(19)

*EP002365189B1*
(11) EP 2 365 189 B1
(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: F01D 11/06 (2006.01) F01K 7/24 (2006.01)
13.05.2020 Bulletin 2020/20

(21) Application number: 11156486.0

(22) Date of filing: 01.03.2011

(54) Steam turbine system including valve for leak off line for controlling seal steam flow
Dampfturbinensystem mit einem Ventil für eine Leckageleitung zur Steuerung eines Sperrdampfstroms
Système de turbine à vapeur incluant une vanne pour une conduite de fuite pour commander un débit
de vapeur de barrage

(84) Designated Contracting States: • Maruthamuthu, Jegadeesan

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB 560066 Bangalore (IN)
GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO • Natarajan, Rajasekar
PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR 560066 Bangalore (IN)
• Srinivasan, Manikandan
(30) Priority: 02.03.2010 US 715681 560066 Bangalore (IN)

(43) Date of publication of application: (74) Representative: BRP Renaud & Partner mbB
14.09.2011 Bulletin 2011/37 Rechtsanwälte Patentanwälte
Steuerberater
(73) Proprietor: General Electric Company Königstraße 28
Schenectady, NY 12345 (US) 70173 Stuttgart (DE)

(72) Inventors: (56) References cited:

• Mehra, Mahendra Singh US-A- 2 020 456 US-A- 3 604 206
560066 Bangalore (IN) US-A1- 2005 196 267 US-B1- 6 705 086
• Hernandez Sanchez, Nestor
Schenectady, NY 12345 (US)
EP 2 365 189 B1

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 2 365 189 B1
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosure relates generally to steam tur-
bine technology, and more particularly, to a turbine steam
seal system having a valve coupled to a leak off line for
controlling a steam flow used to maintain a constant self-
sustaining sealing pressure to a turbine. A related meth-
od is also provided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Shaft packings are required to provide sealing
of the turbine rotor or shaft between the turbine shells or
the exhaust hood and the atmosphere. During normal
turbine operations, the end packings can be divided into
two distinct groups, pressure packings and vacuum pack-
ings. Pressure packings generally prevent steam from
blowing out into the turbine room. High pressure and in-
termediate pressure turbine end packings are generally
known as pressure packings. Vacuum packings gener-
ally seal against the leakage of air into the condenser.
Low pressure end packings are known as vacuum pack-
ings. Known steam seal systems largely address these
issues by utilizing the steam leaking from the pressure
packings to help seal the vacuum packings.
[0003] Current steam seal systems are of a single set
point sub-optimized design. For example, these designs
may provide an unfired guarantee loading with a self-
sealing load point ("SSLP") of about seventy percent
(70%). When a steam turbine "self seals", the terms gen-
erally refer to the condition where pressure packing seal
steam flow is sufficient to pressurize and seal the vacuum
packings. In higher load conditions such as a supplemen-
tary firing, however, the pressure packing steam flow go-
ing to the steam seal header increases but the vacuum
packing requirement may not vary such that the SSLP
may be as low as about thirty percent (30%). The addi-
tional steam coming from the pressure packings into the
steam seal system thus may be dumped to the condenser
using a steam seal dump valve without extracting any
work. Similarly during low load operations, the pressure
packing steam seal flow may be reduced significantly
from the design point, but the vacuum packing steam
flow requirements again may not vary. In such a situation,
the steam seal system may not be sufficient and an extra
flow may be required from the throttle steam at a signif-
icant loss in performance.
[0004] US 6 705 086 B1 discloses a steam turbine sys-
tem with high pressure and intermediate pressure sec-
tions and a control system including a valve and piping
arrangement for diverting steam to the intermediate sec-
tions from a lower pressure stage to a higher pressure
stage of the intermediate pressure sections.
[0005] US 2005/0196267 A1 discloses a method for
reducing self-sealing flow in a combined cycle double-
flow steam turbine, wherein the method comprises pro-
2
viding a brush seal in a packing ring of a packing ring
assembly at either end defining a double-flow steam tur-
bine.
[0006] US 3 604 206 A describes a system with a high
5 pressure packing and with a low pressure packing re-
ceiving steam from the high pressure packing. At light
loads, the system is configured to make up a sealing
steam deficit with throttle steam admitted to a header
connecting the high pressure packing with the low pres-
10 sure packing from the steam seal regulator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides a steam turbine system
15 in accordance with claim 1 and a method of operating a
steam turbine system in accordance with claim 5.
[0008] A first aspect of the disclosure provides a steam
turbine system comprising: a high pressure (HP) turbine
operatively coupled to an intermediate pressure (IP) tur-
20 bine and a low pressure (LP) turbine; a steam seal header
for maintaining a constant self-sustaining sealing pres-
sure to the LP turbine using a first steam flow in a seal
steam line from a seal packing of the HP turbine; a leak
off line coupling a leak packing of the HP turbine to the
25 IP turbine; and a valve coupled to the leak off line for
controlling the first steam flow to the steam seal header.
[0009] A second aspect of the disclosure provides a
method of operating a turbine system, the method com-
prising: providing a high pressure (HP) turbine operative-
30 ly coupled to an intermediate pressure (IP) turbine and
a low pressure (LP) turbine, and a leak off line coupling
a leak packing of the HP turbine to the IP turbine; and
maintaining a constant self-sustaining sealing pressure
to the LP turbine by controlling, during non-full load op-
35 erations, a valve coupled to the leak off line to control a
first steam flow used to seal the LP turbine.
[0010] A third aspect of the disclosure provides a tur-
bine system comprising: a valve coupled to a leak off line
from a leak packing of a first turbine, the valve controlling
40 a first steam flow used to maintain a constant self-sus-
taining sealing pressure to a second turbine.
[0011] The steam turbine system according to the
present invention is designed to solve the problems here-
in described.
45
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features of this disclosure will
be more readily understood from the following detailed
50 description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that de-
pict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a steam turbine
55 system to better understand the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a steam turbine
system according to embodiments of the invention.
2
 3 EP 2 365 189 B1
[0013] It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure
are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only
typical aspects of the disclosure, and therefore should
not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure.
In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements
between the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] As indicated above, the disclosure provides a
turbine system having a valve coupled to a leak off line
for controlling a steam flow used to maintain a constant
self-sustaining sealing pressure to a turbine.
[0015] In FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of an embodi-
ment of a steam turbine system 100 according to the
invention is illustrated. Referring to FIG. 1 a steam turbine
system 100 is depicted to better understand the inven-
tion. Steam turbine system 100 includes a valve 102 (FIG.
1), 202 (FIG. 2) coupled to a leak off line 104 from a leak
packing 106 of a first turbine 110. In both systems, valve
102, 202 controls a first steam flow 112 in a steam seal
line 113 used to maintain a constant self-sustaining seal-
ing pressure Ps to seal packings 114 of a second turbine
116. In FIG. 1, valve 102 is provided as a throttling valve
positioned in leak off line 104, and in FIG. 2, valve 202
includes a diverter valve positioned between leak off line
104 and seal steam line 113, e.g., in a connector line 218
that connects lines 104 and 113. In one system, valve
102 (FIG. 1) may be implemented by converting a con-
ventional leak off re-entry stop valve, typically used to
prevent roll-off during turning gear operation, to a throt-
tling valve configuration such that it can serve both pur-
poses. Seal steam line 113 extends from a seal packing
115 of first turbine 110 to a steam seal header (SSH)
132, described herein.
[0016] As illustrated, first turbine 110 includes a high
pressure (HP) turbine coupled to a third turbine 120 in
the form of an intermediate pressure (IP) turbine, and
second turbine 116 includes a low pressure (LP) turbine.
Turbines 110, 116, 120 may share a common shaft 121;
however this is not necessary. (Note, arrows on shaft
121 indicate air or steam flow direction.) Leak off line 104
from leak packing 106 is illustrated as delivering a second
steam flow 122 to third turbine 120. However, as one with
skill in the art will recognize, leak off line 104 does not
necessarily have to connect to another turbine. That is,
second steam flow 122 may be used for other purposes.
A conventional blocking valve 130 may be provided in
leak off line 104 for closing and/or draining the line.
[0017] Second steam flow 112 is regulated to a con-
stant pressure by steam seal header (SSH) 132 that de-
livers steam flow to seal packing 114 of second turbine
116. In one embodiment, SSH 132 maintains a pressure
of approximately 0.13 megaPascal (MPa)(approximately
18.7 psia). However, different turbines and seal packings
may require different sealing pressures.
[0018] A controller 140 is used to provide automated
control of valve 102, 202 based on, for example, system
4
load conditions. Controller 140 may include any now
known or later developed industrial control mechanism,
and may be included as a separate unit or part of a larger
control system. Controller 140 may be coupled to any
5 required sensors, e.g., pressure transmitter at seal pack-
ing 115 or pressure transmitter at steam seal header, to
attain appropriate load conditions, and may include any
required control logic necessary to control valve 102,
202.
10 [0019] A method of operation of steam turbine system
100 will now be described. In operation, constant self-
sustaining sealing pressure Ps to LP turbine 116 is main-
tained using first steam flow 112 from seal steam line
113 coupled to seal packing 115 of HP turbine 110.
15 [0020] During part load conditions, i.e., non-full load
conditions, first steam flow 112 is controlled using valve
102, 202 coupled to leak offline 104. (Any blocking valve
130 is fully open.). The "controlling" may manifest itself
in a variety of ways capable of changing first steam flow
20 112, e.g., pressure, volume, etc. During full load condi-
tions, e.g., of at least turbines 110, 120, controller 140
has valve 102, 202 deliver substantially all of second
steam flow 122 through leak off line 104 to IP turbine 120
or other structure to which it is coupled. Consequently,
25 first steam flow 112 is not impacted during maximum load
conditions. However, controller 140 delivers more steam
flow to seal steam line 113 during a lower load condition
than during a higher load conditions, i.e., during part load
conditions.
30 [0021] In the FIG. 1 system, controller 140 throttles
valve 102 positioned in leak off line 104 to restrict second
steam flow 122 in the leak off line to IP turbine 120, which
increases pressure P2. Consequently, more steam flow
is delivered by the increased pressure P2 through seal
35 packings 115 to first steam flow 112. The increased first
steam flow 112 is used to supply SSH 132 to maintain
the sealing flow requirement for LP packings 114 on LP
turbine 116 without requiring additional steam from other
sources, eliminating the need to pull sealing steam from
40 other sources.
[0022] In the FIG. 2 embodiment, controller 140 has
valve 202 divert a portion of second steam flow 122 from
leak off line 104 to first steam flow 112 via connector line
218. Consequently, more steam flow is delivered to first
45 steam flow 112. Again, the increased first steam flow 112
is used to supply SSH 132 to maintain the sealing flow
requirement for LP packings 114 on LP turbine 116 with-
out requiring additional steam from other sources, elim-
inating the need to pull steam from other sources.
50 [0023] In either embodiment, leak off line 104, steam
seal line 113, valve 202, SSH 132, etc., are designed
(e.g., structured, sized, or otherwise configured) for full
load conditions and to allow approximately 10% or less
of the first steam flow 112 to be unused. That is, system
55 100 is structured such that a self-sealing load point
(SSLP) of the system is greater than 90% across numer-
ous loading conditions, indicating that 90% of the steam
delivered to SSH 132 is used rather than dumped to a
3
 5 EP 2 365 189 B1
condenser 150. In contrast to conventional systems,
however, system 100 is capable of maintaining the ap-
proximately 90% SSLP during all load conditions of op-
eration. That is, in contrast to conventional systems that
would waste or leave unused significant amounts of use-
ful steam through delivery to condenser 150, an approx-
imately 90% SSLP can be maintained, resulting in more
efficient use of steam to produce work.
[0024] To illustrate operation, data for a conventional
system compared to system 100 at different load condi-
tions is provided.
[0025] Full load condition: Full load conditions as de-
fined by end customer requirements (i.e., unfired case,
maximum duct firing in case of combine cycle plant, rating
load point for fossil and nuclear) may include, for exam-
ple, system 100 operating at full load using exhaust en-
ergy from a gas turbine (not shown) to generate steam,
with fuel fired in steam boiler or heat recovery steam gen-
erator (HRSG). In this case, pressure P2 at leak packings
106 is substantially equal to Pressure P1 at IP turbine
120 because there is no restriction or diversion of steam
flow 122 in leak off line 104. With these load conditions,
one conventional system has an SSLP of approximately
30%, meaning 70% of first steam flow 112 delivered to
SSH 132 is dumped to condenser 150 or any other en-
ergy sink because it is not required for sealing the LP
packings 114. In contrast, system 100 is designed to have
an approximately 90% SSLP at this full load conditions
without throttling or diverting second steam flow 122 in
leak of line 104. Consequently, system 100 is significantly
more efficient and productive at a full load condition,
where overall steam performance matters more. Al-
though one illustrative full load condition has been de-
scribed, it is understood that the teachings of the inven-
tion are not limited to any particular full load condition,
and different sized systems full load conditions may vary.
[0026] Mid-range load condition: One illustrative mid-
range load condition (non-full load) may include system
100 operating at approximately mid-range loads, with no
additional fuel in a steam boiler or HRSG but only part
load gas turbine exhaust energy. In this case, one con-
ventional system may deliver an SSLP of approximately
60 to 70% meaning 30 to 40% of first steam flow 112
delivered to SSH 132 is dumped to condenser 150 be-
cause it is not required for sealing the LP packings 114.
In contrast, with valve 202 set to deliver some amount of
second steam flow 122 to steam seal flow 112, an SSLP
of approximately 90% can be obtained using system 100.
That is, with a decrease in load from maximum load con-
ditions, steam flow going from steam seal line 113 to SSH
132 reduces, thus requiring more steam for steam seal
line 113. Normally, more steam would have to be gener-
ated from other sources to accommodate this situation.
In system 100, however, in terms of the FIG. 1 example,
valve 102 is throttled to increase upstream pressure P2
of seal packing 115 compared to pressure P1 at IP turbine
120. Since seal packing 114 pressure Ps is maintained
constant by SSH 132 and upstream pressure P2 is in-
6
creased by using leak off line 104 throttling, the steam
flow going through sealing packing 115 and steam seal
line 113 will increase. Diverting a portion of second steam
flow 122 using valve 202, in the FIG. 2 embodiment, re-
5 sults in the same increase in steam flow to steam seal
line 113. In either case, the increased steam flow to SSH
132 assists in maintaining the desired SSLP.
[0027] Lowest load conditions: A lowest load level
(e.g., floor pressure) may include load levels just above
10 a point at which turning gear power must be provided to
keep rotating shaft 121 turning. In this case, one conven-
tional system may deliver an SSLP of greater than 100%,
meaning steam seal flow 112 is not enough to seal LP
packings 114 and additional steam is taken from a main
15 steam source or any other external source such as an
auxiliary startup boiler. In contrast, with valve 202 set to
deliver some amount of second steam flow 122 to steam
seal flow 112, an SSLP greater than approximately 90%
can be obtained using system 100. That is, with a de-
20 crease in load conditions from a mid-range load condi-
tion, flow going from steam seal line 113 to SSH 132
continues to reduce, thus requiring more steam for steam
seal line 113. Normally, more steam would have to be
generated from other sources to accommodate this sit-
25 uation. In system 100, however, in terms of the FIG. 1
example, valve 102 is further throttled to further increase
upstream pressure P2 of seal packing 115 compared to
pressure P1 at IP turbine 120. Since seal packing 114
pressure Ps is maintained constant by SSH 132 and up-
30 stream pressure P2 is increased by using leak off line
104 throttling, the steam flow going through sealing pack-
ing 114 and steam seal line 113 increases. Diverting a
larger portion of second steam flow 122 using valve 202,
in the FIG. 2 embodiment, results in the same increase
35 in steam flow to steam seal line 113. In either case, the
increased steam flow to first steam flow 112 and SSH
132 assists in maintaining the desired SSLP.
[0028] An advantage that may be realized in the prac-
tice of some embodiments of the described systems and
40 methods is maintenance of an SSLP of approximately
90% or greater across all load condition ranges. In addi-
tion, system 100 also provides an improved heat rate
ranging from, for example, approximately 0.1% (maxi-
mum load condition) to approximately 0.04% (lowest pos-
45 sible load condition) by dumping less steam at SSH 132.
Furthermore, improved kilowatt production from, for ex-
ample, approximately 0.1% (maximum load) to approxi-
mately 0.03% (lowest possible load) is also possible us-
ing system 100. System 100 also does not require as
50 large of a condenser 150 and related structure as nec-
essary in conventional systems.
[0029] The foregoing drawings show some of the
processing associated according to several embodi-
ments of this disclosure. In this regard, each drawing or
55 block within the drawings represents a process associ-
ated with embodiments of the method described. It
should also be noted that in some alternative implemen-
tations, the acts noted in the drawings or blocks may
4
 7 EP 2 365 189 B1
occur out of the order noted in the figure or, for example,
may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or in
the reverse order, depending upon the act involved.
[0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose
of describing particular embodiments only and is not in-
tended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein,
the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to in-
clude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, in-
tegers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or
more other features, integers, steps, operations, ele-
ments, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0031] The corresponding structures, materials, acts,
and equivalents of all means or step plus function ele-
ments in the claims below are intended to include any
structure, material, or act for performing the function in
combination with other claimed elements as specifically
claimed. The description of the present disclosure has
been presented for purposes of illustration and descrip-
tion, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art without departing from the language of the claims.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order
to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the
practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill
in the art to understand the disclosure for various em-
bodiments with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A steam turbine system (100) comprising:
a high pressure (HP) turbine (110) operatively
coupled to an intermediate pressure (IP) turbine
(120) and a low pressure (LP) turbine (116);
a steam seal header (132) for maintaining a con-
stant self-sustaining sealing pressure to the LP
turbine (116) using a first steam flow (112) in a
seal steam line (113) from a seal packing (115)
of the HP turbine (110);
a leak off line (104) coupling a leak packing (106)
of the HP turbine (110) to the IP turbine (120);
characterised in that the system (100) further
comprises:
a valve (202) positioned in a connector line
(218) connecting the leak off line (104) and
the seal steam line (113); and
a controller (140) configured for controlling
operation of the valve (202) to divert a por-
tion of a second steam flow (122) from the
leak off line (104) to the first steam flow
8
(112), during non-full load operations, to
supply an increased first steam flow to the
steam seal header (132) to maintain the
sealing flow requirement for seal packings
5 (114) on LP turbine (116) without requiring
additional steam from other sources, elimi-
nating the need to pull steam from other
sources and to assist in maintaining a de-
sired self-sealing load point,
10 wherein the controller (140) is configured
for controlling operation of the valve (202)
to maintain a desired self-sealing load point
of approximately 90% or greater during all
load conditions of the turbine system (100),
15 indicating that greater than approximately
90% of the total amount of first and second
steam flow (112, 122) delivered to the steam
seal header (132) is used during all load
conditions of the turbine system (100) to
20 maintain the sealing flow requirement for
the seal packings (114) on the LP turbine
(116).
2. The steam turbine system (100) of claim 1, wherein
25 approximately 10% or less of the first steam flow
(112) is dumped to a condenser (150) during all load
conditions of the turbine system (100).
3. The steam turbine system (100) of any of the pre-
30 ceding claims, wherein the valve (202) delivers more
steam flow (112) to the seal steam line (113) during
a lower load condition of the IP turbine (120) than
during a higher load condition of the IP turbine (120).
35 4. The steam turbine system (100) of any of the pre-
ceding claims, wherein the leak offline (104) further
includes a blocking valve (130).
5. A method of operating a steam turbine system (100),
40 the method comprising:
providing a steam turbine system (100) as claimed
in claims 1 to 4; maintaining a constant self-sustain-
ing sealing pressure to the LP turbine (116) by con-
trolling, during non-full load operations, the valve
45 (202) coupled to the leak off line (104) to control the
total amount of first and second steam flow (112,
122) used to seal the LP turbine (116); and main-
taining, by means of the controller (140), a desired
self-sealing load point of approximately 90% or
50 greater during all load conditions of the turbine sys-
tem (100).
6. The method of claim 5, wherein approximately 10%
or less of the first steam flow is dumped to a con-
55 denser (150) during all load conditions of the turbine
system.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the controlling in-
5
 9 EP 2 365 189 B1
cludes delivering more steam to the first steam flow
(112) during a lower load condition of the IP turbine
(120) than during a higher load condition of the IP
turbine.
Patentansprüche
1. Dampfturbinensystem (100), umfassend:
eine Hochdruck(HD)-Turbine (110), die an eine
Zwischendruck-(ZD)-Turbine (120) und eine
Niederdruck-(ND)-Turbine (116) wirkgekoppelt
ist;
einen Dampfabdichtungskopf (132) zum Auf-
rechterhalten eines konstanten selbsterhalten-
den Abdichtungsdrucks an der ND-Turbine
(116) unter Verwendung eines ersten Dampf-
stroms (112) in einer Dichtungsdampfleitung
(113) aus einer Dichtungspackung (115) der
HP-Turbine (110);
eine Leckageleitung (104), die eine Leckagepa-
ckung (106) der HD-Turbine (110) an die ZD-
Turbine (120) koppelt;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System
(100) ferner umfasst:
ein Ventil (202), das in einer Verbindungs-
leitung (218) positioniert ist, die die Lecka-
geleitung (104) und die Dichtungsdampflei-
tung (113) verbindet; und
eine Steuereinrichtung (140), die eingerich-
tet ist, den Betrieb des Ventils (202) zu steu-
ern, um im Nicht-Volllastbetrieb einen Teil
eines zweiten Dampfstroms (122) aus der
Leckageleitung (104) zum ersten Dampf-
strom (112) umzulenken, um einen erhöh-
ten ersten Dampfstrom an den Dampfdich-
tungskopf (132) zu leiten, um die Abdich-
tungsströmungsanforderung für Dichtungs-
packungen (114) an der ND-Turbine (116)
aufrechtzuerhalten, ohne dass zusätzlicher
Dampf aus anderen Quellen erforderlich ist,
was die Notwendigkeit ausräumt, Dampf
aus anderen Quellen zu beziehen und das
Aufrechterhalten eines gewünschten Selb-
stabdichtungslastpunkts zu unterstützen,
wobei die Steuereinrichtung (140) einge-
richtet ist, den Betrieb des Ventils (202) zu
steuern, um unter allen Lastbedingungen
des Turbinensystems (100) einen ge-
wünschten Selbstabdichtungslastpunkt
von etwa 90 % oder größer aufrechtzuer-
halten, der anzeigt, dass unter allen Last-
bedingungen des Turbinensystems (100)
mehr als etwa 90 % der Gesamtmenge des
ersten und des zweiten Dampfstroms (112,
122), die an den Dampfdichtungskopf (132)
10
geleitet wird, genutzt wird, um die Abdich-
tungsströmungsanforderung für die Dich-
tungspackungen (114) an der ND-Turbine
(116) aufrechtzuerhalten.
5
2. Dampfturbinensystem (100) nach Anspruch 1, wo-
bei unter allen Lastbedingungen des Turbinensys-
tems (100) etwa 10 % oder weniger des ersten
Dampfstroms (112) an einen Kondensator (150) ab-
10 gegeben werden.
3. Dampfturbinensystem (100) nach einem der vorste-
henden Ansprüche, wobei das Ventil (202) unter ei-
ner Bedingung mit niedrigerer Last der ZD-Turbine
15 (120) mehr Dampfstrom (112) als unter einer Bedin-
gung mit höherer Last der ZD-Turbine (120) an die
Dichtungsdampfleitung (113) leitet.
4. Dampfturbinensystem (100) nach einem der vorste-
20 henden Ansprüche, wobei die Leckageleitung (104)
ferner ein Sperrventil (130) einschließt.
5. Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Dampfturbinensys-
tems (100), wobei das Verfahren umfasst: Bereit-
25 stellen eines Dampfturbinensystems (100) nach ei-
nem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4; Aufrechterhalten eines
konstanten selbsterhaltenden Abdichtungsdrucks
an der ND-Turbine (116) durch Steuern des an die
Leckageleitung (104) gekoppelten Ventils (202)
30 während des Nicht-Volllastbetriebs, um die Gesamt-
menge des ersten und des zweiten Dampfstroms
(112, 122) zu steuern, die zum Abdichten der ND-
Turbine (116) verwendet wird; und Aufrechterhalten
eines gewünschte Selbstabdichtungslastpunkts von
35 etwa 90 % oder mehr unter allen Lastbedingungen
des Turbinensystems (100) mittels der Steuerein-
richtung (140).
6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, wobei unter allen Last-
40 bedingungen des Turbinensystems etwa 10 % oder
weniger des ersten Dampfstroms an einen Konden-
sator (150) abgegeben werden.
7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, wobei das Steuern das
45 Leiten von mehr Dampf an den ersten Dampfstrom
(112) unter einer Bedingung mit niedrigerer Last der
ZD-Turbine (120) als unter einer Bedingung mit hö-
herer Last der ZD-Turbine umfasst.
50
Revendications
1. Système de turbine à vapeur (100) comprenant :
55 une turbine haute pression (HP)(110) couplée
de manière opérationnelle à une turbine de pres-
sion intermédiaire (IP)(120) et à une turbine bas-
se pression (LP)(116) ;
6
 11 EP 2 365 189 B1
un collecteur d’étanchéité à la vapeur (132) pour
maintenir une pression d’auto-étanchéité cons-
tante de la turbine LP (116) à l’aide d’un premier
débit de vapeur (112) dans une conduite de va-
peur de barrage (113) à partir d’une garniture
d’étanchéité (115) de la turbine HP (110) ;
une conduite de fuite (104) couplant une garni-
ture de fuite (106) de la turbine HP (110) à la
turbine IP (120) ;
caractérisé en ce que le système (100) com-
prend en outre :
une vanne (202) positionnée dans une con-
duite de connecteur (218) reliant la conduite
de fuite (104) et la conduite de vapeur de
barrage (113) ; et
un contrôleur (140) configuré pour com-
mander le fonctionnement de la vanne
(202) pour dévier une partie d’un deuxième
débit de vapeur (122) de la conduite de fuite
(104) vers le premier débit de vapeur (112),
pendant des opérations de charge non to-
tale, pour fournir un premier débit de vapeur
accru au collecteur d’étanchéité à la vapeur
(132) pour maintenir l’exigence de débit
d’étanchéité pour des garnitures d’étan-
chéité (114) sur la turbine LP (116) sans
nécessiter de vapeur supplémentaire
d’autres sources, éliminant le besoin de ré-
cupérer de la vapeur d’autres sources pour
aider à maintenir un point de charge d’auto-
étanchéité souhaité,
dans lequel le contrôleur (140) est configuré
pour commander le fonctionnement de la
vanne (202) pour maintenir un point de
charge d’auto-étanchéité souhaité d’ap-
proximativement 90 % ou plus pendant tou-
tes les conditions de charge du système de
turbine (100), indiquant que plus d’approxi-
mativement 90 % de la quantité totale des
premier et deuxième débits de vapeur (112,
122) fournis au collecteur d’étanchéité à la
vapeur (132) sont utilisés pendant toutes
les conditions de charge du système de tur-
bine (100) pour maintenir l’exigence de dé-
bit d’étanchéité pour les garnitures d’étan-
chéité (114) sur la turbine LP (116).
2. Système de turbine à vapeur (100) selon la reven-
dication 1, dans lequel approximativement 10 % ou
moins du premier débit de vapeur (112) sont déchar-
gés vers un condenseur (150) pendant toutes les
conditions de charge du système de turbine (100).
3. Système de turbine à vapeur (100) selon l’une quel-
conque des revendications précédentes, dans le-
quel la vanne (202) délivre plus de débit de vapeur
(112) à la conduite de vapeur de barrage (113) pen-
12
dant une condition de charge inférieure de la turbine
IP (120) que pendant une condition de charge su-
périeure de la turbine IP (120).
5 4. Système de turbine à vapeur (100) selon l’une quel-
conque des revendications précédentes, dans le-
quel la conduite de fuite (104) inclut en outre une
vanne de blocage (130).
10 5. Procédé de fonctionnement d’un système de turbine
à vapeur (100), le procédé comprenant :
la fourniture d’un système de turbine à vapeur (100)
selon les revendications 1 à 4 ; le maintien d’une
pression d’auto-étanchéité constante de la turbine
15 LP (116) en commandant, pendant des opérations
de charge non totale, la vanne (202) couplée à la
conduite de fuite (104) pour commander la quantité
totale des premier et deuxième débits de vapeur
(112, 122) utilisés pour sceller la turbine LP (116) ;
20 et le maintien, au moyen du contrôleur (140), d’un
point de charge d’auto-étanchéité souhaité d’ap-
proximativement 90 % ou plus pendant toutes les
conditions de charge du système de turbine (100).
25 6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ap-
proximativement 10 % ou moins du premier débit de
vapeur sont déchargés vers un condenseur (150)
pendant toutes les conditions de charge du système
de turbine.
30
7. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la
commande inclut la fourniture de plus de vapeur au
premier débit de vapeur (112) pendant une condition
de charge inférieure de la turbine IP (120) que pen-
35 dant une condition de charge supérieure de la turbi-
ne IP.
40
45
50
55
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 EP 2 365 189 B1

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 6705086 B1 [0004] • US 3604206 A [0006]

• US 20050196267 A1 [0005]

10