System and method for accomodating thermal displacement in a power generation plant

Abstract

A system for a power generation plant includes a boiler having a superheater, a first header fluidly coupled to an outlet of the superheater and being configured to receive steam from the superheater, a turbine elevated to a location generally adjacent to the outlet of the superheater, and a main steam piping system extending from the first header to the turbine and being configured to direct a flow of the steam from the first header to the turbine. The system further includes a flexible portion upstream from the first header operative to flex with respect to the first header and the boiler due to a thermal displacement of the boiler.

1 . A system  10  for a power generation plant, comprising:
 a boiler  12  having a superheater  15 ; 
 a first header  19  fluidly coupled to an outlet of the superheater  15  and being configured to receive steam from the superheater  15 ; 
 a turbine HP 1  located generally adjacent to the outlet of the superheater  15 ; and 
 a main steam piping system  18  extending from the first header  19  to the turbine HP 1  and being configured to direct a flow of the steam from the first header  19  to the turbine HP 1 ; 
 wherein the system  10  includes a first flexible coupling tube portion  56  upstream from the first header  19 , fluidly coupled between the first header  19  and the boiler  12 . 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first flexible coupling tube portion  56  comprises a first array of tubes  46  fluidly coupling the outlet of the superheater  15  to the first header  19 ;   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first array of tubes  46  of the first flexible coupling tube portion  56  includes a generally vertical portion  54 , and a generally horizontal portion  52 .   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each tube  45  of the first array of tubes  46  is flexible in response to thermal displacement of the boiler  12 .   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first flexible coupling tube portion  56  is operative to flex with respect to the main steam outlet header  19  and the boiler  12  in response to a thermal displacement of the boiler  12 .   
     
     
         6 . The system  10  of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first header  19  is located outside of a main body of the boiler  12 . 
 
     
     
         7 . The system  10  of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the turbine HP 1  has an axis of rotation that is oriented generally orthogonal to a face of the boiler. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system  10  of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each tube  45  of the array of tubes  46  has a diameter and a wall thickness that are less than a diameter and a wall thickness of the piping of the main steam piping system  18 . 
 
     
     
         9 . The system  10  of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a reheater  13  within the boiler  12 ; 
 a second header  21  fluidly coupled to an outlet of the reheater  13  and being configured to receive steam from the reheater  13 ; 
 a second turbine IP 2  elevated to a location generally adjacent to the outlet of the reheater  13 ; and 
 a hot reheat piping system  20  extending from the second header  21  to the second turbine IP 2  and being configured to direct a flow of the steam from the second header  21  to the second turbine IP 2 ; 
 wherein the system  10  includes a second flexible coupling tube portion  56  upstream from the second header  21  operative to flex relative the second header  21  and the boiler  12  in response to a thermal displacement of the boiler. 
 
     
     
         10 . A system  10  for a power generation plant, comprising:
 a boiler  12  having a superheater  15  and a reheater  13 ; 
 a main steam outlet header  19  fluidly coupled to an outlet of the superheater  15  and being configured to receive steam from the superheater  15 ; 
 a hot reheat outlet header  21  fluidly coupled to an outlet of the reheater  13  and being configured to receive steam from the reheater  13 ; 
 a high-pressure turbine HP 1  elevated to a location generally adjacent to the outlet of the superheater  15 ; 
 an intermediate pressure turbine IP 1  elevated to a location generally adjacent to the outlet of the reheater  13 ; 
 a main steam piping system  18  extending from the main steam outlet header  19  to the high-pressure turbine HP 1  and being configured to direct a flow of the steam from the main steam piping system  18  to the high-pressure turbine HP 1 ; and 
 a hot reheat piping system  20  extending from the hot reheat outlet header  21  to the intermediate pressure turbine IP 1  and being configured to direct a flow of the steam from the hot reheat piping system  20  to the intermediate pressure turbine IP 1 ; 
 wherein the system  10  includes a first flexible coupling tube portion  56  upstream from the main steam outlet header  19 , the first flexible coupling tube portion  56  operative to flex with respect to the main steam outlet header  19  and the boiler  12  in response to a thermal displacement of the boiler  12 ; and 
 wherein the system includes a second flexible coupling tube portion  56  upstream from the hot reheat outlet header  21  operative to flex with respect to the hot reheat outlet header  21  and the boiler  12  in response to the thermal displacement of the boiler  12 .