Flow guided steam strainer for steam turbine valves

Abstract

A steam turbine valve includes a casing and an inlet in the casing through which a flow of steam flows into the valve. The valve also includes a strainer located in the casing, and a flow guide connected with the strainer to protrude out from the strainer at a location in which the flow of steam strikes the flow guide, changes direction in its flow with respect to the strainer, and passes through a flow path of the strainer to an inside portion of the strainer.

1 . A steam turbine valve, comprising:
 a casing;   an inlet in the casing through which a flow of steam flows into the valve;   a strainer located in the casing; and   a flow guide connected with the strainer to protrude out from the strainer at a location in which the flow of steam strikes the flow guide, changes direction in its flow with respect to the strainer and passes through a flow path of the strainer to an inside portion of the strainer.   
     
     
         2 . The steam turbine valve of  claim 1 , wherein the strainer is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The steam turbine valve of  claim 1 , an annular passage being located between an outside of the strainer and an inside of the casing, wherein when the flow of steam strikes the flow guide the flow of steam changes direction and flows in the annular passage. 
     
     
         4 . The steam turbine valve of  claim 1 , wherein the strainer has a plurality of holes formed therein through which the flow of steam passes to an inside portion of the strainer. 
     
     
         5 . The steam turbine valve of  claim 1 , wherein the strainer has a first portion that includes a plurality of holes formed therein through which the flow of steam passes to an inside portion of the strainer, the strainer has a second portion that comprises a solid unapertured portion, the flow guide being connected with the solid portion of the strainer. 
     
     
         6 . The steam turbine valve of  claim 1 , wherein the flow guide comprises an inverted V-shape guide having an apex and a pair of facing surfaces at which the flow of steam strikes. 
     
     
         7 . The steam turbine valve of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of facing surfaces are one of straight, convex, or concave in shape. 
     
     
         8 . A valve for a steam turbine, comprising:
 an inlet through which a flow of steam flows into the valve;   a strainer located within the valve, wherein at least a portion of the strainer includes a plurality of holes through which the steam flows; and   a flow guide connected with the strainer to protrude out from the strainer at a location in which the flow of steam strikes the flow guide and changes direction in its flow with respect to the strainer and passes through the holes in the first portion of the strainer to an inside portion of the strainer.   
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 8 , wherein the strainer is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 8 , wherein an annular passage is located outside of an outer surface of the strainer, wherein when the flow of steam strikes the flow guide the flow of steam changes direction and flows in the annular passage. 
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 8 , wherein the flow guide comprises an inverted V-shape guide having an apex and a pair of facing surfaces at which the flow of steam strikes. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of facing surfaces are one of straight, convex, or concave in shape. 
     
     
         13 . A valve, comprising:
 an inlet through which a flow of steam flows into the valve;   a cylindrical strainer located within the valve, wherein at least a first portion of the strainer includes a plurality of holes through which the steam flows; and   a flow guide connected with the strainer to protrude out from the strainer at a location in which the flow of steam strikes the flow guide and changes direction in its flow with respect to the strainer and passes through the holes in the first portion of the strainer to an inside portion of the strainer.   
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein the flow guide is connected with a unapertured second portion of the strainer. 
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein an annular passage is located outside of an outer surface of the strainer, wherein when the flow of steam strikes the flow guide the flow of steam changes direction and flows in the annular passage. 
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein the flow guide comprises an inverted V-shape, triangular guide having an apex and a pair of facing surfaces at which the flow of steam strikes and changes direction to flow in an annular passage that at least partially surrounds the strainer. 
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of facing surfaces are one of straight, convex, or concave in shape.