Steam turbines
AssigneeALSTOM Technology Ltd
InventorsMartin Robert Lord, Philip David Hemsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steam turbine is provided that is configured for post-modification for operation in a carbon capture mode. The turbine includes a turbine rotor, a turbine casing and a plurality of turbine stages. In an initial configuration of the turbine, the turbine rotor and turbine casing are each longer, by respective lengths, than is necessary to accommodate the plurality of turbine stages. The lengths are sufficient to accommodate at least one further turbine stage at an exit of the turbine during the post-modification, such that after modification, the turbine operates with an increased expansion ratio and an increased volumetric flow rate at the exit.
Claims13
A steam turbine configured for post-modification for operation in a carbon capture mode, the turbine comprising:
- a turbine rotor;
- a turbine casing;
- and
- a plurality of turbine stages;
- wherein in an initial configuration of the turbine, the turbine rotor and turbine casing are each longer—by respective lengths r and c—than is necessary to accommodate the plurality of turbine stages, the lengths r and c accommodating at least one further turbine stage at an exit of the turbine during the post-modification, wherein after modification, the turbine accommodates the at least one further turbine stage and operates with an increased expansion ratio and an increased volumetric flow rate at the exit.
A power plant comprising a steam turbine configured for post-modification for operation in a carbon capture mode, the turbine comprising:
- a turbine rotor;
- a turbine casing;
- and a plurality of turbine stages;
- and in an initial configuration of the turbine, the turbine rotor and turbine casing are each longer—by respective lengths r and c—than is necessary to accommodate the plurality of turbine stages, the lengths r and c accommodating at least one further turbine stage at an exit of the turbine during the post-modification, wherein after modification, the turbine accommodates the at least one further turbine stage and operates with an increased expansion ratio and an increased volumetric flow rate at the exit, wherein the steam turbine is an intermediate pressure steam turbine operable to receive steam from a high pressure steam turbine and deliver steam to a low pressure steam turbine at a first volumetric flow rate.
A carbon-capture-ready power plant including a boiler and a steam turbine comprising a plurality of stages, wherein for post-construction modification of the power plant to incorporate a carbon capture process that requires process steam, the steam turbine has a length that is longer than is necessary to accommodate the plurality of turbine stages by an extra length accommodating at least one further turbine stage at an exit of the turbine during the post-construction modification, wherein after modification, the turbine accommodates the at least one further stage and is operable with an increased expansion ratio and an increased volumetric flow rate at its exit, thereby allowing steam to be bled from the turbine exit to supply the required process steam.
A method for modifying a steam turbine, for post-modification operation in a carbon capture mode, the method comprising:
- providing a steam turbine with a plurality of turbine stages, wherein in an initial configuration of the turbine, the turbine rotor and turbine casing are each longer—by respective lengths r and c—than is necessary to accommodate the plurality of turbine stages;
- and
- modifying the steam turbine by adding at least one further stage at an exit of the turbine so as to enable an expansion ratio of the steam turbine to be increased and a volumetric flow rate at the exit of the steam turbine to be increased.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.