Power plant performance management systems and methods
First Claim
1. A steam powered electric power generating station to provide electricity, comprising:
- (a) a burner to process fuel to generate heat;
(b) a boiler which is heated by said heat to convert feed water into steam;
(c) a steam turbine that is connected to said boiler via a first steam line extending from said boiler to said steam turbine to receive said steam created by said boiler, said steam turns said steam turbine, said steam turbine powers an electrical generator, said electrical generator generates said electricity;
(d) a heater to heat said feed water generated from said steam remaining after said steam is condensed after turning said steam turbine, said heater to receive a portion of said steam from said steam turbine via a second steam line extending from said steam turbine to said heater to heat said feed water;
(e) a first temperature detector positioned to detect a first temperature of said feed water prior to being heated by said heater;
(f) a second temperature detector positioned to detect a second temperature of said feed water after being heated by said heater; and
(g) a computer electrically coupled to said first temperature detector to receive said first temperature and to said second temperature detector to receive said second temperature, said computer compares said first temperature to said second temperature to generate a temperature difference and compares said temperature difference with a preferred temperature difference to determine whether excess amounts of condensation are present in said heater and in danger of reaching said steam turbine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steam powered electric power generating station to provide electricity comprises a steam turbine positioned in a steam turbine shell, equipment, such as a heater, a first and a second temperature detectors, and a computer. The steam turbine has necessary blades and a shaft to turn an electrical generator to create electricity. The steam turbine shell mechanically coupled to receive steam to turn the at least one blade steam turbine. The equipment is mechanically coupled to the steam turbine shell to receive steam from the steam turbine shell and receives feed water through an entry port and releases feed water through an exit port. The first temperature detector is positioned to detect a first temperature of the feed water prior to entering the equipment via the entry port. The second temperature detector is positioned to detect a second temperature of the feed water after exiting the equipment via the exit port. The computer is electrically coupled to the first temperature detector and to the second temperature detector and compares the first temperature to the second temperature to generate a temperature difference. Related processes comprise detecting a first temperature of feed water immediately before the feed water has exited the heating equipment; detecting a second temperature of the feed water immediately after the feed water has entered the heating equipment; (c) comparing the first temperature to the second temperature to generate a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; (d) comparing the temperature difference with a preferred temperature difference to determine whether the temperature difference is within an approved range from the preferred temperature difference; and (e) generating a warning signal to alert the power plant operator if the temperature difference is not within the approved range.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A steam powered electric power generating station to provide electricity, comprising:
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(a) a burner to process fuel to generate heat; (b) a boiler which is heated by said heat to convert feed water into steam; (c) a steam turbine that is connected to said boiler via a first steam line extending from said boiler to said steam turbine to receive said steam created by said boiler, said steam turns said steam turbine, said steam turbine powers an electrical generator, said electrical generator generates said electricity; (d) a heater to heat said feed water generated from said steam remaining after said steam is condensed after turning said steam turbine, said heater to receive a portion of said steam from said steam turbine via a second steam line extending from said steam turbine to said heater to heat said feed water; (e) a first temperature detector positioned to detect a first temperature of said feed water prior to being heated by said heater; (f) a second temperature detector positioned to detect a second temperature of said feed water after being heated by said heater; and (g) a computer electrically coupled to said first temperature detector to receive said first temperature and to said second temperature detector to receive said second temperature, said computer compares said first temperature to said second temperature to generate a temperature difference and compares said temperature difference with a preferred temperature difference to determine whether excess amounts of condensation are present in said heater and in danger of reaching said steam turbine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A steam powered electric power generating station to provide electricity, comprising:
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(a) a steam turbine positioned in a steam turbine shell, said steam turbine having at least one blade and a shaft joined to said at least one blade, said shaft adapted to turn an electrical generator to create electricity, said steam turbine shell adapted to receive steam to turn said at least one blade and said shaft of said steam turbine via a first steam line connected to said steam turbine shell; (b) equipment connected to said steam turbine shell to receive steam from said steam turbine shell via a second steam line extending from said steam turbine shell to said equipment, said equipment receives feed water through an entry port and releases feed heater through an exit port, said equipment performs certain operations on said feed water; (c) a first temperature detector positioned to detect a first temperature of said feed water prior to entering said equipment via said entry port; (d) a second temperature detector positioned to detect a second temperature of said feed water after exiting said equipment via said exit port; and (e) a computer electrically coupled to said first temperature detector to receive said first temperature and to said second temperature detector to receive said second temperature, said computer compares said first temperature to said second temperature to generate a temperature difference and compares said temperature difference with a standard temperature difference to determine whether excess amounts of condensation are present in said equipment and In danger of entering said steam turbine shell. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A process of alerting the power plant operator of a hazardous condition, comprising:
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(a) detecting a first temperature of feed water immediately before said feed water enters heating equipment; (b) detecting a second temperature of said feed water immediately after said feed water exits said heating equipment; (c) comparing said first temperature to said second temperature to generate a temperature difference between said first temperature and said second temperature; (d) comparing said temperature difference with a preferred temperature difference to determine whether excess amounts of condensation are present in said heating equipment and in danger of reaching said steam turbine, and (e) generating a warning signal to alert said power plant operator that excess amounts of condensation are present in said heating equipment and in danger of reaching said steam turbine. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 31, 32)
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30. The process of claim 30, wherein said first interval and said second interval are equal to two seconds.
Specification