GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT SEALING SYSTEM FOR CONTAINING LEAKAGE FROM HIGH PRESSURE END SEAL OF BACK PRESSURE TURBINE

摘要

A seal system for a geothermal power plant of the type having a steam turbine operating on high pressure steam produced from geothermal fluid includes a high pressure seal housing associated with the high pressure stage of the turbine. The housing has a first internal chamber for receiving geothermal steam that leaks from the high pressure stage, and a further internal chamber for receiving geothermal steam leaking from the first internal chamber. A condenser/vaporizer is provided for condensing steam from the further internal chamber using an organic fluid and producing condensate that can be disposed of in a re-injection well. Leakage of high pressure geothermal steam through the seal is suppressed because most of the leakage with be shunted to the condenser/vaporizer, which preferably is associated with a module that includes a steam turbine and an organic turbine coupled to a generator.