The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 1980
Filed:
Jun. 27, 1978
Lewis Gray, Nether Providence, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A support configuration between a turbine and associated condenser for compensating unbalanced pressure forces on the turbine with unbalanced pressure forces exerted on the condenser. A portion of the condenser floor is elevated above the remaining part of the condenser floor, is flexibly connected therewith, and constitutes a vacuum balance plate which is structurally connected to the turbine. Due to its flexible connection with the condenser, the vacuum balance plate is permitted limited displacement relative to the remaining portion of the condenser floor and can thus transmit unbalanced pressure forces exerted thereon through the structural members to the turbine so as to minimize the condenser vacuum load on the turbine's foundation. The vacuum balance plate's elevation is greater than the condenser's adjacent hot well floor and is preferably greater than the condenser's maximum condensate height. The balance plate is preferably convex to promote condensate drainage therefrom into the condenser's adjacent hot well. The balance of the condenser is flexibly connected to the turbine so as to permit relative movement therebetween. The optimum area for the vacuum balance plate is equal to the area of the turbine's exhaust port through which motive fluid is expelled into the condenser. By transmitting unbalanced pressure forces exerted on the condenser's vacuum balance plate to the turbine, the oppositely directed unbalanced pressure forces exerted on the turbine are substantially compensated resulting in minimized condenser vacuum load on the turbine's foundation.