Pressure regulation circuit for turbine generators

A turbine generator including a pressure regulation circuit comprising:

• the turbine generator comprising a generator frame defining an internal chamber of the turbine generator and housing a portion of a turbine rotor;
• a controller that determines a pressure within the generator frame;
• the pressure regulation circuit including a main circuit comprising:
• pressure regulator structure that receives fluid, regulates the pressure of the fluid to a predetermined output pressure, and outputs the fluid at said predetermined output pressure, said predetermined output pressure being greater than a desired operating pressure of said generator frame and being less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure, said pressure regulator structure comprises a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge, and a vent valve;
• a primary valve downstream from said pressure regulator structure that is selectively opened and closed by said controller based on the pressure within said generator frame determined by said controller, wherein said controller:
• if said primary valve is closed, opens said primary valve to allow said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure to flow into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or below a predetermined lower limit, said predetermined lower limit being no greater than the desired operating pressure of the generator;
• and
• if said primary valve is open, closes said primary valve to prevent said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure from flowing into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or above a predetermined upper limit, said predetermined upper limit being no greater than said predetermined output pressure and being greater than said predetermined lower limit;
• and
• a relief valve downstream from said primary valve and said pressure regular structure, said relief valve for selectively releasing an amount of the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulation circuit.

A turbine generator including a pressure regulation circuit comprising:

• the turbine generator comprising a generator frame defining an internal chamber of the turbine generator and housing a portion of a turbine rotor;
• a controller that determines a pressure within the generator frame;
• the pressure regulation circuit including a main circuit comprising:
• pressure regulator structure that receives fluid, regulates the pressure of the fluid to a predetermined output pressure, and outputs the fluid at said predetermined output pressure, said predetermined output pressure being greater than a desired operating pressure of said generator frame and being less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure;
• a primary valve downstream from said pressure regulator structure that is selectively opened and closed by said controller based on the pressure within said generator frame determined by said controller, wherein said controller:
• if said primary valve is closed, opens said primary valve to allow said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure to flow into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or below a predetermined lower limit, said predetermined lower limit being no greater than the desired operating pressure of the generator;
• and
• if said primary valve is open, closes said primary valve to prevent said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure from flowing into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or above a predetermined upper limit, said predetermined upper limit being no greater than said predetermined output pressure and being greater than said predetermined lower limit;
• and
• a bypass circuit including a bypass valve that is normally in a closed position but can be selectively opened when it is desired to bypass said main circuit, wherein said bypass circuit is branched off from said main circuit at a location upstream from a first secondary valve of said main circuit that is upstream from said pressure regulator structure, and said bypass circuit rejoins said main circuit downstream from a second secondary valve of said main circuit that is downstream from said primary valve, wherein said first and second secondary valves are normally in open positions but can be selectively closed to prevent flow through said main circuit.