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:
Sep. 06, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2003
Darrin Glen Kirchhof, Schenectady, NY (US);
Darrin Glen Kirchhof, Schenectady, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
In a method of controlling steam flow through a steam turbine having a turbine rotor, a maximum heat transfer rate is determined based on thermal stress calculations in the turbine rotor. A maximum steam flow rate can be calculated based on the maximum heat transfer rate. An actual steam flow rate through the steam turbine is determined, and a turbine inlet valve is controlled based on a difference between the actual steam flow rate and the maximum steam flow rate. In this manner, steam flow can be controlled to the steam turbine in such a way as to limit thermal stress to an acceptable level while minimizing start times and maximizing operability.