Patent ID: 7194865

Claim:
A method of turbine overspeed protection wherein a turbine overspeed protection system comprises a spring-loaded rod, loaded by a force derived from a spring, said spring being restrained by the rod in a reset position due to at least one solenoid when a rotational speed of a turbine is less than a predetermined maximum, said turbine overspeed protection system providing a hydraulic pilot valve trip action when said turbine rotational speed exceeds said predetermined maximum, the method comprising the steps of: (a) reducing the force due to the spring on the spring-loaded rod when resetting the turbine overspeed protection system; (b) energizing the at least one solenoid after reducing said force, thus positioning the spring-loaded rod in its reset position; and (c) reapplying said force due to the spring to the spring-loaded rod after energizing the solenoid.