# US 2013/0156540 A1 · Steam seal header, method of using a steam seal header and steam turbine system incorporating a steam seal header > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156540 A1 - Document ID: US20130156540A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,691 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Inventors: Santhosh DONKADA; Bhaskar M; Rajendra Gonoor; Abhishek Agrawal; Girajala Srinivas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156540A1 ## CPC - F01D 11/06: Control thereof - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) ## Abstract A steam turbine system for use in a power plant includes a steam seal header that collects steam from seals of a high pressure steam turbine and an intermediate pressure steam turbine. The collected steam is provided to seals of a low pressure steam turbine to ensure the seals provide an effective seal for the low pressure steam turbine. Steam from the low pressure steam turbine is also collected in the steam seal header and it is mixed with the steam collected from the high and intermediate pressure seals. The mixed steam is then provided to drive the low pressure steam turbine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of utilizing steam provided by a seal of a high pressure steam turbine or a seal of an intermediate pressure steam turbine, comprising: receiving a first flow of steam from at least one of a seal of a high pressure steam turbine and a seal of an intermediate pressure stream turbine in a steam seal header; receiving a second flow of steam from a first location in a low pressure steam turbine in the steam seal header; and providing a third flow of steam from the steam seal header to a second location in the low pressure steam turbine, wherein the third flow of steam comprises a mixture of the first and second flows of steam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first flow of steam comprises steam from a seal of an intermediate steam turbine and steam from a seal of a high pressure steam turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first flow of steam and the second flow of steam mix together in the steam seal header to form the third flow of steam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a fourth flow of steam from the steam seal header to a seal of the low pressure steam turbine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the fourth flow of steam is at substantially the same temperature and pressure as the third flow of steam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the fourth flow of steam is at a different temperature and pressure than the third flow of steam. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The steam seal header of claim 7, wherein the main body is configured to mix at least portions of the first and second flows of steam to create the third flow of steam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The steam seal header of claim 7, further comprising a partition member located in the main body, wherein the partition member separates the main body into a first chamber that holds only the first flow of steam and a second chamber that holds a mixture of the first and second flows of steam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The steam seal header of claim 9, wherein the first inlet and the second outlet open into the first chamber and wherein the second inlet and the first outlet open into the second chamber of the main body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The steam seal header of claim 10, further comprising an aperture in the partition that allows at least a portion of the first flow of steam received through the first inlet to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The steam seal header of claim 11, further comprising a valve that is operatively coupled to the aperture in the partition, wherein the valve controls an amount of the first flow of steam that passes from the first chamber into the second chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The steam seal turbine of claim 12, wherein the valve is an expansion valve. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The steam turbine system of claim 14, further comprising a low pressure seal for the low pressure steam turbine, wherein the steam seal header outputs a fourth flow of steam to the low pressure seal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The steam turbine system of claim 15, wherein the steam seal header is configured such that the third and fourth flows of steam output by the steam seal header are at substantially the same temperature and pressure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The steam turbine system of claim 15, wherein the steam seal header is configured such that the third flow of steam is at a different temperature and pressure than the fourth flow of steam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The steam turbine system of claim 17, wherein the fourth flow of steam is at substantially the same temperature and pressure as the first flow of steam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The steam turbine system of claim 18, wherein the steam seal header is configured such that the third flow of steam comprises a mixture of at least a portion of first flow of steam and at least a portion of the second flow of steam. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The steam turbine system of claim 14, further comprising: an intermediate pressure steam turbine; and an intermediate seal for the intermediate pressure steam turbine, wherein the first flow of steam received by the steam seal header comprises a mixture of steam from the high pressure seal and steam from the intermediate pressure seal.