Method of optimizing the efficiency of a steam turbine power plant

摘要

A method is disclosed for improving the operational efficiency of a steam turbine power plant by governing the adjustment of the throttle steam pressure of a steam turbine at a desired power plant output demand value. In the preferred embodiment, the impulse chamber pressure of a high pressure section of the steam turbine is measured as a representation of the steam flow through the steam turbine. At times during the operation of the plant at the desired output demand value, the throttle pressure is perturbed. The impulse chamber pressure is measured before and after the perturbations of the throttle pressure. Because changing thermodynamic conditions may occur possibly as a result of the perturbations and provide an erroneous representation of the steam flow through the turbine, the impulse chamber pressure measurements are compensated for determined measurable thermodynamic conditions in the steam turbine. A compensated change in impulse chamber pressure measurement in a decreasing direction as a result of the direction of perturbation of the steam throttle pressure may indicate that further adjustment in the same direction is beneficial in minimizing the steam flow through the steam turbine at the desired plant output demand value. The throttle steam pressure adjustment may be continually perturbed in the same direction until the compensated change in impulse chamber pressure before and after measurements falls below a predetermined value, whereby the steam flow is considered substantially at a minimum for the desired plant output demand value.