Process and apparatus for superheating partly expanded steam

Claim 2

A process of re-heating steam comprising the steps of partly expanding a flow of superheated steam in a steam turbine; delivering the partly-expanded flow of steam to be reheated to a reheater; extracting a part of the superheated steam from an upstream portion of the steam turbine in a superheated condition; cooling the extracted part of the superheated steam from the superheated condition to a saturated steam condition; and then placing the saturated steam in heat exchange relation with the partly-expanded flow of steam in the re-heater for re-heating of the partly-expanded flow of steam.

Claim 3

A process for the re-heating of steam which comprises the steps of generating a flow of superheated steam in a steam generator; partly expanding the flow of superheated steam in a steam turbine downstream of the steam generator; delivering the flow of partly expanded steam to one side of a reheater; tapping off a part-flow of the superheated steam from the flow path between the steam generator and reheater; cooling the tapped part-flow of superheated steam to a saturated steam condition; and then passing the saturated steam into another side of the re-heater for re-heating the flow of partly expanded steam in the re-heater in a heat exchange relation.

Claim 4

A process for the re-heating of steam which comprises the steps of generating a flow of superheated steam in a steam generator; partly expanding the flow of superheated steam in a steam turbine downstream of the steam generator; delivering the flow of partly expanded steam to one side of a reheater; tapping off a part-flow of the superheated steam from the flow path between the steam generator and reheater; cooling the tapped part-flow of superheated steam to a saturated steam condition; and then passing the saturated steam into another side of the re-heater for re-heating the flow of partly expanded steam in the re-heater in a heat exchange relation.

Claim 5

A nuclear power plant comprising a steam generator for generating a flow of superheated steam; a steam turbine for receiving and partly expanding the flow of superheated steam, said turbine having a tap for extracting steam from an upstream end thereof; a re-heater connected on one side to said tap to receive a flow of extracted steam therefrom and on another side with said turbine to receive the flow of partly expanded steam therefrom in heat exchange relation with the extracted steam; and a cooler between said tap and said re-heater for cooling the extracted steam to a saturated steam condition prior to entry into heat exchange relation with the partly expanded steam.

Claim 6

A nuclear power plant comprising a steam generator for generating a flow of superheated steam; a steam turbine for receiving and partly expanding the flow of superheated steam, said turbine having a tap for extracting steam from an upstream end thereof; a re-heater connected on one side to said tap to receive a flow of extracted steam therefrom and on another side with said turbine to receive the flow of partly expanded steam therefrom in heat exchange relation with the extracted steam; and a cooler between said tap and said re-heater for cooling the extracted steam to a saturated steam condition prior to entry into heat exchange relation with the partly expanded steam.

Claim 7

A nuclear power plant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cooler is an injection cooler.

Claim 8

A nuclear power plant as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a conduit connected to said steam generator and a feed pump for feeding cooling water to said steam generator through said conduit, said cooler being connected to said conduit downstream of said pump to receive water therefrom.

Claim 9

A nuclear power plant as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a condensate collecting tank for receiving condensate from said re-heater and a circulating pump for connecting said tank to said cooler.

Claim 10

A nuclear power plant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cooler is a conduit section connected on a primary side to said re-heater, said conduit being disposed to allow the condensate produced during cooling of the extracted steam to flow under gravity in counterflow relation to the flow of extracted steam.

Claim 11

A nuclear power plant as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cooler and said re-heater form a single structural unit, said unit having an inlet for supplying the extracted steam and an outlet for removing condensate, said inlet and said outlet being disposed below said re-heater and connected to a common space whereby the condensate produced by cooling of the extracted steam drips from said re-heater through the flow of extracted steam.

Claim 12

In a power plant having a steam generator for generating a flow of superheated steam and a steam turbine for receiving and expanding the flow of superheated steam, the combination of a re-heater connected to said turbine to receive a flow of partly expanded steam therefrom, and means for tapping off a part flow of the super-heated steam from between said steam generator and said reheater to flow in heat exchange relation with the flow of partly expanded steam in said reheater, said means including a cooler therein for lowering the temperature of the tapped-off super-heated steam to a saturated steam condition prior to entry into heat exchange relation with the flow of expanded steam.

Claim 13

In a power plant having a steam generator for generating a flow of superheated steam and a steam turbine for receiving and expanding the flow of superheated steam, the combination of a re-heater connected to said turbine to receive a flow of partly expanded steam therefrom, and means for tapping off a part flow of the super-heated steam from between said steam generator and said reheater to flow in heat exchange relation with the flow of partly expanded steam in said reheater, said means including a cooler therein for lowering the temperature of the tapped-off super-heated steam to a saturated steam condition prior to entry into heat exchange relation with the flow of expanded steam.

Claim 14

A nuclear power plant comprising a nuclear reactor; a reactor coolant circuit for circulating a primary coolant through said reactor; a secondary coolant circuit for circulating water in heat exchange relation with the primary coolant of said reactor coolant circuit, said secondary coolant circuit including a steam generator receiving the primary coolant and water in heat exchange relation to produce a superheated steam, a steam turbine for receiving and expanding the superheated steam, and a re-heater connected to said turbine for receiving a flow of partly expanded steam; and means for tapping off a part-flow of the superheated steam from between said steam generator and said reheater to flow in heat exchange relation with the flow of partly expanded steam in said re-heater, said means including a cooler therein for lowering the temperature of the tapped-off superheated steam to a saturated steam condition prior to entry into heat exchange relation with the flow of partly expanded steam.

Claim 15

A nuclear power plant comprising a nuclear reactor; a reactor coolant circuit for circulating a primary coolant through said reactor; a secondary coolant circuit for circulating water in heat exchange relation with the primary coolant of said reactor coolant circuit, said secondary coolant circuit including a steam generator receiving the primary coolant and water in heat exchange relation to produce a superheated steam, a steam turbine for receiving and expanding the superheated steam, and a re-heater connected to said turbine for receiving a flow of partly expanded steam; and means for tapping off a part-flow of the superheated steam from between said steam generator and said reheater to flow in heat exchange relation with the flow of partly expanded steam in said re-heater, said means including a cooler therein for lowering the temperature of the tapped-off superheated steam to a saturated steam condition prior to entry into heat exchange relation with the flow of partly expanded steam.

Claim 16

A nuclear reactor plant as set forth in claim 10 wherein said turbine includes a high pressure stage and a downstream low pressure stage and the secondary side of said re-heater is connected in the flow path of partly expanded steam therebetween.