US Patent 7600526 Methods and apparatus for operating steam turbines

A drain purge system for a casing is provided. The purge system includes a purge chamber. The purge chamber is defined by a purge chamber bulkhead. The purge chamber is further defined by a purge chamber drain portion including a drain aperture. The purge chamber bulkhead is coupled to an exterior surface of the casing. The exterior surface includes a drain orifice therethrough. The purge chamber bulkhead circumscribes the drain orifice. The purge system further includes a purge fluid source in flow communication with the purge chamber. The purge fluid source is configured to supply the purge chamber with a flow of purge fluid.