System and method to improve boiler and steam turbine start-up times

A method of warming a power generation system, having a boiler system comprising a main boiler and a mixer, the main boiler operative to generate steam and the mixer with an input fluidly coupled to the main boiler, the method comprising:

• operably connecting a flow of steam to at least a first section of a turbine operable to receive steam at a first temperature;
• operably connecting an output of the first section of the turbine to at least one of an input to the main boiler and an input of the mixer for carrying heated steam at a second temperature thereto when the main boiler is inoperative;
• operably connecting a first heat exchanger to receive the heated steam at the second temperature from the output of at least the first section of the turbine and transfer heat to at least one of water and steam from the main boiler or the mixer, and feedwater for the main boiler;
• and
• operably connecting a flash tank to receive heated water and steam from one of the main boiler and the mixer at the first temperature and a first pressure and flash it to steam at a lower pressure, the flash tank operable to provide the steam at the lower pressure to the first section of the turbine.

A system for warming a steam-driven power generation system, comprising:

• a boiler system comprising:
• a main boiler, the main boiler operative to generate steam;
• and
• a mixer with an input fluidly coupled to the main boiler;
• a plurality of steam pipes, the plurality of steam pipes having a first steam pipe and a second steam pipe;
• a turbine having at least a first section operable to receive steam, wherein an input to the first section of the turbine is fluidly connected via the first steam pipe to an output of at least one of the main boiler and the mixer and operable to carry steam from the boiler system at a first temperature to the first section of the turbine, wherein an output of the first section of the turbine is fluidly connected to the second steam pipe, and the second steam pipe is operable to carry heated steam at a second temperature from the output of the first section of the turbine to at least one of an input to the main boiler and an input of the mixer when the main boiler is inoperative and not generating steam;
• a heat exchanger operably connected to receive the heated steam at the second temperature from the output of at least the first section of the turbine and transfer heat to at least one of water and steam from the main boiler or the mixer, and feedwater for the main boiler;
• a flash tank operable to receive heated water and steam from one of the main boiler and the mixer at the first temperature and a first pressure and flash it to steam at a lower pressure, the flash tank operable to provide the steam at the lower pressure to the first section of the turbine;
• and
• a thermal energy storage system, the thermal energy storage system operably connected to at least the main boiler or the mixer and operable to transfer heat to the main boiler.