Steam Source
High pressure steam at high temperatures above 300*F produced in house from high pressure boilers or piped into the building from Con-Ed. High pressure steam can be 150 to 200 PSI depending on plant needs
Main Steam Valve or Gimble Valve
Large manual feed or shutoff valve. These valves come in many different shapes and designs; may have a spring loaded feature for emergency shutdown. These valves with a spring loaded feature, the spring inside has to be manually cocked and set before the
By Pass Valve/Line
A much smaller valve and feed line than the main high pressure steam line, it is usually before the main steam valve on the high pressure side. This valve is opened up during pre-startup of the steam turbine to commence the required warm up period needed
Condensate Drain Valves & Drip Legs
These condensate drains are important to remove any condensate left in the system when it was shut down. These valves are usually opened up prior to turbine start up. Used By Pass Valve when opened the excess condensate gets blown out of the lines. The dr
Safety Trip Valve
Automatic valve which closes in the event of excessive turbine speed preventing damage, most time this valve is combined with the Main Steam Valve. It is usually located on the front of the steam turbine and is usually marked by a red ball on the end of t
High Load Condition
Shaft speed is too slow, Governor Valve opens allowing more steam to enter the turbine, which speeds up the turbine blades, which also increases the centrifugal compressor speed allowing more refrigerant vapor to be removed from the chiller to lower the p
Surface Condenser also know as Secondary Condenser, and Primary Steam Condenser
Shell and tube design (water in the tubes steam in the shell), Steam exhaust from the turbine enters into this condenser to get condensed. Maintained in a vacuum 15" to 25" Hg, (by electric vacuum pumps or steam ventures, also know as Educaters). Pressure
Atmospheric Valve
Located at the top of the Surface Condenser, This valve acts as pressure relief valve for the surface condenser and this valve must be filled with water inside to provide a liquid seal so a good vacuum can be produced inside the surface condenser. If exce
Atmospheric Priming Make Up Valve
This valve is used to fill up the Atmospheric Valve to prime it and fill it up with water so the Surface Condenser can establish a better vacuum. Most plants they usually leave this valve in the cracked open position.
Hot Well
Part of the Surface Condenser which is located on the bottom and collects the condensed steam which was condensed in the Surface Condensers shell. A sight glass is always provided and a liquid level must always be present. The Condensate Pumps get there w
Hot Well Make Up Valve
This valve is used to fill up the Hot Well sight glass to proper level before starting up the steam turbine, ensure that the Condensate Pumps have water to pump.
Hot Well Level Controller
This controller maintains liquid levels in the Hot Well. This controller also directly controls two valves, Overboard and the Recirculating Valves. If the level is high, water is removed from the Hot Well through the Overboard Valve it opens, sending wate
Recirculation Valve
Pumping water back into the Surface Condenser, until the condensate level increases in the Hot Well.
Condensate Pumps
Small electric water pump(s). There are usually 2 located under the Surface Condenser and Hot Well. These pumps constantly run during steam turbine operation, condensate will always flow back into the Surface Condenser or get pumped out of the system
Re-Circulating Valves or the Overboard Valve
Small electric water pumps which remove water from the Hot Well, sending it back to the boiler or to the sewer.
Steam Turbine Lubrication System
Usually has a square oil reservoir with an oil pump inside which is gear driven, it pumps only when the turbine blades are spinning.
Auxiliary Oil Pump
External motor driven pump which supplies oil to turbine bearings during steam start-up or shut-down. Automatically gets turned on or off when turbine ramps up to full speed or ramps down to shut down.
Oil Cooler
Should be located in front of the oil sump for the steam turbine, cools the oil as it picks up heat when it is circulating through the steam turbine lubricating the bearings. Usually cooling water is supplied from the chill water system.
Oil Filters
Filters the oil before it gets circulated to the bearings. Both Auxiliary and Main Oil Pumps pump oil through the oil filters.
Kingsbury Thrust Bearing
A thrust bearing is required to firmly fix the rotor in its axial position and to counteract the forces acting parallel to the compressors shaft (preventing axial displacement)
Gland Seal
Seal which creates an air tight seal around the turbine shaft, preventing steam from escaping.
Venturi, Air Ejectors, Educators
These get injected with high pressure steam and have steam jet effect which siphons air out the Surface Condenser to create a vacuum inside the condenser. These are used only when the system does not have vacuum pumps.
Oil Pressure
Auxiliary oil pumps provides oil pressure when internal pump is running too slow to provide pressure.