gland steam

used glands not used but thrown away.

Seal steam is used primarily on condensing turbines to prevent entry of air through the gland seals. If air is allowed to enter the turbine, it makes it's way through the seal into the condenser and causes loss of vacuum, high exhaust temperature and loss of efficiency. This is prevented by keeping a low pressure positive steam pressure on outside of the seal forming a barrier to prevent the entry of air into the system.

Is that sufficient?

TT3

What about the steam leakage from gland the HP side of the turbine? How is this addressed? Or will that steam be condensed along with the sealing steam in the gland steam condenser?

The HP (High Pressure) side of the turbine requires gland seal steam until the HP stage pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure. As soon as the HP end steam pressure exceeds atmospheric, it forms its own barrier to the entry of air through the HP seal. The HP gland seal steam may normally be turned off after the machine is running and on load. Some times it is trurned off and some times it is not. The condensing, Low pressure end gland seal steam usually stays on to maintain a barrier to the entrance of air.

Often the HP steam leakage through the seal is sufficient to maintain the barrier to the entrance of air at the low pressure seal. This allows the gland seal steam to be turned off while there is suficient steam to maintain the seal.

Have FUN!
TT3

Considering a Turbine train where HP turbine casing and LP casings are seperate (Siemens HE turbines). In this case, do we still need HP gland seal steam during the start up?

Regards

Ranvijay