Steam turbine installation and associated operating method

Abstract

A steam turbine installation ( 1 ), especially for electricity generation, includes a steam path ( 2 ) in which a steam generator ( 4 ) and a steam turbine ( 3 ) are arranged. In order to reduce the risk of erosion for components which are arranged in the steam path ( 2 ), for example blades of the steam turbine ( 3 ), an inertial separator ( 6 ) is arranged in the steam path ( 2 ) between the steam generator ( 4 ) and the steam turbine ( 3 ).

1 . A steam turbine installation useful for electricity generation comprising:
 a steam path;   a steam generator and a steam turbine arranged in the steam path, the steam turbine downstream of the steam generator; and   at least one inertial separator arranged in the steam path between the steam generator and the steam turbine.   
     
     
         2 . The steam turbine installation as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inertial separator comprises a cyclone separator. 
     
     
         3 . The steam turbine installation as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising at least one the following:
 the cyclone separator is arranged in an upright position and has a vertical longitudinal center axis;   a steam inlet connected tangentially to the cyclone separator;   a steam outlet connected axially centrally or tangentially to the cyclone separator;   the cyclone separator includes a cylinder section with a lower end region, a steam inlet connected to the cyclone separator lower end region;   the cyclone separator includes a cylinder section with an upper end region, a steam outlet connected to the cyclone separator upper end region;   the cyclone separator includes a cylinder section with a bottom, and a downwards tapering cone section which adjoins the cylinder section at the bottom.   
     
     
         4 . The steam turbine installation as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising at least one of the following:
 the cyclone separator has a globular housing;   the cyclone separator has a housing, and comprising a steam inlet connected tangentially to the housing;   the cyclone separator has a housing, and comprising a steam inlet connected to the housing in an equatorial plane;   the cyclone separator has a housing with a longitudinal center axis, and comprising a steam outlet connected to the housing coaxially to the longitudinal center axis of the housing;   the cyclone separator has a steam inlet, a steam outlet, and a longitudinal center axis associated with the steam outlet is perpendicular to an equatorial plane associated with the steam inlet;   the cyclone separator has a steam outlet, a longitudinal center axis, and an outlet opening for removing contaminants from the housing which are deposited in the housing arranged on the housing coaxially to the longitudinal center axis of the housing;   the cyclone separator has a steam outlet, a longitudinal center axis, and a longitudinal center axis associated with the outlet opening arranged coaxially to a longitudinal center axis associated with the steam outlet;   the cyclone separator has a steam inlet, a steam outlet opening, and a longitudinal center axis associated with the outlet opening perpendicular to an equatorial plane which is associated with the steam inlet; and   the cyclone separator has a steam inlet, a steam outlet opening, and a housing arranged in the upright position so that an equatorial plane associated with the steam inlet extends essentially horizontally, and/or so that a longitudinal center axis associated with the steam outlet extends vertically, and/or so that a longitudinal center axis associated with the outlet opening extends vertically.   
     
     
         5 . The steam turbine installation as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least one of the following:
 the inertial separator is configured and arranged to be operated at a steam pressure of about 250 bar to about 350 bar, and/or at a steam temperature of about 620° C. to about 720° C.;   the inertial separator is configured and arranged to separate out from the steam particles with a grain size of less than 0.5 mm; and   the inertial separator is configured and arranged to separate out oxide particles.   
     
     
         6 . The steam turbine installation as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the inertial separator is configured and arranged to separate out from the steam particles with a grain size of less than 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The steam turbine installation as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the oxide particles comprises magnetite or spinel. 
     
     
         8 . A method for operating a steam turbine installation for electricity generation, the method comprising:
 guiding steam from a steam generator to a steam turbine; and   extracting from the steam particles which are entrained upstream of the steam turbine.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein extracting comprises separating out particles from the steam with inertia forces.