A steam turbine includes a shaft operatively connecting a first turbine
section and a second turbine section. A packing assembly is positioned
about the shaft. A first conduit is fluidly connected to the packing
assembly. The first conduit is configured to introduce a flow of low
temperature, low pressure steam to the packing assembly. A second conduit
is also fluidly connected to the packing assembly downstream from the
first turbine section and upstream from the first conduit. The second
conduit receives a portion of the high temperature, high pressure steam
passing into the packing assembly from the first turbine section. A valve
is fluidly connected to the second conduit. The valve is configured to be
selectively operated so as to allow the high temperature, high pressure
steam to mix with the low pressure, low temperature steam in the second
conduit.