Steam Power Plant and Method for Operating It

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a steam power plant, comprising a steam engine which is operated with a vaporous working medium, an evaporator for evaporating the working medium; a condenser for liquefying the working medium and a reservoir for the working medium. The invention is characterized in that a lubricant sump in a housing of the steam engine is heated to a temperature above the evaporating temperature of the working medium by means of a heating device during the starting phase of the steam engine.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a steam power plant, including a steam engine, which is operated with a vaporous working medium, an evaporator for evaporating the working medium; a condenser for liquefying the working medium and a reservoir for the working medium,
 characterised in that a lubricant sump in a housing of the steam engine is heated to a temperature above the evaporating temperature of the working medium by means of a heating device during the starting phase of the steam engine.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , characterised in that a gas discharge is fed to an oil separator for ventilating the housing of the steam engine, which when operating the steam engine is brought to a temperature above the evaporating temperature of the working medium due to the arrangement inside the thermal insulation of the steam engine and/or through a separate oil separator heating unit. 
     
     
         14 . A steam engine including:
 a steam engine housing with a lubricant sump enclosed inside the steam engine housing;   an expansion chamber for a vaporous working medium driving the steam engine, which is situated inside the steam engine housing;   characterised in that   a housing ventilation unit with an oil separator is fitted on the steam engine housing and a heating device is associated with the lubricant sump, that brings the lubricant sump to a temperature above the evaporating temperature of the working medium.   
     
     
         15 . The steam engine according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the heating device comprises an electrical heating resistor or a steam heating unit or a condensate heating unit using the working medium. 
     
     
         16 . The steam engine according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the oil separator is arranged inside a thermal insulation for the steam engine. 
     
     
         17 . The steam engine according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the oil separator is arranged inside a thermal insulation for the steam engine. 
     
     
         18 . The steam engine according to  claim 14 , characterised in that a separate oil separator heating unit is associated with the oil separator. 
     
     
         19 . The steam engine according to  claim 15 , characterised in that a separate oil separator heating unit is associated with the oil separator. 
     
     
         20 . The steam engine according to  claim 16 , characterised in that a separate oil separator heating unit is associated with the oil separator. 
     
     
         21 . The steam engine according to  claim 17 , characterised in that a separate oil separator heating unit is associated with the oil separator. 
     
     
         22 . The steam engine according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the housing ventilation unit includes a flow channel heating unit for a connection line between the steam engine housing and the oil separator, which maintains a temperature in the connection line above the evaporating temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         23 . The steam engine according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the housing ventilation unit includes a flow channel heating unit for a connection line between the steam engine housing and the oil separator, which maintains a temperature in the connection line above the evaporating temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         24 . The steam engine according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the housing ventilation unit includes a flow channel heating unit for a connection line between the steam engine housing and the oil separator, which maintains a temperature in the connection line above the evaporating temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         25 . The steam engine according to  claim 17 , characterised in that the housing ventilation unit includes a flow channel heating unit for a connection line between the steam engine housing and the oil separator, which maintains a temperature in the connection line above the evaporating temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         26 . The steam engine according to  claim 18 , characterised in that the housing ventilation unit includes a flow channel heating unit for a connection line between the steam engine housing and the oil separator, which maintains a temperature in the connection line above the evaporating temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         27 . The steam engine according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the housing ventilation unit includes a flow channel heating unit for a connection line between the steam engine housing and the oil separator, which maintains a temperature in the connection line above the evaporating temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         28 . The steam engine according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the steam engine comprises a reciprocating piston which drives a crankshaft via a piston rod, and a lubricant sump in a crankcase accommodating the crankshaft, which is part of the steam engine housing, and the housing ventilation unit is designed in the form of a crankcase ventilation unit. 
     
     
         29 . A steam power plant comprising the steam engine according to  claim 14 , the steam power plant including:
 an evaporator for the working medium; and   a condenser and a reservoir for the working medium, whereas the oil separator in the housing ventilation unit of the steam engine is connected at least indirectly to the reservoir for the working medium.   
     
     
         30 . The steam power plant according to  claim 29 , characterised in that the evaporator is interposed between the oil separator and the reservoir for the working medium. 
     
     
         31 . The steam power plant according to  claim 29 , characterised in that an oil separator situated on the reservoir side is associated with the reservoir for the working medium, which is connected to the lubricant sump in the steam engine housing via a lubricant return line.