초록 ▼

A pressure regulation circuit delivers pressurized fluid into a generator. The circuit includes pressure regulator structure and a primary valve. The pressure regulator structure outputs pressurized fluid at a predetermined output pressure that is greater than a desired operating pressure of the gen

A pressure regulation circuit delivers pressurized fluid into a generator. The circuit includes pressure regulator structure and a primary valve. The pressure regulator structure outputs pressurized fluid at a predetermined output pressure that is greater than a desired operating pressure of the generator and less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure. The primary valve is downstream from the pressure regulator structure and is selectively opened and closed by a controller based on the pressure within the generator. The controller opens the primary valve to allow the pressurized fluid outputted from the pressure regulator structure to flow into the generator upon the pressure within the generator being at or below a predetermined lower limit. The controller closes the primary valve to prevent the pressurized fluid outputted from the pressure regulator structure from flowing into the generator upon the pressure within the generator being at or above a predetermined upper limit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A turbine generator including a pressure regulation circuit comprising: the turbine generator comprising a generator frame defining an internal chamber of the turbine generator and housing a portion of a turbine rotor;a controller that determines a pressure within the generator frame;the pressure

1. A turbine generator including a pressure regulation circuit comprising: the turbine generator comprising a generator frame defining an internal chamber of the turbine generator and housing a portion of a turbine rotor;a controller that determines a pressure within the generator frame;the pressure regulation circuit including a main circuit comprising: pressure regulator structure that receives fluid, regulates the pressure of the fluid to a predetermined output pressure, and outputs the fluid at said predetermined output pressure, said predetermined output pressure being greater than a desired operating pressure of said generator frame and being less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure; anda primary valve downstream from said pressure regulator structure that is selectively opened and closed by said controller based on the pressure within said generator frame determined by said controller, wherein said controller: if said primary valve is closed, opens said primary valve to allow said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure to flow into said generator frame upon the pressure within the generator frame being at or below a predetermined lower limit, said predetermined lower limit being no greater than the desired operating pressure of the generator; andif said primary valve is open, closes said primary valve to prevent said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure from flowing into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or above a predetermined upper limit, said predetermined upper limit being no greater than said predetermined output pressure and being greater than said predetermined lower limit. 2. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, wherein said pressure regulator structure comprises a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge and a vent valve. 3. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, further comprising a relief valve downstream from said primary valve, said relief valve for selectively releasing an amount of the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulation circuit. 4. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, further comprising a bypass circuit including a bypass valve that is normally in a closed position but can be selectively opened when it is desired to bypass said main circuit. 5. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 4, wherein said bypass circuit is branched off from said main circuit at a location upstream from a first secondary valve of said main circuit that is upstream from said pressure regulator structure, and said bypass circuit rejoins said main circuit downstream from a second secondary valve of said main circuit that is downstream from said primary valve, wherein said first and second secondary valves are normally in open positions but can be selectively closed to prevent flow through said main circuit. 6. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, wherein: said predetermined output pressure is set at least 3 psi above said desired operating pressure;said predetermined upper alarm pressure is set at least 5 psi above said desired operating pressure; andsaid predetermined upper limit is set at least 1 psi above said desired operating pressure. 7. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 1, wherein said controller receives temperature and pressure readings inside said generator frame from at least one sensor, wherein said temperature and pressure readings are used to determine leakage of the pressurized fluid from said generator frame. 8. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 6, wherein said predetermined lower limit is set at said desired operating pressure. 9. A turbine generator including a pressure regulation circuit comprising: the turbine generator comprising a generator frame defining an internal chamber of the turbine generator and housing a portion of a turbine rotor;a controller that determines a pressure within the generator frame;the pressure regulation circuit including a main circuit comprising: pressure regulator structure that receives fluid, regulates the pressure of the fluid to a predetermined output pressure, and outputs the fluid at said predetermined output pressure, said predetermined output pressure being greater than a desired operating pressure of said generator frame and being less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure, said pressure regulator structure comprises a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge, and a vent valve;a primary valve downstream from said pressure regulator structure that is selectively opened and closed by said controller based on the pressure within said generator frame determined by said controller, wherein said controller: if said primary valve is closed, opens said primary valve to allow said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure to flow into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or below a predetermined lower limit, said predetermined lower limit being no greater than the desired operating pressure of the generator; andif said primary valve is open, closes said primary valve to prevent said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure from flowing into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or above a predetermined upper limit, said predetermined upper limit being no greater than said predetermined output pressure and being greater than said predetermined lower limit; anda relief valve downstream from said primary valve and said pressure regular structure, said relief valve for selectively releasing an amount of the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulation circuit. 10. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, further comprising a bypass circuit including a bypass valve that is normally in a closed position but can be selectively opened when it is desired to bypass said main circuit. 11. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 10, wherein said bypass circuit is branched off from said main circuit at a location upstream from a first secondary valve of said main circuit that is upstream from said pressure regulator, and said bypass circuit rejoins said main circuit downstream from a second secondary valve of said main circuit that is downstream from said primary valve, wherein said first and second secondary valves are normally in open positions but can be selectively closed to prevent flow through said main circuit. 12. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, wherein: said predetermined output pressure is set at least 3 psi above said desired operating pressure;said predetermined upper alarm pressure is set at least 5 psi above said desired operating pressure; andsaid predetermined upper limit is set at least 1 psi above said desired operating pressure. 13. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, wherein said controller receives temperature and pressure readings inside said generator frame from at least one sensor, wherein said temperature and pressure readings are used to determine leakage of the pressurized fluid from said generator frame. 14. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 9, wherein said relief valve is opened if the pressure within at least one of: said generator frame internal chamber; and said main circuit is determined to be at or above a predetermined level. 15. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 14, wherein said pressure gauge and said vent valve are used in combination with said pressure regulator for setting said predetermined output pressure. 16. A turbine generator including a pressure regulation circuit comprising: the turbine generator comprising a generator frame defining an internal chamber of the turbine generator and housing a portion of a turbine rotor;a controller that determines a pressure within the generator frame;the pressure regulation circuit including a main circuit comprising: pressure regulator structure that receives fluid, regulates the pressure of the fluid to a predetermined output pressure, and outputs the fluid at said predetermined output pressure, said predetermined output pressure being greater than a desired operating pressure of said generator frame and being less than a predetermined upper alarm pressure;a primary valve downstream from said pressure regulator structure that is selectively opened and closed by said controller based on the pressure within said generator frame determined by said controller, wherein said controller: if said primary valve is closed, opens said primary valve to allow said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure to flow into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or below a predetermined lower limit, said predetermined lower limit being no greater than the desired operating pressure of the generator; andif said primary valve is open, closes said primary valve to prevent said pressurized fluid outputted from said pressure regulator structure from flowing into said generator frame upon the pressure within said generator frame being at or above a predetermined upper limit, said predetermined upper limit being no greater than said predetermined output pressure and being greater than said predetermined lower limit; anda bypass circuit including a bypass valve that is normally in a closed position but can be selectively opened when it is desired to bypass said main circuit, wherein said bypass circuit is branched off from said main circuit at a location upstream from a first secondary valve of said main circuit that is upstream from said pressure regulator structure, and said bypass circuit rejoins said main circuit downstream from a second secondary valve of said main circuit that is downstream from said primary valve, wherein said first and second secondary valves are normally in open positions but can be selectively closed to prevent flow through said main circuit. 17. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 16, wherein: said pressure regulator structure comprises a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge, and a vent valve; andsaid pressure gauge and said vent valve are used in combination with said pressure regulator for setting said predetermined output pressure. 18. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 17, further comprising a relief valve downstream from said primary valve and said pressure regulator structure, wherein said relief valve is opened if the pressure within at least one of: said generator frame internal chamber; and said main circuit is determined to be at or above a predetermined level to release an amount of pressurized fluid from the at least one of: said generator frame internal chamber; and said main circuit. 19. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 16, wherein: said predetermined output pressure is set at least 3 psi above said desired operating pressure;said predetermined upper alarm pressure is set at least 5 psi above said desired operating pressure; andsaid predetermined upper limit is set at least 1 psi above said desired operating pressure. 20. The turbine generator including the pressure regulation circuit of claim 16, wherein said controller receives temperature and pressure readings inside said generator frame from at least one sensor, wherein said temperature and pressure readings are used to determine leakage of the pressurized fluid from said generator frame.