Water Injection System for Power Plants with Segmented Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-injection systems for power plants face challenges in efficiently and safely injecting water into steam systems, particularly in managing high temperatures that can lead to overheating and failure of metering and servo valves.
Innovation Solution
A water-injection system comprising a supply unit, metering unit, and injection unit with a servo valve and water-injection valve, where the injection pressure is higher than steam pressure, and the valves are spaced apart to prevent overheating, along with a control device for dynamic and precise water injection, using electromagnetic and/or piezoelectric actuators for flexible control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the metering valve and servo valve are positioned close to the injection point for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but the valves are exposed to high steam temperatures causing overheating and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional segments: the metering unit with metering valve and servo valve is separated from the injection unit with water-injection valve. This spatial segmentation allows the metering valves to be positioned in cooler regions while the injection valve handles the high-temperature steam environment, thereby protecting sensitive components from thermal damage while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
An injection line acts as an intermediary conduit connecting the metering unit to the injection unit. This intermediate component allows the metering valves to remain distant from the high-temperature steam system while still enabling water delivery. The injection line serves as a thermal buffer, preventing direct thermal exposure of the metering valves to steam heat.
2Productivity
If water injection pressure is increased to ensure proper injection into high-pressure steam systems, then injection effectiveness is improved, but the risk of uncontrolled injection and system failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives feedback regarding the operational state of the water-injection system and dynamically adjusts the metering of water quantity accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that water injection pressure and flow rate are precisely regulated according to actual steam system conditions, preventing both under-injection and uncontrolled over-injection scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control where the metering valve is actuated by a servo mechanism that can rapidly adjust opening degree based on real-time conditions. This dynamic responsiveness allows the system to adapt injection parameters instantaneously, maintaining optimal injection effectiveness while preventing uncontrolled injection events through continuous adjustment capability.
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
The system ensures safe and precise water injection into steam systems, reducing the likelihood of valve failure due to high temperatures and enabling adaptive operation based on steam system conditions, with efficient cooling and reduced risk of uncontrolled injection.
Implementation Method 1
The supply unit comprises a pump and a storage volume, and the pump is configured to pump water into the storage volume at a predefined pressure
Implementation Method 2
The servo valve is configured to be electromagnetically actuated into an open position
Implementation Method 3
The servo valve can be configured with electromagnetic and/or piezoelectric actuators
Implementation Method 4
water is injected into a steam system when, as the turbine is being started up, the steam is not yet hot enough or when, as the turbine is being powered down, the steam has to be cooled
Data Source
AI summary
A water-injection system for power plants and for injecting water into a steam system includes a supply unit, a metering unit and an injection unit. The supply unit is configured to make water available to the metering unit. The metering unit is in the form of an electrically actuable system and is configured to meter a quantity of water to be injected into the steam system and to make it provide to the injection unit. The injection unit is configured to introduce the water into the steam system.