Fault tolerant turbine speed control system
AssigneeGE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
InventorsArthur M. Thinguldstad, Mark A. Bergman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A generator is installed on and provides electrical power from a turbine by converting the turbine's mechanical energy to electricity. The generated electrical power is used to power controls of the turbine so that the turbine can remain in use through its own energy. The turbine can be a safety-related turbine in a nuclear power plant, such that, through the generator, loss of plant power will not result in loss of use of the turbine and safety-related functions powered by the same. Appropriate circuitry and electrical connections condition the generator to work in tandem with any other power sources present, while providing electrical power with properties required to safely power the controls.
Claims20
A nuclear plant emergency power system comprising:
- a turbine configured to power a coolant pump for a nuclear reactor;
- a speed controller configured to monitor a speed of the turbine and control a speed of the turbine;
- a control room flow controller configured to receive turbine information from the speed controller and transmit turbine speed commands to the speed controller;
- an emergency power distribution system electrically connected to the speed controller and the control room flow controller;
- and
- a generator electrically connected to the speed controller and the control room flow controller, wherein the generator is a maximum 200 Watt electric generator, wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical power from the turbine and provide the electrical power to the speed controller and the control room flow controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.