Steam seal header, method of using a steam seal header and steam turbine system incorporating a steam seal header

A steam seal header, comprising:

• a main body configured to hold a volume of steam;
• a first inlet into the main body that is configured to receive a first flow of steam from at least one of a seal of an intermediate pressure steam turbine and a seal of a high pressure steam turbine;
• a second inlet into the main body that is configured to receive a second flow of steam from a first location in a low pressure steam turbine;
• a first outlet from the main body that is configured to output a third flow of steam from the main body to a second location in the low pressure steam turbine;
• and
• a second outlet from the main body that is configured to output a fourth flow of steam to a seal of the low pressure steam turbine.

A steam turbine system for use in a power plant, comprising:

• a high pressure steam turbine;
• at least one high pressure seal for the high pressure steam turbine;
• a low pressure steam turbine;
• a steam seal header that receives a first flow of steam from the high pressure seal and a second flow of steam from the low pressure steam turbine, and that outputs a third flow of steam to the low pressure steam turbine, wherein the third flow of steam comprises a mixture of the first and second flows of steam.