperature followed by an increase in temperature wherein the rate of change of the decrease in temperature exceeds the rate of change of the rise in temperature.

Abstract: A device for utilizing waste heat from a heat engine comprises a Rankine cycle including a pump, a heating device, an expansion device, and a condenser device, and a controller for controlling an operation of the Rankine cycle. The controller calculates an optimum heat collection amount (Qho) as a heat value to be collected from waste heat of the engine, wherein the heat collection amount (Qho) is calculated as an optimum amount in relation to a potential maximum heat radiation amount (Qco) to be radiated at the condenser device. The controller calculates an optimum flow amount (G) of refrigerant corresponding to the optimum heat collection amount (Qho), so that a maximum driving power (L) is generated at the expansion device.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system of an engine has a cooling water circuit and a Rankine cycle. Cooling water is circulated between the engine and a radiator in the cooling water circuit. The Rankine cycle has a heater and an expansion device. The heater performs heat exchange between the cooling water heated by the engine and an operation fluid so as to heat the operation fluid in the Rankine cycle. The expansion device expands the heated operation fluid, so as to generate driving power. The heater is arranged in a bypass circuit so as to be in parallel with the radiator with respect to the cooling water flow. Thus, waste heat of the cooling water heated by the engine can be effectively recovered without reducing a cooling capacity of the radiator.

Abstract: A control method for boiler outlet temperatures includes predictive control of SH and RH desuperheater systems. The control method also includes control and optimization of steam generation conditions, for a boiler system, such as burner tilt and intensity, flue-gas recirculation, boiler fouling, and other conditions for the boiler. The control method assures a proportional-valve control action in the desuperheater system, that affects the boiler system.

Abstract: A steam turbine plant includes an extraction system and a control system for controlling the steam extraction. The extraction system includes an extraction steam flowmeter and a stop valve. The control system sets a warning flow and an extracted steam stop flow for the extracted steam. When the extracted steam flow reaches the warning flow, a warning is issued and after a lapse of a predetermined time period, the stop valve is opened to restrict the extracted steam flow. When the extracted steam flow reaches the extracted steam stop flow, the stop valve is closed to stop steam extraction. A steam turbine plant can thus exercise extraction control to stably supply extracted steam while avoiding turbine trip, even if not equipped with a high-performance and expensive valve device such as an extraction steam control valve.

Abstract: This invention relates to a speed monitor apparatus for monitoring speed and acceleration of rotating turbine equipment (turbomachinery) and for operating an overspeed trip to shut down the equipment in the event that the speed or acceleration exceed predetermined thresholds. The invention provides a speed monitor module having an output switch comprising a plurality of armature clamped relays such that first armatures form a first electrical path only when both first armatures are open or when both first armatures are closed and second armatures provide a second electrical path when either or both second armatures are open or closed such that the second electrical path is discontinuous when either first armature is stuck in an open or closed position causing either second armature to remain floating between an open and closed position.

Abstract: A method for controlling a turbine-generator including: detecting a power-load unbalance between a turbine and a generator; measuring the duration of a power-load unbalance; measuring the rate of loss of an electrical load; and regulating steam flow through the turbine responsive to the rate of loss of an electrical load and the duration of the power-load unbalance; all of which results in more accurate and robust control of turbine-generator speed.

Abstract: The present invention involves a system for controlling the electric charge within the exhaust hood and condenser of a steam turbine by using shaft current as an indirect measurement of exhaust charge, and then adjusting the pH accordingly. The present invention uses the turbine-generator shaft 12 instead of a probe, and therefore measures the potential of the current in the shaft to the ground. This measurement 32 is then fed into a control unit 40 which adjusts the chemical feed 42 to the feedwater supply 44 of the steam turbine system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting a differential in thermal energy between a first thermal source having a thermal conducting fluid and a second thermal source having a thermal conducting fluid is provided. The apparatus emplys a first vessel and a second vessel. Each of the vessels contain a gas under pressure The vessels contain heat exchanging coils that are connected to the thermal sources by fluid lines. A plurality of cooperating valves regulate the flow of the thermal conducting fluid from the first and second thermal sources to the first and second vessels. The valves alternate between first and second operating positions. In the first position, the valves permit a flow of thermal conducting fluid from the first thermal source to the first vessel and from the second thermal source to the second vessel and prevent a flow of thermal conducting fluid from the first thermal source to the second vessel and from the second thermal source to the first vessel.

Abstract: A logic boiler that consists of a concentrated solar energy boiler, a thermal storage system, and a traditional fossil fuel boiler is replacement of the traditional fossil fuel boiler in a power plant for solar thermal electric power generation. The thermal storage system or fossil fuel boiler compensates the output steam of the solar energy boiler to provide on demand, reliable and regulated steam for steam turbine. The controls sequences provide results that maximize the output of the solar boiler while provide the regulated and fast responded steam to the turbine. The control sequences also provide an algorithm to store excessive thermal energy from the solar energy boiler into the thermal storage system. The power plant sees the logic boiler as a conventional boiler without knowing the details of working sequences between the solar boiler and fossil fuel boiler or thermal storage.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for synchronizing an induction machine to an electrical grid. The embodiment described is an ORC power plant having a motor-generator in mechanical communication with a turbine. The motor-generator is operated with open windings (e.g., freewheeling) by driving the turbine with a variable speed pump. The rotational speed of the motor-generator is sensed. When the motor-generator is operating at a rotational speed near the steady state rotational speed that corresponds to operation of the ORC power plant, the contacts between the motor-generator windings and the grid are closed, and the motor is synchronized with the grid.

Abstract: A plant-operation-schedule optimization system includes a data inputting device transmitting a future operation planned value of at least one plant to be controlled; an operation-data inputting device transmitting operation data concerning the plant; and an operation-schedule calculating unit receiving the operation planned value and the operation data concerning the plant from the data inputting device and the operation data inputting device, respectively, to calculate an optimized operation schedule of the plant. The operation-schedule calculating unit includes an optimization calculator calculating the optimized operation schedule; and a database storing the kind of an operation mode, an operation pattern, and an operation cost according to the operation mode of the plant. The data stored in the database is referred to in the calculation of the optimized operation schedule in the optimization calculator.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for smoothly starting and controlling an ORC power plant. The system comprises a cascaded closed loop control that accounts for the lack of relationship between pump speed and pressure at startup so as to control pump speed and pressure, and that smoothly transitions into a steady state regime as a stable operating condition of the system is attained. The cascaded loop receives signals corresponding to a superheat setpoint, a pressure at an evaporator exit, and a temperature at an evaporator exit, and controls the pump speed and pressure upon startup to provide smooth operation. The system and method can further comprise a feed-forward control loop to deal with conditions at start-up and when external disturbances are applied to the ORC power plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reciprocating engine and a working fluid inlet system therefore. The engine includes at least one cylinder with a reciprocating piston therein and a variable volume expansion chamber capable of receiving a working fluid via an inlet valve. The inlet system includes a pilot valve having an open condition and a closed condition. In the open condition, the secondary fluid passes therethrough to act on the inlet valve. The system also includes an actuating means for controlling the condition of the pilot valve. The inlet valve is adapted to open in response to the action of the secondary fluid. The engine may also include exhaust means, possibly by porting in the piston and a cylinder wall. The working fluid may be used as the secondary fluid.

Abstract: A steam transformer (200) receives steam through a steam inlet (203), and the steam is mixed in a mixing zone (231) with water entering through a water inlet (205). Steam cooled by contact with the water exits the steam transformer through a cold steam outlet (216). Between the mixing zone (231) and the cold steam outlet (216) is positioned a demister (214) that restricts the passage of water droplets. The steam transformer (200) is used to condition the steam temperature in steam turbine and combined cycle turbine facilities when adjustment of steam temperature is required, such as for cold starts of turbines. The steam transformer (200) may be installed into a bypass circuit or directly inline. A number of differing configurations and designs are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a large-scale industrial facility, especially a power plant, consisting of m subassemblies (BGj), wherein j=1(1)m) and wherein the following steps are successively carried out: comparing the parameters (KGj) of all subassemblies (BG1 to BGj) with predetermined reference values (RWj); detecting the subassemblies (Bgi) with i=1(1)m, whose parameters (KG1) are worse than the reference values (RWi) and optimizing the subassemblies (BG1) whose parameters (KGi) are worse than the reference values (RW1).

Abstract: In the control of feedwater to the steam generator in a power plant comprising one steam generator and a plurality of turbine plants, the water level in the steam generator and the flow rate balance between the steam flow rate and the feedwater flow rate of each turbine plant will be stabilized. In the power plant comprising one steam generator and a plurality of turbine plants combined, the control in the feedwater controller of the first turbine plant (main turbine plant) is normal control, that is, to control the feedwater control valve through the use of detection signals from the steam generator level detecting unit, the main steam flow detecting unit and the feedwater flow detecting unit of the first turbine plant, and the control in the feedwater controller of the second turbine plant (duplicate turbine plant) is to control the feedwater control valve through the use of a detection signal from the condenser level detecting unit of the first turbine plant.

Abstract: For regulating the power output of a combined-cycle power station, that power output fraction which is allocated to the uncoupling of distance heat is determined as a second desired value by adopting the mass flow or mass flows of a medium to be heated through one or more heating condensers and the forward-flow and return-flow temperatures of the medium to be heated which occur at the same time. The quantities can be determined in a simple way in the region of the uncoupling of the distance heat. Thus, complicated measurements in the region of a steam turbine, by which the heating condensers are supplied with heating steam, are avoided.

Abstract: A steam temperature control system for a power plant for controlling a temperature of steam flowing through steam pipes connected to a heat exchanger to a target temperature by spraying water by means of a spray valve of an attemperator, having a target temperature calculation section for calculating the target temperature of the steam for determining the target temperatures of the plural steam pipes connected to the heat exchanger in respective steam pipes connected to a common heat exchanger; and an instruction value calculation section for calculating command values to the spray valves disposed to the respective steam pipes, based on the target temperatures determined by the calculation in the target temperature calculating section.

Abstract: The invention is a positive displacement heat engine; where the engine cycle comprises the steps of Ericsson (isothermal) compression, recuperative heat addition, Brayton (adiabatic) expansion, and recuperative heat removal; whose principle is heat addition to the cycle by an afterburner in which fuel is burned with the low pressure air working fluid exhausted by the expander. The resulting combustion gases are used in a counterflow heat exchange recuperator to continually heat the high pressure air compressed by the compressor. All moving parts are only exposed to clean air, and the expander valves can be operated at temperatures comparable to current internal combustion engines. Liquid, solid or gaseous fuels can be used and control of speed and power is simple, based on keeping engine temperatures constant. The low-pressure continuous combustion avoids fuel pressurization problems and allows high efficiency, low emission combustion processes.

Abstract: Evaporator temperature control means (U) that, in order to make the temperature of steam generated by heating water using exhaust gas of an engine coincide with a target temperature, controls the amount of water supplied to the evaporator based on the flow rate of the exhaust gas, the temperature of the exhaust gas, the temperature of the water, and the temperature of the steam. Calculating an exhaust gas flow rate (Gmix) based on a fuel injection quantity, an air/fuel ratio, and a rotational speed of the engine improves the precision and the responsiveness of the calculation. Controlling the amount of water supplied to the evaporator based on this exhaust gas flow rate (Gmix) therefore improves the accuracy with which the steam temperature is controlled so as to make it coincide with the target temperature.

Abstract: A stem engine has a fluid container, a heating device and a cooling device. The fluid container has an outer pipe having an upper closed end, and an inner pipe provided in the outer pipe and having a fluid inlet port through which the inside of the inner pipe is operatively communicated with the outside of the inner pipe. The inner pipe has a pressure control device at its lower end, and a fluid injection port at its upper end for injecting the working fluid in the inner pipe into a space defined between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, when the pressure in the inner pipe is increased. The working fluid injected into the space between the inner and outer pipes is heated and vaporized by the heating device, so that volumetric expansion of the working fluid takes place to increase fluid pressure in the fluid container. The vaporized steam is then cooled and liquidized by the cooling device and thereby the volumetric contraction takes place, so that the fluid pressure is decreased.

Abstract: A system for the control of an indirectly heated gas turbine comprising a primary system of controlling the temperature of heated compressed gas entering the expander, and an independent secondary system which includes a safety valve for instantaneous release of heated compressed gas to the atmosphere. The primary system controls system gas temperature and power output by modulating a flow of unheated compressed gas which bypasses the heat exchanger and mixes with the heated gas leaving the heat exchanger to produce a lower temperature gas entering the expander. The secondary system provides a backup means of overspeed prevention, and includes a safety valve to instantly discharge to the atmosphere hot compressed gas upstream of the expander by being responsive to the speed of the turbine. The safety valve includes a frangible membrane clamped between parallel flanges within the ducting, and further includes a dagger assembly for rupturing the membrane.

Abstract: An engine generator apparatus controls the air-fuel ratio in response to the stable output of an oxygen sensor. When a system protector 138 detects a disorder in a power network, it outputs failure signal. A connection relay 135 is opened in response to the failure signal to release connection of a generator to the power network to release load. When the failure signal is not detected, a load determination section 41 urges a proportional valve controller 40 and the controller 40 drives a valve 35 corresponding to the oxygen density to perform a control of the air-fuel ratio. The load determination section 41 determines that the load is released by the failure signal to send a notification of no load to the controller 40. The controller 40 stops the control of the air-fuel ratio based on the oxygen density in response to this notification.

Abstract: A combustion turbine power generating system and method in which the system includes a permanent magnet type AC power generator, a combustion turbine that drives the AC power generator, a first converter enabling conversion between AC current and DC current and having an AC side connected to the AC power generator, a second converter enabling conversion between AC current and DC current and having a DC side connected to a DC output side of the first converter, a capacitor connected between the first and second converters, a generator-speed control unit that controls the first converter and a DC voltage control unit that controls a DC-side voltage of the second converter. The generator-speed control unit controls the first converter on the basis of a number of revolution command value.

Abstract: A system (10) controlling operation of a steam turbine (T). Sensors (12) measure dynamic pressure level variations in a stage (S1-Sn) of the turbine. A signal (Ps) from a sensor is converted to a frequency based signal (Fs). A comparator (16) compares the pressure levels at various frequencies as represented by the frequency based signal (Fs) to a matrix of limiting values including both alarm and trip signal limits. The control system provides an alarm to an operator of the steam turbine if the comparison indicates that an alarm limit has been exceeded, or takes the steam turbine off line, if a trip signal limit has been exceeded. This is done to prevent damage to the steam turbine. However, the control system maintains the steam turbine in operation if no aeromechanical disturbances or instabilities, as sensed by the sensors, has occurred.

Abstract: A system for the control of an indirectly heated gas turbine comprising a primary system of controlling the temperature of heated compressed gas entering the expander, and an independent secondary system which includes a safety valve for instantaneous release of heated compressed gas to the atmosphere. The primary system controls system gas temperature and power output by modulating a flow of unheated compressed gas which bypasses the heat exchanger and mixes with the heated gas leaving the heat exchanger to produce a lower temperature gas entering the expander. The secondary system provides a backup means of overspeed prevention, and includes a safety valve to instantly discharge to the atmosphere hot compressed gas upstream of the expander by being responsive to the speed of the turbine. The safety valve includes a frangible membrane clamped between parallel flanges within the ducting, and further includes a dagger assembly for rupturing the membrane.

Abstract: In a vehicle designed so that a driven wheel is driven by uniting an output from an engine and an output from a Rankine cycle system to each other, an accelerator pedal and a throttle valve are connected electrically to each other by a DBW control unit. When an accelerator opening degree (&thgr;ap) commanded by a driver is increased, a throttle opening degree (&thgr;th) is increased by a correcting amount (&Dgr;&thgr;th) more than a value proportional to the accelerator opening degree (&thgr;ap), thereby compensating for an output shortage due to a response delay of the output from the Rankine cycle system. When the accelerator opening degree (&thgr;ap) commanded by the driver is decreased, the throttle opening degree (&thgr;th) is decreased by the correcting amount (&Dgr;&thgr;th) more than the value proportional to the accelerator opening degree (&thgr;ap), thereby compensating for an output excessiveness due to the response delay of the output from the Rankine cycle system.

Abstract: A combustion turbine power generating system includes an AC power generator, a combustion turbine that drives the AC power generator, a first converter that can make conversion between AC current and DC current and having an AC side connected to the AC power generator, a second converter that can make conversion between AC current and DC current and having a DC side connected to a DC output side of the first converter, a smoothing condenser connected between the first and second converters, a generator-speed control unit that controls the first converter and a DC voltage control unit that controls a DC-side voltage of the second converter, thereby the generator-speed control unit controls the first converter on the basis of the number of revolution command value.

Abstract: In a power plant including a plurality of parallel-operated generating elements supplying electricity and steam, boilers and turbines are controlled in an optimum condition depending on the successive changes of the demand for steam and electricity by: estimating parameters of characteristics and state of the generating elements, which cannot be directly measured, among parameters of the generating elements needed for calculation of the optimum load distribution for each of the generating elements, based on a physical model of each of the generating elements and an input process state quantity; and controlling each of the generating elements by determining an optimum load distribution for the each of the generating elements while using the estimated parameters of the each of the generating elements, to minimize a total cost of the power plant depending on the successive changes of the demand for steam and electricity.

Abstract: The invention is a reciprocating bottom cycle engine whose principal is heat addition by recovering heat from a top cycle engine through a counterflow heat exchange recuperator. The engine operation approximates the ideal bottom cycle for recovering heat from a top cycle: isothermal compression, recuperative heating, and constant entropy expansion. Such a cycle is capable of utilizing all the work potential between the hot top cycle exhaust and cool ambient temperature. Practical engines operating on this cycle do not achieve the ideal performance but are superior to Stirling or Ericsson Cycle engines in the amount of exhaust heat that can be converted to mechanical work and have been shown to be capable of enabling a typical natural gas fired engine to produce 17% more power from the same amount of fuel. All moving parts are lightly loaded and are only exposed to clean air, thus assuring long engine life with minimal maintenance.

Abstract: The thermal load to which a turbine is subjected is kept within an acceptable range by monitoring the change in temperature of the medium that is supplied to the turbine, especially fresh stream, over time. An emergency trip for the supply of fresh steam to the turbine preferably takes place if a maximum temperature gradient is exceeded.

Abstract: A steam turbine control device. A main steam system runs between a nuclear reactor and a steam turbine and includes a main steam isolation valve (MSIV), a main steam control valve, and a turbine by-pass system with a turbine by-pass valve A calculating means generates a main steam pressure control signal and a reactor dome pressure control signals. A pressure control signal changeover means changes a pressure control signal from the reactor dome pressure signal to the main steam pressure signal when the MSIV closes to restrain the abrupt decrease of steam in the main steam system effectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and apparatus for utilizing waste heat to power a reconfigurable thermodynamic cycle that can be used to selectively cool or heat an environmentally controlled space, such as a room or a building. The present invention also provides a method of controlling the system, while allowing large variations in the heat input energy rate. The system provides a design which reasonably balances the need to maximize efficiency, while also keeping the design cost effective.

Abstract: A ballast load control system and method is presented that regulates the output electrical power supplied by a turbo-generator such that appropriate turbine loading may be achieved. Such enables the use of a turbo-generator having an expansion turbine to be used to provide a controlled, required amount of cooling to a thermal control system. By effectively varying the coupled electrical load, the loading provided to the expansion turbine may be controlled while maintaining output power requirements to connected electrical utilization equipment. Use of a common system controller for both the cooling system and ballast trim load system of the present invention ensures coordinated operation between the required amount of cooling and electrical power quality supplied to the coupled utilization equipment.

Abstract: A thermal efficiency diagnostic of a combined power generation plant is performed by using measurement data relative to energy input/output of the respective equipment of the combined power generation plant, recording the design values of heat balance, using measurement data having high measuring accuracy as standard parameters, conducting an optimum state estimation by adjusting the key parameters, which largely affect the diagnostic results so as to be consistent with the standard parameters, so that each deviation of the reference parameters becomes minimum and the probability of the heat balance becomes maximum in a whole plant, comparing the heat balance thus determined with the heat balance based on a design value, analyzing the degree of contribution of performance of each equipment to the thermal efficiency and specifying the equipment which causes the thermal efficiency deterioration in accordance with the degree of contribution.

Abstract: A system and method for tuning a turbine comprises a turbine controller coupled to the turbine, a first computer system coupled to the turbine controller and located locally to the turbine, and a second computer system for exchanging data with the first computer system. The second computer system is located remotely from the turbine and exchanges data with the first computer system via a network connection such as the internet, an intranet or a virtual private network (VPN). Data relating to a characteristic such as turbine combustion dynamics and/or emissions is transmitted by the first computer system to the second computer system. The second computer system transmits control data over the network connection to the first computer to tune the turbine.

Abstract: A system for recovering and utilizing vapor from a source of vapor has a vapor holder for storing a quantity of vapor from the source of vapor. Also included is a condenser coupled to the vapor holder for receiving and condensing at least partially, vapor from the vapor holder. The system also has an engine and a generator driven by the engine for generating electrical power. The engine has an engine intake coupled to the condenser and an exhaust outlet. This engine is powered at least partially, by output from the condensing apparatus. The system also has a fuel adjustment apparatus and a fuel sensor apparatus. The fuel adjustment apparatus has a control input and is coupled between the engine and the condensing apparatus for adjusting fuel concentration into the engine intake in response to a signal on the control input.

Abstract: In a method for optimizing operation of fossil fuel based power plants, in which the economical effects of the changes of selected operational parameters are determined under consideration of the required economical expenditure, and, based on these additional operational costs, it is determined if, when, and/or what kind of measures should be taken for minimizing the additional operational costs. According to the method, the improvement measures are initiated as a function of the cause of the additional operational costs according to a hierarchal catalog of measures. The measures are: an immediate intervention into the operational course; a later measure implemented during a short shutdown; a later measure implemented during a service shutdown; and/or an operational downtime for a revision.

Abstract: To attain a high efficiency plant production activity and further to contribute to the earth environment protection, the disclosed plant operation control system, comprises means for producing energy in a plant; means for producing products in the plant by use of the energy produced by the energy producing means; means for scheduling energy production on the basis of the production schedule of the products; means for adjusting the energy production scheduled by the energy production scheduling means on the basis of information relative to the energy; and means for outputting the energy outside of the plant according to the energy production schedule adjusted by the energy production schedule adjusting means.

Abstract: A converter assembly for providing a liquid in a measuring line includes a stationary housing and a component being rigidly connected to the housing. A journal is slidingly supported in the stationary housing and defines a gap disposed between the component and the journal forming a throttle. The journal has an axis of rotation, an end, at least one transverse bore formed in the journal, and a journal bore formed in the journal from the end along the axis. The housing has a groove formed therein surrounding the journal and communicating with the journal bore through the at least one transverse bore. A liquid flow path communicates with a reservoir at a primary pressure and a pressureless sump and includes the throttle, the groove, the transverse bore and the journal bore. A measuring line branching off from the path between the transverse bore and the throttle carries the liquid at a measurement pressure corresponding to a rotational speed of the journal rotating about the axis.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle power plant has a vaporizer member responsive to heat input for vaporizing a working fluid and producing vaporized working fluid, a turbogenerator responsive to vaporized working fluid for generating power and producing heat depleted working fluid, a condenser member responsive to said heat depleted working fluid for condensing the same and producing condensate, and suitable piping for returning said condensate to the vaporizer. The working fluid is in the form of a liquid having a plurality of fractions; at least one fraction is distilled from said liquid to produce a distillated fluid. It is this distillated fluid that is supplied to the power plant as the working fluid.

Abstract: A method is provided for cooling a low pressure steam turbine operating in a ventilation mode. The low pressure steam turbine has a closable inlet through which steam can be delivered when operating in a power generation mode and which is blocked off when operating in ventilation mode, an outlet which communicates with a condenser for condensing the steam to condensate and a bleed port between the inlet and the outlet. A bleed pipe is connected to the bleed port for diverting steam and/or condensate during operation in the power generation mode. Steam is supplied through a steam transfer pipe to the bleed pipe in order to cool the low pressure steam turbine when operating in the ventilation mode. Condensate may also be supplied to the bleed pipe. The cooling effect in the low pressure steam turbine is largely limited to those components which suffer most when it is operating in the ventilation mode, and the cooling provisions are extracted from resources that are already available.

Abstract: A method for automated control of a steam turbine prewarming procedure employs fuzzy logic to generate a control signal for a turbine regulatory function, such as steam supply. The method includes the steps of determining a plurality of turbine condition parameter signals; generating a plurality of regulatory control directions; generating a weighting factor to be assigned to each of said regulatory control directions by means of a fuzzy inference calculation in accordance with an operator-selected fuzzy logic profile, and applying the weighting factors to the regulatory control directions to produce the turbine regulatory function control signal. The turbine regulatory function control signal is applied to a respective function controller in the steam plant such that the selected turbine prewarming profile is implemented.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling the acceleration of a turbine-generator or limiting the load of the turbine-generator if a cooling regulator which regulates the cooling of the turbine-generator or auxiliary components is determined to be off-line.

Abstract: In a plant for which process control is made, a margin of an operation allowable limit for a process variable is variably established according to situations for each apparatus constituting the plant. In addition, allowable upper limits of operation considering a life consumption state and an operation schedule of each apparatus are established for respective apparatus on the basis of a life of the whole plant. The life of each apparatus and the life of the whole plant are controlled with a goal to expire all equipment substantially at the same time by reflecting the allowable operating conditions of the apparatus constituting the plant on the plant control. Therefore, it is possible to realize rational and useful plant operation.

Abstract: An automatic control system for a thermal power plant comprises a master controller controlling a turbine in response to an externally applied load command signal, and producing a boiler input command signal by correcting the load command signal on the basis of the detected pressure of main steam generated from a boiler, and a water/steam process controller, a fuel process controller, a combustion process controller and a draft process controller to all of which the boiler input command signal is applied from the master controller. The process controllers apply control signals to equipments controlling a water/steam process, a fuel process, a combustion process and a draft process respectively among the terminal actuating equipments of the various parts of the boiler.