Steam turbines

Steam turbines often serve as drive units for compressors or generators. The steam used can be drawn at various pressure stages to supply steam networks, for example in the chemical industry or for district heating. Optimal operation requires automatic start-up and shutdown. For generator applications, power or frequency control is necessary; the various extraction pressures must be kept constant, even during abrupt operating changes. Reliable overspeed protection is required in the event of grid interruptions or technical faults.

Requirements

• Automatic start-up control with optimised warming of the turbine
• Switching between grid control and island operation with synchronisation
• Stable pressure control of several extraction pressures, even during rapid changes
• Safe control in the event of sudden load shedding
• Reliable overspeed protection, often in an additional safety system