Abstract: At least one heat exchanger section including a conventional heat exchanger is disposed in a dual purpose steam turbine power plant to utilize steam extracted from the steam turbine to one section of the heat exchanger for the purposes of heating process fluid of an industrial process which is conducted through another section of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger section disclosed herein is comprised of apparatus for controlling the pressure of the extracted turbine steam conducted through the one section of the heat exchanger by regulating the temperature of the industrial fluid supplied to the other section of the heat exchanger. More specifically, the heat exchanger section includes at least one conduit path for returning heated process fluid from an output end to an input end of the heat exchanger section to mix with the process fluid supplied at the input end. A flow control valve is disposed in the conduit path for regulating the flow of returned fluid to the input end.

Abstract: A steam engine wherein the inlet and relief valves are subjected to balanced stresses and the pressure of steam is maintained above the critical point. The engine can be braked electrically, mechanically and with steam; the braking with steam takes place subsequent to the application of electrical and mechanical brakes. The engine is equipped with arrangements for venting the steam path prior to starting, for replenishing the supply of fluid in order to compensate for leakage through the valves and/or from the engine cylinders, and with a control system which partly opens the relief valves and closes the inlet valves in response to actuation of the steam brake.

Abstract: A dry-type cooling system for condensing steam in a steam operated electric power generating plant and disposing of the heat withdrawn, by converting some of the heat to a form of power or work, such as electric power, and rejecting some of the heat to the air. The system requires a power input at relatively high ambient air temperatures, but such power consumption is offset by power produced during cooling with ambient air at lower temperatures.The cooling system utilizes a closed loop containing a suitable refrigerant fluid. The loop contains a steam condenser in the hot-well of a steam system of an electric generating plant, and a heat exchanger in a cooling tower through which air enters at atmospheric temperature and exits at an elevated temperature. The closed loop is branched to incorporate two consecutively operable cooling cycles employing the same refrigerant fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling fluid velocity exhausting from an elastic fluid turbine within a predetermined range. Elastic fluid flow rate and velocity is measured through the turbine's exhaust stage and coolant flow rate to heat exchange tubes situated downstream from the exhaust stage is regulated so as to maintain exhaust pressure and, thus, fluid velocity through the exhaust stage within a predetermined range. Pressure measuring devices situated upstream and downstream from the turbine exhaust stage provide flow rate and velocity measurements for the elastic fluid passing thereby while the coolant flow rate through the heat exchange tubes is regulated by a variably restrictive valve or variable speed coolant pump.

Abstract: A steam turbine installation includes a safety system located in the steam flow path having a stop valve located in the steam flow path upstream of the turbine and a vacuum break valve located in the stream flow path downstream of the turbine, and a combined regulating and safety device connected to the turbine produces signals for controlling these valves. In addition, a signal from a steam flow monitor located downstream of the stop valve is supplied to a logic system, this signal having a value which normally corresponds to the setting of the stop valve. In the event of a disparity the logic system functions to trip the regulating and safety device which results in a closure of the stop valve and a partial opening of the vacuum break valve.

Abstract: In a turbine system with first and second turbine stages, each having a bypass line thereacross, provision is made for utilizing only the valving of the first turbine stages to control the acceleration of the shaft driven by the turbine system from start-up to synchronous speed. At the same time, provision is made for diverting enough of the flow to the second turbine stages to meet the requirements of those stages.