Turbine Having Compact Inflow Housing Thanks to Internal Control Valves

Abstract

A turbine having an inflow housing is provided. The turbine includes an inlet for an inflowing working fluid, wherein the inlet can be closed by a quick closing valve, a plurality of control valves and at least two nozzle groups. The flow of the working fluid is controllable by the inlet into the nozzle groups via the control valves. Furthermore, the inlet can be connected via an inlet line to the first nozzle group, wherein the inlet line is guided through the primary control valve such that the flow of the working fluid along the inlet line can be controlled using the primary control valve. The secondary control valve connects the first nozzle group to the second nozzle group such that the flow of the working fluid from the first nozzle group into the second nozzle group may be controlled using the secondary control valve.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A turbine with an inflow housing, comprising:
 an inlet for an inflowing working fluid, the inlet may be closed off by a quick closing valve;   a plurality of control valves; and   at least two nozzle groups,   wherein the flow of working fluid may be controlled from the inlet into the plurality of nozzle groups using the plurality of control valves,   wherein the inflow housing includes a primary control valve and at least one secondary control valve,   wherein the inlet is connected via an inlet line to a first nozzle group,   wherein the inlet line is routed through the primary control valve such that the flow of working fluid along the inlet line may be controlled using the primary control valve, and   wherein a first secondary control valve connects the first nozzle group to the second nozzle group such that the flow of the working fluid from the first nozzle group into the second nozzle group may be controlled using the first secondary control valve.   
   
   
       12 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 further comprising a third nozzle group and a second secondary control valve,   wherein the second secondary control valve connects the second nozzle group to the third nozzle group such that the flow of working fluid from the second nozzle group into the third nozzle group may be controlled using the second secondary control valve.   
   
   
       13 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the primary control valve is equipped with a pilot valve. 
   
   
       14 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the turbine further comprises a rotor supported to allow rotation in the inflow housing,   wherein the plurality of nozzle groups extend in a shape of a ring sector at a common diameter around the rotor,   wherein each secondary control valve includes a shut-off facility and an axis of actuation, and   wherein the shut-off facilities of the plurality of secondary control valves are arranged on the diameter of the plurality of nozzle groups.   
   
   
       15 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the axes of actuation of the plurality of secondary control valves extend radially to a first axis of rotation of the rotor. 
   
   
       16 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the shut-off facilities of the plurality of secondary control valves can be switched rotationally so that the axis of actuation involved is a second axis of rotation. 
   
   
       17 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 14 ,
 wherein the inflow housing is essentially annular and is divided into at least two housing halves, and   wherein the inlet line is an integral component of a first housing half.   
   
   
       18 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 wherein each nozzle group is provided with a plurality of nozzles directed onto the rotor, and   wherein the plurality of nozzles are directed axially onto the rotor so that the flow of working fluid through the turbine is in parallel to the first axis of rotation.   
   
   
       19 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the inflowing working fluid is steam. 
   
   
       20 . The turbine as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a fourth nozzle group and a third secondary control valve,
 wherein the third secondary control valve connects the third nozzle group to the fourth nozzle group such that the flow of working fluid from the third nozzle group into the fourth nozzle group may be controlled using the third secondary control valve.   
   
   
       21 . A method for operating a turbine with an inflow housing, comprising:
 opening a quick closing valve, the quick closing valve is used to quickly close off an inlet for a working fluid flow;   opening a pilot valve of a primary control valve;   finish opening the primary control valve after the operating speed of the rotor is reached; and   opening the first secondary control valve,   wherein an inlet line is routed through the primary control valve such that the working fluid flow along the inlet line may be controlled using the primary control valve, and   wherein the first secondary control valve connects a first nozzle group to a second nozzle group such that the working fluid flow from the first nozzle group into the second nozzle group may be controlled using the first secondary control valve.   
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the method is used during a start-up of the turbine. 
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 ,
 further comprising a third nozzle group and a second secondary control valve,   wherein the second secondary control valve connects the second nozzle group to a third nozzle group such that the flow of working fluid from the second nozzle group into the third nozzle group may be controlled using the second secondary control valve.   
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the primary control valve is equipped with a pilot valve. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 ,
 wherein the turbine further comprises a rotor supported to allow rotation in the inflow housing,   wherein the plurality of nozzle groups extend in a shape of a ring sector at a common diameter around the rotor,   wherein each secondary control valve includes a shut-off facility and an axis of actuation, and   wherein the shut-off facilities of the plurality of secondary control valves are arranged on the diameter of the plurality of nozzle groups.   
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the axes of actuation of the plurality of secondary control valves extend radially to a first axis of rotation of the rotor. 
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the shut-off facilities of the plurality of secondary control valves can be switched rotationally so that the axis of actuation involved is a second axis of rotation. 
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 ,
 wherein the inflow housing is essentially annular and is divided into at least two housing halves, and   wherein the inlet line is an integral component of a first housing half.   
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 ,
 wherein each nozzle group is provided with a plurality of nozzles directed onto the rotor, and   wherein the plurality of nozzles are directed axially onto the rotor so that the flow of working fluid through the turbine is in parallel to the first axis of rotation.   
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the inflowing working fluid is steam.