Method and configuration to reduce fatigue in steam drums

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518731-B2
Application number	US-201113069528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2011
Priority date	Mar 23, 2011
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A heat recovery steam generator that includes a first steam drum for receiving a flow of water and steam from an evaporator. The first steam drum is adapted to provide the flow of water and steam to a second steam drum. The second steam drum is in fluid communication with the first steam drum and receives the flow of water and steam from the first steam drum and separates steam from the flow of water and steam to form a separated steam. There is a steam flow outlet positioned in the second steam drum, the steam flow outlet adapted to release the separated steam from the second steam drum.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A heat recovery steam generator comprising:
a plurality of generation tubes having water passing therethrough to generate steam and water by exchanging heat with a gas flow passing through the heat recovery steam generator;
a riser fluidly connected to the plurality of generation tubes to collect the steam and water passing through the plurality of generation tubes;
a first steam drum for receiving the collected water and steam from the riser, the first steam drum defining a first inlet and a first outlet, the first inlet positioned in a bottom portion of the first steam drum, the first outlet disposed at a too portion of the first steam drum, the riser coupled to the first inlet;
a second steam drum for receiving a portion of the water and steam directly from the first steam drum, the second steam drum defining a second inlet positioned in a bottom portion of the second steam drum;
a connection line fluidly coupling the first outlet with the second inlet for carrying the water and steam exiting the first steam drum to the second steam drum;
a steam separator disposed within the second steam drum being in fluid communication with the second inlet, the steam separator configured to separate steam from the received water and steam to form a separated steam; and
a steam flow outlet positioned in the second steam drum, the steam flow outlet adapted to release the separated steam from the second steam drum.

2. A heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 , wherein the first steam drum and the second steam drum are operated at equal pressures.

3. A heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 , wherein the first steam drum and the second steam drum are arranged on a vertical axis with the second steam drum positioned on top of the first steam drum.

4. A heat recovery steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first steam drum further defines a water outlet connected to a downcomer tube for allowing water to exit the first steam drum.

5. A heat recovery steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first steam drum has an inner diameter and a wall thickness, and an inner diameter of the second steam drum is equal to the inner diameter of the first steam drum.

6. A heat recovery steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first steam drum has an inner diameter and a wall thickness, and a wall thickness of the second steam drum is equal to the wall thickness of the first steam drum.

7. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 , wherein substantially all the water and gas provided to the first drum passes to the second steam drum.

8. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 , wherein substantially all the gas provided to the first steam drum exits the second steam drum.

9. A method of generating steam in a heat recovery steam generator, the method comprising:
heating water passing through a plurality of generation tubes by a gas flow to generate steam and water;
collecting the steam and water passing through the plurality of generation tubes;
providing the collected water and steam via a first riser to a first steam drum, the first riser coupled to the first steam drum at a lower portion thereof;
providing the collected water and steam from the first steam drum directly to a second steam drum at a lower portion of the second steam drum,
aligning the second steam drum vertically above the first steam drum; and
separating steam from the collected water and steam in the second drum to generate a flow of steam; and
releasing the separated steam from a steam outlet of the second steam drum.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the inner diameter of the first steam drum is equal to the inner diameter of the second steam drum and the wall thickness of the first steam drum is equal to the wall thickness of the second steam drum.

11. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 9 , wherein substantially all the water and gas provided to the first drum passes to the second steam drum.

12. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 9 , wherein substantially all the gas provided to the first steam drum exits the second steam drum.

Assignees

• Bairley Donald W
• Bauver Ii Wesley P
• Droux Francois
• Hazelton Alan C
• Perrin Ian J
• Ruchti Christoph
• Ruecker Falk
• Selby Glenn T
• General Electric Technology Gmbh

Inventors

• Bairley Donald W
• Bauver Ii Wesley P
• Droux Francois
• Hazelton Alan C
• Perrin Ian J
• Ruchti Christoph
• Ruecker Falk
• Selby Glenn T

Classifications

• F22B37/261 Primary

  specially adapted for boiler drums · CPC title

• F22B37/22

  Drums; Headers; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• Y02E20/16

  Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT] · CPC title

• F22B37/26 Primary

  Steam-separating arrangements · CPC title