Power generation apparatus

A power generation apparatus configured to supply water vapor to an expander to drive the expander, the power generation apparatus comprising:

• a condensation device coupled to a path downstream of the expander, the condensation device having a container body and being configured to, within the container body, mix water vapor having passed through the expander with cooling water to condense the water vapor, and
• a control unit configured to adjust an amount of cooling water supplied to the condensation device;
• an air release valve in fluid communication with the condensation device and configured to control air flow out of the condensation device;
• wherein the control unit is configured to, at a time of start-up:
• rotate a cooling water pump to deliver the cooling water into the container body, thereby raising a level of liquid within the container body;
• and
• actuate the air release valve such that, in response to the rise of the liquid level within the container body, non-condensable gas accumulated within the container body is discharged out of the container body through the air release valve.

A system comprising:

• a power generation apparatus configured to supply water vapor to an expander, power generation apparatus comprising:
• a condensation device coupled downstream of the expander, the condensation device configured to condense water vapor from the expander with liquid;
• and
• a control device configured to:
• initiate delivery of the liquid to the condenser to raise a level of fluid within the condenser;
• and
• initiate actuation of an air release valve coupled to the condenser to enable discharge of non-condensable gas accumulated within the condenser responsive to rise of the level of the fluid within the condenser.