An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by a cycle, having a heat exchanger, a reservoir for an operating medium, a feed line, a turbine, and a return line having at least one recovery device. To utilize waste heat for the generation of electrical energy, the turbine is embodied as a disc rotor turbine with full condensation of the operating medium, whereby a separate condenser can be eliminated.

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by a cycle, having a heat exchanger, a reservoir for an operating medium, a feed line, a turbine, and a return line having at least one recovery device. To utilize waste heat for the generation of electrical energy, the turbine is embodied as a disc rotor turbine with full condensation of the operating medium, whereby a separate condenser can be eliminated.

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by a cycle, having a heat exchanger, a reservoir for an operating medium, a feed line, a turbine, and a return line having at least one recovery device is described. In order to also be able to utilize waste heat for the generation of electrical energy, the turbine is embodied as a disc rotor turbine. A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a cycle is also described, in which thermal energy is supplied to an operating medium in a reservoir, the operating medium evaporates and/or a pressure in the operating medium is increased, whereupon the operating medium releases energy in a turbine, after which the operating medium is returned to the reservoir.

An apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy by a cycle, having a heat exchanger, a reservoir for an operating medium, a feed line, a turbine, and a return line having at least one recovery device is described. In order to also be able to utilize waste heat for the generation of electrical energy, the turbine is embodied as a disc rotor turbine. A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a cycle is also described, in which thermal energy is supplied to an operating medium in a reservoir, the operating medium evaporates and/or a pressure in the operating medium is increased, whereupon the operating medium releases energy in a turbine, after which the operating medium is returned to the reservoir.

A steam turbine plant includes a high-medium pressure turbine having a high-pressure turbine section provided at one end portion in an axial direction and a medium-pressure turbine section provided at the other end portion; a low-pressure turbine disposed coaxially with the high-medium pressure turbine; a condenser configured to cool steam used in the low-pressure turbine to condense the steam into condensate; and a feed-water heater configured to heat the condensate with steam discharged from the high-pressure turbine section. The plant also includes a low-pressure moisture separating and heating device configured to remove moisture of steam discharged from the medium-pressure turbine section, and to heat the steam with a part of steam to be sent to an inlet portion of the high-pressure turbine section and a part of steam to be sent to an inlet portion of the medium-pressure turbine section from an outlet portion of the high-pressure turbine section.

A steam turbine plant includes a high-medium pressure turbine having a high-pressure turbine section provided at one end portion in an axial direction and a medium-pressure turbine section provided at the other end portion; a low-pressure turbine disposed coaxially with the high-medium pressure turbine; a condenser configured to cool steam used in the low-pressure turbine to condense the steam into condensate; and a feed-water heater configured to heat the condensate with steam discharged from the high-pressure turbine section. The plant also includes a low-pressure moisture separating and heating device configured to remove moisture of steam discharged from the medium-pressure turbine section, and to heat the steam with a part of steam to be sent to an inlet portion of the high-pressure turbine section and a part of steam to be sent to an inlet portion of the medium-pressure turbine section from an outlet portion of the high-pressure turbine section.

Systems and methods to control power plant operation via control of turbine run-up and acceleration are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling a turbine in a power plant can be provided. The method may include receiving an operating pressure of a condenser associated with a power plant; receiving a rotor speed of a turbine associated with the power plant; receiving a last stage blade (LSB) protection limit for the turbine; based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed of the turbine, and the LSB protection limit, allowing, via a control system, a run-up of the turbine. The method may further include: receiving a rotor speed gradient of the turbine; receiving one or more critical speed ranges associated with the rotor speed of the turbine; and based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed, the rotor speed gradient, and the one or more critical speed ranges, regulating, via the control system, at least one of: the rotor speed of the turbine and the rotor speed gradient of the turbine.

Systems and methods to control power plant operation via control of turbine run-up and acceleration are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling a turbine in a power plant can be provided. The method may include receiving an operating pressure of a condenser associated with a power plant; receiving a rotor speed of a turbine associated with the power plant; receiving a last stage blade (LSB) protection limit for the turbine; based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed of the turbine, and the LSB protection limit, allowing, via a control system, a run-up of the turbine. The method may further include: receiving a rotor speed gradient of the turbine; receiving one or more critical speed ranges associated with the rotor speed of the turbine; and based at least in part on the operating pressure of the condenser, the rotor speed, the rotor speed gradient, and the one or more critical speed ranges, regulating, via the control system, at least one of: the rotor speed of the turbine and the rotor speed gradient of the turbine.

The quatro generation system of the present invention includes: a power generation engine driven by fuel gas; an exhaust-heat boiler configured to utilize energy of exhaust gas discharged from the power generation engine to produce steam from boiler water; a boiler-water circulation device configured to supply the steam produced by the exhaust-heat boiler to a steam-energy recovery unit, and to return condensed water of the steam to the exhaust-heat boiler after the steam-energy recovery unit recovers energy of the steam; a condensation economizer configured to utilize condensation latent heat of exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust-heat boiler to heat a heat medium; and a heat-medium circulation device configured to supply the heat medium heated by the condensation economizer to a thermal-energy recovery unit, and to return the heat medium to the condensation economizer after the thermal-energy recovery unit recovers energy of the heat medium.

The quatro generation system of the present invention includes: a power generation engine driven by fuel gas; an exhaust-heat boiler configured to utilize energy of exhaust gas discharged from the power generation engine to produce steam from boiler water; a boiler-water circulation device configured to supply the steam produced by the exhaust-heat boiler to a steam-energy recovery unit, and to return condensed water of the steam to the exhaust-heat boiler after the steam-energy recovery unit recovers energy of the steam; a condensation economizer configured to utilize condensation latent heat of exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust-heat boiler to heat a heat medium; and a heat-medium circulation device configured to supply the heat medium heated by the condensation economizer to a thermal-energy recovery unit, and to return the heat medium to the condensation economizer after the thermal-energy recovery unit recovers energy of the heat medium.