GB273720A - Improvements relating to the regulation of power plants - Google Patents

Abstract

273,720. Oesterreichische Eisenbahn-Verkehrs-Anstalt. July 5, 1926, [Convention date]. Power-generating systems.-In a system wherein an internal-combustion engine 1 drives a compressor 2 which circulates steam, compressed air or other pressure medium and thus operates an engine 17 for driving a locomotive, a ship, a conveyer, or rolling-mills &c., and wherein accumulators 9, 22 are arranged in the high and lowpressure sides of the plant, fluctuations in the demand for power are made good by the pressure variations in the accumulators, and the pressures are maintained by controlling the output of the internal-combustion engine and also the delivery of the compressor by fluid-pressure automatic means or conjointly by hand. The accumulator 9 is connected by pipes 7, 8 with a receiver 5 in the high-pressure main 16, 4. The stop valve 11 may be automatically operated to cut out the accumulator in the case of a permanent overload to prevent an abnormal discharge therefrom. Superheaters 14, 15 heated by exhaust motor gases or separately heated are arranged in the branches 4, 8. The receptacles 5, 9 and similar receptacles 25, 22 in the low-pressure side of the plant may be united and heated by exhaust motor gases or otherwise. Steam is supplied to or is delivered from the accumulator 9 according as the pressure in the main 4, 16 rises or falls. Similarly a transfer takes place between the main 3 and accumulator 22. The pressure variations in the elements 9, 5 are transmitted to a pipe 23 and control first the speed of the motor 1 and then the delivery of the compressor in a known manner. In a modification the fuel supply to the motor is determined by hand, and a governor driven by the motor controls valves 11, 29 arranged in the high and low-pressure mains and brings the accumulators into action at high and low-speeds respectively. The valves may be hand controlled. The centrifugal governor may be adapted in cases of emergency to reduce the fuel supply. If, owing to a sudden variation in power of engines 17, the speed of the motor 1 is abnormally reduced, the governor increases the fuel supply, and the resultant excess compressor pressure is released by safety valves.