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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING STEAM TURBINES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to steam turbines and more particularly to drain purge
systems for steam turbines.
At least some known steam turbines include a casing comprising an upper half shell
and a lower half shell formed together at a joint. The joined half shells make up a
casing that surrounds the rotating member of the turbine. During operation,
condensed water may collect in the lower half shell. The water is removed using
drain orifices formed in the lower half of the shell. Moisture collected in the lower
half shell is routed to the drain orifices. During extended periods of operation, the
drain orifices can become clogged from dirt, scale or chemical deposits. Clogged
orifices cause excessive moisture to remain in the steam path. Excessive moisture
tends to increase erosion of components within the steam path.
In some known steam turbines, the deposits collected in the drain orifices are removed
from the drain orifices by shutting down and disassembling the steam turbine.
Therefore, the drain orifices are only accessible for cleaning during a major
maintenance outage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, a drain purge system for a casing is provided. The purge system
includes a purge chamber. The purge chamber is defined by a purge chamber
bulkhead. The purge chamber is further defined by a purge chamber drain portion
including a drain aperture. The purge chamber bulkhead is coupled to an exterior
surface of the casing. The exterior surface includes at least one drain orifice
therethrough. The purge chamber bulkhead circumscribes the drain orifice. The
purge system further includes a purge fluid source in How communication with the
purge chamber. The purge fluid source is configured to supply the purge chamber
with a flow of purge fluid.
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In a further aspect, a method of operating a drain purge system is provided. The
method includes receiving drain How from a drain orifice into a purge chamber in
flow communication with the drain orifice, draining the purge chamber through an
aperture, supplying a flow of purge fluid to the purge chamber, and generating a
reverse flow in the drain orifice using a back pressure determined by the flow of
purge fluid and the aperture.
In another aspect, a steam turbine is provided. The steam turbine includes a casing,
and a drain purge system configured to purge a dram orifice that drains the casing.
The purge system includes a purge chamber coupled to the casing and circumscribing
the drain orifice. The purge chamber includes a bulkhead and a purge chamber drain
portion coupled to the bulkhead. The purge chamber drain portion includes a drain
aperture. The purge system also includes a purge fluid source in flow communication
with the purge chamber. The purge fluid source is configured to supply the purge
chamber with a flow of purge fluid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary opposed-flow steam turbine: and
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary drain purge system that may be
used with the steam turbine shown in Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary opposed-flow steam turbine 10.
Turbine 10 includes first and second low pressure (LP) sections 12 and 14. As is
known in the art, each turbine section 12 and 14 includes a plurality of stages of
diaphragms (not shown in Figure 1). A rotor shaft 16 extends through sections 12 and
14. Each LP section 12 and 14 includes a nozzle 18 and 20. A single outer shell or
casing 22 is divided along a horizontal plane and axially into upper and lower half
sections 24 and 26, respectively, and spans both LP sections 12 and 14. A central
section 28 of shell 22 includes a low pressure steam inlet 30. Within outer shell or
casing 22, LP sections 12 and 14 are arranged in a single bearing span supported by
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journal bearings 32 and 34. A flow splitter 40 extends between first and second
turbine sections 12 and 14.
It should be noted that although Figure 1 illustrates an opposed-flow low pressure
turbine, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. the present invention
is not limited to being used with low pressure turbines and can be used with any
turbine including, but not limited to intermediate pressure (IP) turbines or high
pressure (HP) turbines.
During operation, low pressure steam inlet 30 receives low pressure/intermediate
temperature steam 50 from a source, for example, an HP turbine or IP turbine through
a cross-over pipe (not shown). The steam 50 is channeled through inlet 30 wherein
flow splitter 40 splits the steam flow into two opposite flow paths 52 and 54. More
specifically, the steam 50 is routed through LP sections 12 and 14 wherein work is
extracted from the steam to rotate rotor shaft 16. The steam exits LP sections 12 and
14 and is routed to a condenser, for example. During operation, a casing drain(s) 108
facilitates removing condensed moisture from an interior of casing 22. Over time
casing drain 108 may become obstructed by, for example, sediment collecting within
casing drain, which inhibits moisture from being removed from the interior of casing
22. In the exemplary embodiment, turbine 10 includes a drain purge system 100 that
facilitates clearing an obstructed or partially obstructed casing drain.
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary drain purge system 100 that may
be used with steam turbine 10. Casing 22 includes at least one drain orifice 108.
Drain orifice 108 extends through casing 22. and is configured to drain casing 22 of
moisture collected in casing 22 during operation. A drain purge system 100 includes
at least one purge chamber 112 such that purge chamber 112 is in flow
communication with drain orifice 108. In the exemplary embodiment, casing 22
includes a plurality of drain orifices 108. At least some of the plurality of drain
orifices 108 include a respective purge chamber 1 12. Purge chamber 1 12 is defined
by a purge chamber bulkhead 116 and a purge chamber drain portion 120 coupled to
bulkhead 116. Bulkhead 116 is coupled to an exterior surface 122 of casing 22 and
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circumscribes drain orifice 108. In the exemplary embodiment, bulkheads 116 are
cylindrical in shape and include a tee-piping connection 126. Alternatively.
bulkheads 116 are formed in a rectangular, pyramidal, hemispherical, or other shape.
Alternatively, connection 126 is not a tee-piping connection, but another suitable
connection. Additionally, drain portion 120 includes a drain aperture 124. Aperture
124 includes a diameter 125. In the exemplary embodiment, drain aperture 124 is a
precision drilled hole.
Drain purge system 100 also includes a purge fluid source 128 in flow communication
with purge chamber 112. For example, a purge fluid source is high pressure steam or
compressed air. Purge fluid flows from purging fluid source 128 through a steam
piping manifold 130 to supply purge chamber 112 with a flow of purge fluid. In the
exemplary embodiment, steam piping manifold 130 extends from purge fluid source
128 through an exhaust casing 129 to purge chamber 112. In the exemplary
embodiment, exhaust casing 129 is fabricated from carbon steel. Alternatively,
exhaust casing 129 is fabricated from other suitable materials, In an alternative
embodiment, turbine 10 does not include exhaust easing 129. In the exemplary
embodiment, purge fluid source 128 is in flow communication with at least some of
respective purge chambers 112. More specifically, steam piping manifold 130
includes individual pipes 131 coupled to individual respective purge chambers 112.
In the exemplary embodiment, steam piping manifold 130 is a parallel piping
arrangement. Alternatively, steam piping manifold 130 uses a piping arrangement
wherein purge chambers 112 arc coupled together in serial flow communication.
When purge chambers 112 are in serial flow communication, steam piping manifold
130 may require various pipe sizes to facilitate equalizing the purge fluid flow to
purge chambers 112 and to reduce head losses. In the exemplary embodiment, steam
piping manifold 130 is sized to supply purge fluid to respective purge chambers 1 12
simultaneously. Alternatively, steam piping manifold 130 is sized to supply purge
fluid to respective purge chambers 112 individually. When purge fluid is supplied to
respective purge chambers 112 simultaneously, steam piping manifold 130 may be
sized larger in diameter than when purge chambers 112 are supplied individually to
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facilitate accounting for head losses due to increased purge fluid How to purge
chambers 112.
Additionally, drain purge system 100 includes a valve 132 configured to initiate
purging and to regulate the flow from purge fluid source 128 to purge chamber 112.
In the exemplary embodiment, valve 132 is a manually-operated valve. Alternately,
valve 132 is a powered valve that is operated via a signal transmitted to a valve driver,
such as, but not limited to, a solenoid, a pneumatic drive, and/or an electric actuator.
For example, in one embodiment, valve 132 is a powered valve that receives a signal
to initiate purging from a turbine controller or a plant distributed control system.
In one embodiment, drain purge system 100 also includes a sensor 136 configured to
detect drain aperture 124 How. For example, in one embodiment, sensor 136 is a
level sensor that monitors the level of purge fluid flow within purge chamber I 12.
Alternatively, drain purge system 100 does not include sensor 1 36.
Generally, during operation of steam turbine 10, purge chamber 112 receives drain
flow from drain orifice 108, and purge chamber 112 is drained through aperture 124.
During operating of steam turbine 10. valve 132 is opened either automatically or
manually to initiate purging of drain purge system 100. When valve 132 is open,
purge fluid flows through steam piping manifold 130. Purge fluid then flows into
individual pipes 131 and into respective purge chambers 1 12.
After purge fluid has flowed into purge chamber 112, drain aperture 124 maintains a
back pressure in purge chamber 112 sufficient to force a reverse flow of purge fluid
through drain orifice 108. The reverse flow through drain orifice 108 clears debris
and sediments from drain 108 that have collected in drain orifice 108 during operation
of steam turbine 10. Clearing debris from drain orifice 108 prevents excessive
moisture from remaining in the steam path.
The above-described drain purge system is a cost-effective and highly efficient
method for purging a drain orifice in a steam turbine casing to prevent the drain
orifice from becoming clogged with deposits. The deposits that have collected in the
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drain orifices can be removed without shutting down the steam turbine. Drain orifices
without deposits enable the drain orifices to continuously How moisture thereby
eliminating the erosion damage to steam path components caused by excessive
moisture in the steam.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments,
those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with
modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A drain purge system (100) for use with a casing drain system, said purge system
comprising:
a purge chamber (112) defined by a purge chamber bulkhead (116). said purge
chamber further defined by a purge chamber drain portion (120) comprising a drain
aperture (124), said purge chamber bulkhead is coupled to an exterior surface (122) of
the casing (22), said exterior surface including a drain orifice (108) therethrough, said
purge chamber bulkhead circumscribing the drain orifice: and
a source of purge fluid in flow communication with said purge chamber, said source
of purge source is configured to supply said purge chamber with a flow of purge fluid.
2. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said purge system
is configured to generate a reverse flow of purge fluid through the drain orifice (108).
3. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said drain
aperture (124) has a diameter sized to maintain a back pressure in said purge chamber
(112) that is sufficient to force a reverse flow of purge fluid through the drain orifice
(108).
4. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said purge system
comprises a plurality of drain orifices (108).
5. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the casing (22)
includes a plurality of drain orifices (108), said purge system comprises a plurality of
purge chambers (112). each of said plurality of purge chambers coupled in flow
communication to at least one of the plurality of drain orifices.
6. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said source of
purge fluid is coupled in flow communication with at least one of said plurality of
purge chambers (112).
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7. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 6 wherein said source of
purge fluid is in flow communication with said plurality of purge chambers (112) via
at least one of a parallel flow piping arrangement and a serial How piping
arrangement.
8. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said source of
purge fluid is configured to supply purge fluid to at least two ol'said plurality of purge
chambers (112) substantially simultaneously.
9. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said source of
purge fluid is configured to supply purge fluid to said plurality of purge chambers
(112) individually.
10. A drain purge system (100) in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a
valve (132) configured to regulate a flow of purge fluid from said purge fluid source
to said purge chamber (112).

A drain purge system (100) for use with a casing drain system is provided.
The drain purge system (100) includes a purge chamber (112) defined by a purge
chamber bulkhead (116), the purge chamber further defined by a purge chamber drain
portion (120) including a drain aperture (124), the purge chamber bulkhead is coupled
to an exterior surface (122) of the casing (22). the exterior surface including a drain
orifice (108) therethrough, the purge chamber bulkhead circumscribing the drain
orifice, and a source of purge fluid in flow communication with the purge chamber.
the source of purge source is configured to supply the purge chamber with a flow of
purge fluid.