Patent ID: 8888437

Claim:
A dual flow steam turbine, comprising: a housing; a rotor rotationally mounted in the housing; an inlet assembly that guides steam into first and second flow paths that extend through the housing; first stage nozzle boxes mounted on the housing; first stage nozzle assemblies mounted between the inlet assembly and the first stage nozzle boxes; first stage bucket assemblies mounted on the rotor; first and second coolant passageways that extend from positions adjacent outer tips of the first stage bucket assemblies to a position on an outer side of the inlet assembly; and a third coolant passageway that extends through the inlet assembly from the first and second coolant passageways to an annular space located between the inlet assembly and the rotor, wherein coolant steam travels along the first and second coolant passageways from the positions adjacent the outer tips of the first stage bucket assemblies to the third coolant passageway, and then along the third coolant passageway to the annular space.