Steam rankine cycle solar plant and method for operating such plants

摘要

The invention relates to a Steam Rankine cycle solar plant 10 and a method of operating thereof. The plant 10 comprises a steam generator 20 for generating steam from solar thermal energy, a feed line 32 connected to the steam generator 20 and a multi-stage turbine 30, with a first stage and an intermediate stage downstream of the first stage, connected to the steam generator 20 by the feed line 32. The plant 10 further includes an overload valve 45 located in the feed line 32. This overload valve 45 is configure and arranged to limit the steam pressure of the first stage by directing at least a portion of the steam into the intermediate stage above a predetermined steam turbine inlet pressure.