Turbine Bypass Valve Torque Control During Startup

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Solution Overview

Problem

In closed cycle gas turbines using an atomic reactor as a heat source, the temperature elevating rate is restricted, leading to a prolonged period where the torque applied to the speed reduction gear is lower than the necessary minimum torque, causing potential gear damage and inefficiency in power generation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves controlling the flow rate of the bypassing working fluid to increase the torque applied to the speed reduction gear by initially increasing and then reducing the flow rate, allowing the load on the gear to approach zero more quickly, while preventing surging in the compressor, thus complying with the restrictions on the heat source's temperature elevating rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the temperature elevating rate of the atomic reactor is restricted, then the safety and stability of the heat source is improved, but the time period during which torque is below the necessary minimum torque is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and stability of heat sourceVSAvoidtime period with insufficient torque

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve acts as an intermediary device that introduces additional working fluid into the system. This mediator allows the turbine to receive sufficient fluid flow and generate adequate torque during the warm-up period, without requiring the atomic reactor to increase temperature faster than its safety limits permit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass valve is opened in advance during the warm-up period to ensure sufficient working fluid is available to the turbine before the reactor reaches full operating temperature. This preliminary action of introducing additional fluid prevents the torque deficiency that would otherwise occur during the restricted temperature elevating phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Force

If the flow rate of bypassing working fluid is increased, then the torque applied to the speed reduction gear is increased, but the complexity of the control system is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque applied to speed reduction gearVSAvoidcomplexity of control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system automatically adjusts the bypass valve based on pre-programmed timing sequences and feedback from torque or temperature sensors. This self-service approach allows the system to optimize torque delivery during warm-up without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass valve operates in a time-based periodic manner, being opened during the warm-up period and then closed once the turbine reaches operational temperature. This periodic control strategy simplifies the control system by using time-based logic rather than continuous complex adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient starting operations by controlling the load on the speed reduction gear, reducing the time the torque is below the necessary minimum, preventing gear damage, and optimizing power generation even with restricted temperature elevating rates.

Implementation Method 1

controlling a flow rate of the bypassing working fluid with the bypass valve (43)... increasing a flow rate of the bypassing working fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

heat generation of the atomic reactor... temperature of the working fluid flowing to the turbine is elevated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat generation: Heating

Implementation Method 3

a turbine portion (3) driven to rotate by a high temperature high pressure working fluid supplied from the heat source portion (8)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP2334912B1Method of controlling turbine equipment and turbine equipment

Publication Date: 2016.06.22 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
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AI summary

To provide a method of controlling a turbine equipment and a turbine equipment capable of carrying out a starting operation of controlling a load applied to a speed reducing portion while complying with a restriction imposed on an apparatus provided at a turbine equipment. The invention is characterized in including a temperature elevating step (S1) of elevating a temperature of a working fluid flowing to the turbine portion, a flow rate increasing step (S2) of increasing a flow rate of a working fluid bypassed from a delivery side to a suction side of the compressing portion when a temperature of the working fluid flowing to the turbine portion is elevated by a heat source portion, and a flow rate reducing step (S3) of reducing the flow rate of the bypassing working fluid after an elapse of a predetermined time period after increasing the flow rate of the bypassing working fluid.