Method of and apparatus for testing monitoring organs in a turbine installation

Claim 2

In a gaseous fluid turbine system, the combination comprising a pair of safety systems normally operated in parallel and independently of each other and which are connected into the turbine system to protect the turbine against overspeed and also against an overpressure in the path of the gas flow through the turbine system, each said system including an overspeed monitor responsive to turbine shafet speed and a pressure monitor responsive to pressure in saiD gas flow path, means responsive to either monitor of either safety system for shutting off the gas flow to the turbine, and means for selectively taking each one of said safety systems out of service while the other safety system continuesto perform its monitoring functions in order to test the operability of the monitors of the safety system taken out of service.

Claim 3

A turbine system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the two safety systems operating in parallel is of the pressurized fluid type and a response of either the speed or pressure monitor serves to de-pressurize the system, and wherein said means for selectively taking one of said systems out of operation while the other system continues to perform its monitoring function comprises selectively operable valve means for disconnecting one or the other of said pressurized fluid safety systems from said monitor responsive gas flow shut-off means.

Claim 4

A turbine system as defined in claim 2 wherein said selectively operable valve means for disconnecting one or the other of said pressurized fluid safety systems is constituted by a compound slide valve, said slide valve including mechanically coupled valve members respectively correlated to said safety systems and which normally are in their open position, and means for selectively actuating said valve members such that as one valve member moves in a closing direction the other valve member moves in a non-closing direction.

Claim 5

A turbine system as defined in claim 1 which further includes an auxiliary pressure source for testing said pressure monitors, wherein each of the two safety systems operating in parallel is of the pressurized fluid type and a response of either the peed or pressure monitor serves to depressurize the system, wherein said means for selectively taking one of said systems out of operation while the other system continues to perform its monitoring function comprises selectively operable valve means for disconnecting one or the other of said pressurized fluid safety systems from said monitor responsive means which serves to shut off gas flow to said turbine, and wherein for selective testing of said pressure monitors valve means are provided for applying said auxiliary pressure to said pressure monitors on a progressively increasing basis.

Claim 6

A gaseous fluid turbine system as defined in claim 1 and which further includes an auxiliary pressure source providing a test pressure higher than that of the normal pressure conditions existing in said turbine system, and means connecting said auxiliary pressure source into each of said pressure monitors.

Claim 7

In the method for testing each of two safety systems including speed and pressure monitors connected into a turbine system and which systems are normally operated in parallel and independent of each other for protecting the turbine against overspeed and also against any overpressure in the path of the gas flow through the turbine system, the steps which include taking the first one of said safety systems out of service while the second safety system continues to provide its monitoring functions, testing the operability of the speed monitor of said first safety system and testing the operability of the gas flow pressure monitor of said first safety system by application of a progressively variable pressure thereto from an auxiliary source of pressure higher than that of the normal pressure conditions existing in said turbine system, restoring said first safety system to service, taking said second safety system out of service while said first safety system continues to provide its monitoring functions, testing the operability of the speed monitor of said second safety system and testing the operability of the gas flow pressure monitor of said second safety system by application of a progressively variable pressure thereto from said auxiliary source of pressure higher than that of the normal pressure conditions existing in said turbine installation, and finally restoring said second safety system tO service operation in parallel with said first safety system.

Claim 8

In the method for testing each of two safety systems including speed and pressure monitors connected into a turbine system and which systems are normally operated in parallel and independent of each other for protecting the turbine against overspeed and also against any overpressure in the path of the gas flow through the turbine system, the steps which include taking the first one of said safety systems out of service while the second safety system continues to provide its monitoring functions, testing the operability of the speed monitor of said first safety system and testing the operability of the gas flow pressure monitor of said first safety system by application of a progressively variable pressure thereto from an auxiliary source of pressure higher than that of the normal pressure conditions existing in said turbine system, restoring said first safety system to service, taking said second safety system out of service while said first safety system continues to provide its monitoring functions, testing the operability of the speed monitor of said second safety system and testing the operability of the gas flow pressure monitor of said second safety system by application of a progressively variable pressure thereto from said auxiliary source of pressure higher than that of the normal pressure conditions existing in said turbine installation, and finally restoring said second safety system tO service operation in parallel with said first safety system.