For fulfilling the prerequisites for starting-up the steam turbine, several auxilliary systems must be put to operation. To this belongs the starting up and adjusting the cooling water flow through the main condenser. This water may be taken from a river or a cooling tower what have an effect on the temperature of the water. In our case we have one pump in operation, feeding the condenser with water, coming from a cooling tower.

While other auxiliary systems like the fire extinguisher, the auxiliary steam system, and monitoring systems for the primary air fan or the induced draught fan etc. are starting up, the lubrication systems for the turbine must be adjusted.

For that, the emergency pump was shortly in test operation, after which the oil temperature controller is set to automatic and the electrical supply pump starts. The jacking oil pump lifts the shaft with high pressure clear of the bearing metal and the turning gear will starts. A soon as the turbine shaft turns sufficiently for establishing a thin oil film, the jacking oil pump stops.

For providing a path for the warming up steam and for removing condensate from the casing and pipes, the drainage system of the turbine must be open.

After the turbine drainages are opened, the sealing system will be started. The pressure controller in automatic state lets the steam in, which moves the air out makes the turbine airtight. To achieve this, the pressure of the the system is hold closely above the ambient pressure. Together with the main condenser, which is evacuated now, the waste steam condenser and -fan ensure the maintenance of the vacuum.

Now the turbine inner and outer casings can be warmed up. A little steam flow, coming from the auxiliary steam system, is led between inner and outer casing and warms up the material slowly near 250 °C.

Meanwhile the boiler is in operation. The feedwater sytem together with the preheaters is running, the combustion system has minimum firing, the life steam pipe is warm and the spray attemperators are at automatic state. When the govener oil system has pressure the target speed is set to 1000 rpm, the trip valves are opened and the turbine speeds up. Particular attention should be paid to the critical speeds bands, where vibrations are high, and to the temperature of heavy-walled parts like flanges.

After clearance all conditions for starting up, the steam turbine accelerates quickly to nominal speed. Ariving there the generator will be synchronized to the distribution net. Now the system will deliver electrical energy to the customers which can be tuned by means of the power controller.