# US 2014/0174477 A1 · Method and apparatus for commissioning power plants

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- Number: US 2014/0174477 A1
- Document ID: US20140174477A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/194,886
- Filed: 2014-03-03
- Published: 2014-06-26
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-27
- Assignees: Boyle Energy Services & Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher J. Bloch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140174477A1

## CPC

- F22B 37/486: {Devices for removing water, minerals or sludge from boilers (F22B37/483, F22B37/50, F22B37/52 and F22B37/54 take precedence)}
- B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
- F16L 57/06: against wear (F16L57/04 takes precedence)
- F22B 37/52: Washing-out devices
- F26B 5/04: by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum {(F26B11/049 and F26B17/128 take precedence)}
- B08B 2230/01: Cleaning with steam
- Y10T 137/4245: Cleaning or steam sterilizing
- Y10T 137/7043: Guards and shields
- F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus and method for commissioning steam turbine generator power plants to advance the cleanliness of the complete steam cycle by the conditioned discharge of steam to the plant surface condenser.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-25. (canceled)

### Claim 26

A process for steam flushing of steam generation equipment and piping, wherein particulate and non-particulate contamination are removed from steam circuits simultaneous to exhaust of flush steam to the plant condenser with said process comprising the steps of:
(a) removing particulate and non-particulate contamination from the flush steam exhaust prior to the entry of said exhaust steam to the condenser,
(b) testing the flush steam exhaust prior to the entry of said exhaust steam to the condenser,
(c) rapidly terminating the entry of flush steam exhaust to the condenser should there be the potential for damage to the condenser by the entry of said steam to the condenser, and
(d) adding volatile chemistry components to condensate used to generate the flushing steam to enhance removal of contamination from the steam circuits.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein the steam flushing of steam generation and piping is performed simultaneous to the tuning of the combustion systems of the steam generation equipment.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein the temperature of the flushing steam is at times increased to near the maximum design temperature of the circuits being flushed.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein contaminated condensate from the flush steam exhaust to the condenser is tested for the presence of both particulate and non-particulate contamination.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein contaminated condensate from the flush steam exhaust to the condenser is diverted from return to the plant condensate system.

### Claim 31 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein contaminated condensate from the flush steam exhaust to the condenser is treated to remove particulate contamination before the condensate is returned to the plant condensate system.

### Claim 32 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein volatile chemistry is added to the condensate used to generate the flush steam to enhance the removal of contamination.

### Claim 33 (depends on 26)

The process of claim 26 wherein volatile chemistry is added to the condensate used for injection into the flush steam to control the temperature of the flush steam.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The process of claim 33 wherein the chemically treated condensate injected into the flush steam to control the temperature of the flush steam is added in sufficient quantities to the flush steam to create an annular mist of chemically treated condensate in the flush steam.

### Claim 35

A process for steam flushing of steam generation equipment and piping, wherein volatile chemicals are added to the condensate used to generate the flushing steam to promote the passivation of the steam circuit and condenser metal surfaces.

### Claim at position 12

36-39. (canceled)