Steam turbine valve having integral pressure chamber

Abstract

A steam turbine valve having an integral pressure chamber is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, the valve for supplying steam includes a valve body; and a pressure chamber substantially contained within a wall of the valve body, the pressure chamber having an inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid.

1 . A valve system for supplying steam, comprising:
 a valve body; and   a pressure chamber substantially contained within a wall of the valve body, the pressure chamber having an inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber further comprises an outlet for exhausting the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The valve system of  claim 2 , further comprising a valve head including a valve head exhaust. 
     
     
         4 . The valve system of  claim 3 , further comprising a leak-off conduit fluidly connected to the valve head exhaust and the inlet, the leak-off conduit configured to provide the pressurized fluid from the valve head to the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The valve system of  claim 4 , wherein the pressurized fluid is leak-off steam. 
     
     
         6 . The valve system of  claim 4 , further comprising an exhaust conduit fluidly connected to the outlet, the exhaust conduit having a drain. 
     
     
         7 . The valve system of  claim 6 , wherein the leak-off conduit and the exhaust conduit each include an isolation valve, and wherein the leak-off conduit is fluidly connected to the exhaust conduit downstream of each of the isolation valves. 
     
     
         8 . The valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising an external pressurized fluid source fluidly connected to the inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The valve system of  claim 8 , further comprising a supply conduit for providing the pressurized fluid from the external pressurized fluid source to the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The valve system of  claim 9 , wherein the external pressurized fluid source is an auxiliary boiler system. 
     
     
         11 . A steam turbine system comprising:
 a steam turbine section; and   valve system for supplying steam to the steam turbine section, the valve system comprising:
 a valve body; and 
 a pressure chamber substantially contained within a wall of the valve body, the pressure chamber having an inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid. 
   
     
     
         12 . The steam turbine system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure chamber further comprises an outlet for exhausting the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The steam turbine system of  claim 12 , further comprising a valve head including a valve head exhaust. 
     
     
         14 . The steam turbine system of  claim 13 , further comprising a leak-off conduit fluidly connected to the valve head exhaust and the inlet, the leak-off conduit configured to provide the pressurized fluid from the valve head to the pressure chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The steam turbine system of  claim 14 , wherein the pressurized fluid is leak-off steam. 
     
     
         16 . The steam turbine system of  claim 14 , further comprising an exhaust conduit fluidly connected to the outlet, the exhaust conduit having a drain. 
     
     
         17 . The steam turbine system of  claim 16 , wherein the leak-off conduit and the exhaust conduit each include an isolation valve, and wherein the leak-off conduit is fluidly connected to the exhaust conduit downstream of each of the isolation valves. 
     
     
         18 . The steam turbine system of  claim 11 , further comprising an external pressurized fluid source fluidly connected to the inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The steam turbine system of  claim 17 , further comprising a supply conduit for providing the pressurized fluid from the external pressurized fluid source to the inlet. 
     
     
         20 . A valve for supplying steam comprising:
 a valve body; and   a pressure chamber substantially contained within a wall of the valve body, the pressure chamber having an inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid.