Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110070069 | STEAM TURBINE HAVING ROTOR WITH CAVITIES - A steam turbine and a rotor are disclosed having steam extending internally along at least part of the rotor. The rotor includes an interface and a steam passage system formed in the rotor, the passage system including a first inlet flow passage to the interface, the first inlet flow passage configured to receive steam from a first region of an outer surface of the rotor, a first outlet flow passage from the interface, the first outlet flow passage configured to pass steam to a second region of the rotor, a second inlet flow passage to the interface, the second inlet flow passage configured to receive steam from a third region of the outer surface of the rotor, a second outlet flow passage from the interface, the second outlet flow passage configured to pass steam to a fourth region of the rotor. | 03-24-2011 |
20110135445 | PRESSURE BALANCED LOW-FRICTION SEAL - A pressure balance seal includes a sealing surface facing an inward radial direction, and a stator interface comprising at least one surface interfacing with a stator. The pressure balance seal further includes a friction reducing feature. The friction reducing feature includes a cavity on the sealing surface. The cavity is configured to receive a fluid such that a normal force acting on the pressure balance seal is counterbalanced by a force generated by a pressure of the fluid. | 06-09-2011 |
20110156359 | TURBINE ENGINE SEALS - A seal in a turbine engine for preventing axial leakage through a radial gap between a stationary structure and a rotating structure, wherein the radial gap is defined by an inner radial surface that opposes an outer radial surface across the radial gap, the seal including: a first groove disposed on one of the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface; and a first tooth that projects radially from the other of the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface; wherein the first groove, at an upstream end, comprises a gradual slope that slopes away from the surface on which the first tooth is located and, at a downstream end, comprises a steep slope; and wherein the first tooth comprises an axial position that is approximately just upstream of the axial position of the upstream end of the groove. | 06-30-2011 |
20110204573 | BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal, brush seal segment, and brush seal backplate for use in a rotary device are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brush seal for a rotary device, the brush seal comprising: a plurality of brush seal segments, each segment including: an arcuate fence; an arcuate backplate circumferentially coextensive with the arcuate fence, the arcuate backplate including: a plurality of circumferentially-oriented cavities; a first dam along a first end of the arcuate backplate, the first dam substantially closing an end of at least one of the plurality of circumferentially-oriented cavities; and a second dam along a second end of the arcuate backplate, the second dam substantially closing an end of at least one of the plurality of circumferentially-oriented cavities; a plurality of brush bristles between the arcuate backplate and the arcuate fence; and a static member to which at least one of the plurality of brush seal segments is affixed. | 08-25-2011 |
20110285090 | SEAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING PLATEAU AND CONCAVE PORTION IN MATING SURFACE FOR SEAL TOOTH IN TURBINE - A seal assembly for sealing a stationary component and a rotating component including a seal tooth mating surface for mating with a seal tooth, the seal tooth mating surface including a plateau portion for sealingly receiving the seal tooth during a steady-state operation of the seal assembly and a first concave portion adjacent to the plateau portion for receiving the seal tooth with a clearance during a first non-steady-state operation of the seal assembly, wherein the seal tooth is coupled to one of the stationary component and the rotating component and the seal tooth mating surface is coupled to the other of the stationary component and the rotating component. | 11-24-2011 |
20110314817 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THRUST IN STEAM TURBINE - A system controls net thrust of a steam turbine having a stepped rotating shaft. A first leak off line fluidly couples a first stage of a turbine section to a packing upstream of a stepped portion on the rotating shaft. A second leak off line fluidly couples a second stage of the turbine section that is subsequent to the first stage to a step area upstream of the stepped portion, and a connection line fluidly couples the first leak off line to the second leak off line. The lines include control valves such that a controller can actively control the net thrust by regulating thrust pressure on the stepped portion using steam from the first and second stages of the turbine section. The controller may also prevent damage to an active retractable seal using the control valves. | 12-29-2011 |
20110318169 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THRUST IN STEAM TURBINE - A system controls net thrust of a steam turbine having a stepped rotating shaft. A first leak off line fluidly couples a first stage of a turbine section to a packing near a stepped portion on the rotating shaft. A second leak off line fluidly couples a second stage of the turbine section that has a pressure different from the first stage to a step area immediately adjacent to the stepped portion, and a connection line fluidly couples the first leak off line to the second leak off line. The lines include control valves such that a controller can actively control the net thrust by regulating thrust pressure on the stepped portion using steam from the first and second stages of the turbine section. The controller may also prevent damage to an active retractable seal using the control valves. | 12-29-2011 |
20120086172 | BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal and brush seal segment for use in a rotary device are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brush seal comprising: a plurality of brush seal segments, each segment including: an arcuate fence; an arcuate backplate substantially circumferentially coextensive with the arcuate fence, the arcuate backplate including a first end and a second end; and a plurality of brush seal bristles between the arcuate backplate and the arcuate fence, the plurality of brush seal bristles being angled with respect to a radial axis of the arcuate backplate and at least one of the first end and the second end of the arcuate backplate; and a static member to which at least one of the plurality of brush seal segments is affixed. | 04-12-2012 |
20120251290 | ASPIRATING FACE SEAL, AND A RELATED METHOD THEREOF - An aspirating face seal includes a primary seal, a secondary seal, and a biasing device. The primary seal includes a first seal component and a second seal component. The first seal component is configured to be coupled to a rotor and rotatable with the rotor. The secondary seal includes a plurality of flexible elements and configured to be disposed between the second seal component and a stator housing. A biasing device is coupled to the second seal component such that the second seal component is biased along an axial direction away from the first seal component during a non-operating condition. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251303 | ROTATING BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal for use between a rotating component and a stationary component in a turbomachine is disclosed. The brush seal according to embodiments of this invention include a set of bristles having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is attached to the rotating component, and wherein the set of bristles are angled axially with respect to the rotating component. | 10-04-2012 |
20120288361 | ROTATING BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal for use between a rotating component and a stationary component in a turbomachine is disclosed. The brush seal according to embodiments of this invention includes a set of bristles having a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is attached to the rotating component with a mechanical clamping element and the free end extends towards the stationary component, and wherein the set of bristles are angled axially at an axial angle with respect to the rotating component. In one embodiment, the fixed end of the set of bristles are wrapped at least partially around a core element and the clamping element partially surrounds the core element and the fixed end of the set of bristles, wherein the clamping element secures the fixed end of the set of bristles within a circumferential groove in the rotating component. | 11-15-2012 |
20120326392 | BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal is provided having a brush housing having a back plate and a front plate, a first layer of bristles disposed adjacent to the back plate, where at least one of the first layer of bristles has a first diameter. A second layer of bristles are disposed adjacent to the first layer of bristles, and at least one of the second layer of bristles has a second diameter. A third layer of bristles are disposed adjacent to the second layer of bristles, and at least one of the third layer of bristles has a third diameter. The first diameter and the third diameter are larger than the second diameter. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326393 | BRUSH SEAL - A seal is provided having a bristle pack with a first layer of bristles and a second layer of bristles. The bristle pack has at least one segment end. The first layer of bristles is configured to substantially surround the second layer of bristles, and at least one of the first layer of bristles has a first diameter. The second layer of bristles are located substantially in a center portion of the bristle pack, and at least one of the second layer of bristles has a second diameter. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and the first layer of bristles located near the at least one segment end are configured to protect the second layer of bristles located near the at least one segment end. | 12-27-2012 |
20130001886 | TWIST PROOF FLEXURES OF SEAL ASSEMBLIES - A seal assembly for a turbomachine is provided. The seal assembly includes multiple arcuate packing ring segments disposed intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotatable element about an axis. The seal assembly further includes multiple flexures mechanically coupled to the stationary housing and the multiple arcuate packing ring segments, wherein the multiple flexures are attached to the stationary housing and the arcuate packing ring segments at positions predetermined to control packing ring twist under differential pressure conditions. | 01-03-2013 |
20130043658 | BRUSH SEAL WITH BACKING PLATE TOOTH - A brush seal assembly is provided, including a sealing surface, a side plate, a backing plate, a plurality of bristles, and a biasing member. The backing plate is selectively located in a stationary position and has at least one backing tooth and a backing tip. The backing tooth has a tooth surface and the backing tip has a tip surface. A tooth clearance is measured between the tooth surface and the sealing surface. A tip clearance is measured between the tip surface and the sealing surface. The tooth clearance is less than the tip clearance. The bristles are located between the side plate and the backing plate. The bristles include an end portion for sealing to the sealing surface. The biasing member exerts a biasing force upon the backing plate in a direction towards the sealing surface. The backing tooth is configured for selectively contacting the sealing surface. | 02-21-2013 |
20130058765 | ROTARY MACHINE SEAL ASSEMBLY WITH BUTT GAP SEAL ELEMENTS - Systems and devices for substantially fluidly isolating portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly for a rotary machine includes: a complementary set of seal segments configured relative one another so as to form a substantially continuous body with butt gaps between the seal segments, the segments including: a head flange; and an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck extends radially inboard and includes an axial slot formed substantially there through; and at least one butt gap seal element, wherein the at least one butt gap seal element includes an axial flange and a radial flange, the axial flange disposed within the axial slots of adjacent seal segments; and the radial flange extending radially inboard from the axial slots to a proximity of the rotary machine substantially forming a barrier to axial flow through the butt gap. | 03-07-2013 |
20130069317 | BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal and brush seal segment for use in a rotary device are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides a brush seal comprising: a plurality of brush seal segments, each segment including: an arcuate fence; an arcuate backplate substantially circumferentially coextensive with the arcuate fence, the arcuate backplate including a first end and a second end; and a plurality of brush seal bristles between the arcuate backplate and the arcuate fence, the plurality of brush seal bristles being angled with respect to a radial axis of the arcuate backplate and at least one of the first end and the second end of the arcuate backplate; and a static member to which at least one of the plurality of brush seal segments is affixed. | 03-21-2013 |
20130221620 | SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR A TURBOMACHINE - A seal assembly for a turbomachine includes a seal ring rotatable between a first position and a second position and having a plurality of tunnels. Also included is a back ring located adjacent the seal ring and having a plurality of apertures that align with more of the plurality of tunnels of the seal ring when at the second position than at the first position. Further included is a retention piece operably connecting the seal ring and the back ring. | 08-29-2013 |
20130256990 | TURBINE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A TURBINE - According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first stationary component, a second stationary component positioned radially outside the first stationary component, a first key feature on the first stationary component configured to mate to a second key feature on the second stationary component and a seal assembly positioned between the first and second key features to reduce fluid flow between the first and second key features. The seal assembly includes a V-shape member and a second member adjacent to the V-shape member, the second member and V-shape member having different rates of thermal expansion. The seal assembly also includes a latch feature coupled to the V-shape member configured to expand the seal assembly from a compressed state to an expanded sealing state when the seal assembly is subject to an elevated temperature. | 10-03-2013 |
20130270775 | SHAFT SEALING SYSTEM FOR STEAM TURBINES - A shaft sealing system and method are disclosed for a low pressure turbine section having a rotating member including a shaft and a stationary member surrounding the rotating member and defining a steam flow path. The shaft sealing system comprises at least one seal disposed about each of a first end and a second end of the shaft; and a connection line for conducting steam from the first turbine section to a downstream portion of the turbine. The downstream portion of the turbine has a lower pressure than both of the first turbine section and ambient pressure conditions. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272872 | SHAFT SEALING SYSTEM FOR STEAM TURBINES - A shaft sealing system and method are disclosed for a high or intermediate pressure turbine section having a rotating member including a shaft and a stationary member surrounding the rotating member and defining a steam flow path. The shaft sealing system comprises at least one seal disposed about each of a first end and a second end of the shaft; and a connection line for conducting steam from the first turbine section to a downstream portion of the turbine. The downstream portion of the turbine is one of a low pressure section and a condenser, and has a lower pressure than both of the first turbine section and ambient pressure conditions. | 10-17-2013 |
20140053394 | COOLING CIRCUIT FOR REDUCING THERMAL GROWTH DIFFERENTIAL OF TURBINE ROTOR AND SHELL SUPPORTS - A standard for supporting a turbine rotor and a turbine shell includes a bearing block including a housing enclosing bearing surfaces engageable by the turbine rotor. Turbine shell-arm supports are located on opposite sides of the housing, the turbine shell-arm supports each having a horizontal and one or more vertical surfaces adapted to be engaged by support arms of a turbine shell enclosing at least a portion of the turbine. An internal cooling/heating circuit is arranged to simultaneously cool or heat the bearing block and the turbine shell-arm supports to thereby reduce differential thermal growth characteristics of the turbine rotor and turbine shell. | 02-27-2014 |
20140064909 | SEAL DESIGN AND ACTIVE CLEARANCE CONTROL STRATEGY FOR TURBOMACHINES - A labyrinth seal design, an actuation control clearance strategy, and a method of operating a turbomachine. The labyrinth seal design including a plurality of features configured to open and close radial clearances in response to relative axial movement between a stationary component and a rotating component. The actuation control clearance strategy and method of operating a turbomachine effective to achieve relative motion between a rotating component and a stationary component of the turbomachine using active elements. Axial displacement of the rotating component relative to the stationary component provides an adjustment in a radial clearance at one or more sealing locations between the rotating component and the stationary component to suit a given operating condition of the turbomachine. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072415 | SWIRL INTERRUPTION SEAL TEETH FOR SEAL ASSEMBLY - A seal assembly for sealing between a rotating component and a stationary component in a turbomachine. The seal assembly includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting, axially spaced teeth extending from the stationary component, wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth has at least one axially extending hole therethrough. Axial flow of an operating fluid through the holes acts as an air-curtain to interrupt swirl flow in a seal cavity, therefore reducing steam force that could act to destabilize rotordynamics. | 03-13-2014 |
20140205444 | TURBOMACHINE HAVING SWIRL-INHIBITING SEAL - Various embodiments include a turbomachine including a swirl-inhibiting seal. In various particular embodiments, a turbomachine includes: a rotor section having sets of axially disposed blades; a diaphragm section at least partially surrounding the rotor section, the diaphragm section including a set of nozzles positioned between adjacent sets of axially disposed blades, wherein the set of nozzles includes at least one nozzle having: a base section coupled to the diaphragm section; a blade coupled to the base section; and a radial tip section coupled to a radial end of the blade, the radial tip section including an axially extending flange having a slot extending therethrough for controlling fluid flow within the turbomachine. | 07-24-2014 |
20150071766 | TURBINE CASING CLEARANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Systems and devices configured to reduce thermal design clearances (e.g., between stationary nozzles connected to the inner casing and rotor buckets connected to the rotor) in turbines by actively controlling casing movements and/or locations during turbine operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a clearance management system includes: a first inner casing support arm shaped to connect to an inner casing of a turbine and extend through an outer casing of the turbine; a seal system disposed about the first inner casing support arm and configured to connect to the outer casing; and a set of actuators disposed on a turbine foundation of the turbine and connected to the first inner casing support arm, the set of actuators located external to the outer casing and configured to adjust a position of the inner casing relative to the outer casing via manipulation of the first inner casing support arm. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071771 | INTER-STAGE SEAL FOR A TURBOMACHINE - An inter-stage seal for a turbomachine includes a sealing member extending from a first end to a second end through an intermediate portion having a sealing surface, a first mounting member extending from a first end portion coupled to the sealing member adjacent the first end to a second, cantilevered end portion having a first rotor mounting element, and a second mounting member extending from a first end portion coupled to the sealing member adjacent the second end to a second, cantilevered end portion having a second rotor mounting element. | 03-12-2015 |