# US 8,783,027 B2 · Pressure regulation circuit for turbine generators > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,027 B2 - Document ID: US8783027B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/562,211 - Filed: 2009-09-18 - Published: 2011-03-24 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-18 - Assignees: Siemens Energy, Inc. - Applicants: Owen R. Snuttjer - Inventors: Owen R. Snuttjer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783027B2 ## CPC - G05D 16/2013: {using throttling means as controlling means} - F01D 17/08: responsive to condition of working-fluid, e.g. pressure - Y10T 137/7761: Electrically actuated valve - Y10T 137/7837: Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type] - Y10T 137/87314: Electromagnetic or electric control [e.g., digital control, bistable electro control, etc.] - Y10T 137/87338: Flow passage with bypass - Y10T 137/8741: With common operator - Y10T 137/87507: Electrical actuator - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A pressure regulation circuit delivers pressurized fluid into a generator. The circuit includes pressure regulator structure and a primary valve. The pressure regulator structure outputs pressurized fluid at a predetermined output pressure that is greater than a desired operating pressure of the generator and less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure. The primary valve is downstream from the pressure regulator structure and is selectively opened and closed by a controller based on the pressure within the generator. The controller opens the primary valve to allow the pressurized fluid outputted from the pressure regulator structure to flow into the generator upon the pressure within the generator being at or below a predetermined lower limit. The controller closes the primary valve to prevent the pressurized fluid outputted from the pressure regulator structure from flowing into the generator upon the pressure within the generator being at or above a predetermined upper limit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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; and 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 the 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, wherein said pressure regulator structure comprises a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge and a vent valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, further comprising a relief valve downstream from said primary valve, said relief valve for selectively releasing an amount of the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulation circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, further comprising 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 4, 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, wherein: said predetermined output pressure is set at least 3 psi above said desired operating pressure; said predetermined upper alarm pressure is set at least 5 psi above said desired operating pressure; and said predetermined upper limit is set at least 1 psi above said desired operating pressure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, wherein said controller receives temperature and pressure readings inside said generator frame from at least one sensor, wherein said temperature and pressure readings are used to determine leakage of the pressurized fluid from said generator frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 6, wherein said predetermined lower limit is set at said desired operating pressure. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, further comprising 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 10, 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, 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, wherein: said predetermined output pressure is set at least 3 psi above said desired operating pressure; said predetermined upper alarm pressure is set at least 5 psi above said desired operating pressure; and said predetermined upper limit is set at least 1 psi above said desired operating pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, wherein said controller receives temperature and pressure readings inside said generator frame from at least one sensor, wherein said temperature and pressure readings are used to determine leakage of the pressurized fluid from said generator frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, wherein said relief valve is opened if the pressure within at least one of: said generator frame internal chamber; and said main circuit is determined to be at or above a predetermined level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 14, wherein said pressure gauge and said vent valve are used in combination with said pressure regulator for setting said predetermined output pressure. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 16, wherein: said pressure regulator structure comprises a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge, and a vent valve; and said pressure gauge and said vent valve are used in combination with said pressure regulator for setting said predetermined output pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 17, further comprising a relief valve downstream from said primary valve and said pressure regulator structure, wherein said relief valve is opened if the pressure within at least one of: said generator frame internal chamber; and said main circuit is determined to be at or above a predetermined level to release an amount of pressurized fluid from the at least one of: said generator frame internal chamber; and said main circuit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 16, wherein: said predetermined output pressure is set at least 3 psi above said desired operating pressure; said predetermined upper alarm pressure is set at least 5 psi above said desired operating pressure; and said predetermined upper limit is set at least 1 psi above said desired operating pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 16, wherein said controller receives temperature and pressure readings inside said generator frame from at least one sensor, wherein said temperature and pressure readings are used to determine leakage of the pressurized fluid from said generator frame.