Valve for dynamic control of fuel flow rate in gas turbine power plant, power plant and components thereof employing such valve, and method of constructing such valve

A power generating system, comprising:

• at least one turbine;
• and
• at least one combustion system, said combustion system comprising:
• at least one fuel supply;
• at least one combustion canister;
• at least one valve, said valve comprising:
• a valve body, said valve body comprising a flow channel defining region which defines a flow channel;
• a bonnet;
• a bellows assembly comprising a bellows and a bellows flange, said bellows flange being positioned between said bonnet and said valve body, said bellows flange defining a bellows flange opening, said bellows being attached to said bellows flange around said bellows flange opening;
• and
• a translator assembly comprising a translator main shaft, a translator stub shaft and a translator, said translator assembly extending through said bellows flange opening, said bellows being attached to said translator stub shaft around a periphery of said translator stub shaft to provide a seal between said bellows flange and said translator stub shaft, said translator main shaft being threaded with said translator stub shaft, whereby rotation of said translator main shaft about an axis of said translator main shaft causes said translator to move between a first translator position and a second translator position, said translator blocking at least a portion of said flow channel when said translator is in said second translator position;
• and
• at least one fuel conduit communicating between said fuel supply and said combustion canister through said flow channel.

A method of constructing a valve, comprising:

• positioning a first bearing means in contact with a first surface of a bonnet;
• positioning a translator main shaft in contact with said first bearing means, said translator main shaft having a first shoulder and a second shoulder, said contact between said first bearing means and said translator assembly being on said first shoulder;
• positioning a second bearing means in contact with said second shoulder;
• positioning a bearing plate in contact with said second bearing means, said bearing plate defining a bearing plate opening through which said translator main shaft extends;
• positioning a bellows assembly in contact with said bearing plate, said bellows assembly comprising a bellows and a bellows flange, said bellows flange defining a bellows flange opening, said bellows being attached to said bellows flange around said bellows flange opening, said contact between said bearing plate and said bellows assembly being on said bellows flange;
• threading a translator stub shaft with said translator main shaft, said translator stub shaft having a translator attached thereto;
• attaching said bellows to said translator stub shaft around a periphery of said translator stub shaft to provide a seal between said bellows flange and said translator stub shaft;
• positioning said translator in a translator guide attached to a valve body;
• and
• attaching said bonnet to said valve body.