Page 44 - Steam Turbines--Design, Applications, and Rerating by Heinz-Bloch, Murari-Singh

Introduction 25

grate with a customized steam path to meet the specific requirements
of the application.
Capitalizing on this broad component experience coupled with
recent developments in computer-aided drafting, the major manufac-
turers have been extending the frontiers in computer-aided design and
computer-aided manufacturing for the heavy equipment industry. The
goal of the program was to provide a firm turbine structure with
enough flexibility to address industry needs while maintaining a
strong base of successful operating experience.
The key to the structure concept was to develop a family of compo-
nents with common interface points so that a turbine of any combina-
tion of steam conditions, ratings, and configuration could be
customized to meet the unique requirements of each user. The various
components contained within this structure are:
■ A family of front standards that support the high-pressure casing
and house the thrust and journal bearings
■ An array of valve gear assemblies, each designed to cover a range of
pressures, temperatures, and throttle flows

Figure 1.19 Turbine-generator set being installed. (General
Electric Company, Fitchburg, Mass.)