Devices for improving operating flexibility of steam-electric generating plants

Claim 1

A STEAM-ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT COMPRISING A STEAM GENERATOR HAVING HEAD ABSORPTION CONDUITS INCLUDING WATERWALLS AND A SUPERHEATER, A STEAM TURBINE INCLUDING STEAM ADMISSION CONTROLS, FLUID CONDUIT MEANS SERIALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID WATERWALLS, SUPERHEATER AND STEAM TURBINE, THROTTLING VALVE MEANS LOCATED IN SAID SERIALLY CONNECTED FLUID CONDUIT MEANS BETWEEN SAID WATERWALLS AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SUPERHEATER AND WHICH IS OPERABLE FROM THE FULLY OPEN TO THE FULLY CLOSED WORKING POSITION, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR EFFECTIVELY REGULATING THE STEAM TTEMPERATURE IN A PORTION OF SAID TURBINE FOR VARYING LOAD CONDITIONS, SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO A VARIABLE CONDITION OF SAID TURBINE FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING SAID THROTTLING VALVE MEANS SO AS TO SELECTIVELY VARY THE PRESSURE IN SAID SUPERHEATER PORTION IN A RANGE BETWEEN THE PRESSURE WHICH RESULTS FROM THE VALVE MEANS WHEN IN THE FULLY OPEN WORKING POSITION, DOWN TO THE MINIMUM THROTTLED POSITION REQUIRED TTO ADMIT ONLY SUFFICIENT STEAM TO SAID TURBINE TO SATISFY ANY REQUIRED TURBINE LOAD.