Patent Application
20120020775
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the art of turbomachines and, more particularly to a flow splitter assembly for a steam turbomachine.
In a steam turbomachine, high pressure, high temperature steam is utilized as a working fluid. Inlet steam is passed through a nozzle toward a plurality of buckets. The nozzle conditions the inlet steam which then flows onto the buckets. The buckets rotate thereby transforming thermal energy from the steam to mechanical, rotational, energy that drives a shaft. The shaft is employed to drive a component such as a generator or a pump. In a double flow steam turbomachine, inlet steam is split for flow into axially opposed turbomachine units each including associated nozzles and buckets for driving corresponding machinery. The flow is split using a tub or flow splitter having an inlet and two axially opposed outlets.
Conventional flow splitters are massive structures that are both costly and heavy. A typical flow splitter is formed by joining two mirror image axial halves. The axial halves are bolted together with large bolts passing through flanges to form a bolt circle along an inside radial surface of the flow splitter. Typically, each axial half is machined from a large forging. Machining the large forging results in a significant waste of machined stock. After machining, the axial halves are bolted together and joined to the steam turbomachine.
According to one aspect of the invention, a turbomachine includes a first turbine portion having a first inlet section and a second turbine portion having a second inlet section. A flow splitter assembly is coupled between the first and second inlet sections of the first and second turbine portions. The flow splitter assembly includes a first end portion mounted to the first inlet section. The first end portion includes a first mounting member. A second end portion is mounted to the second inlet section and includes a second mounting member. A flow diverting member is positioned between the first and second end portions. The flow diverting member includes a first end section having a first mounting element operatively coupled to the first mounting member and a second end section having a second mounting element operatively coupled to the second mounting member. The flow diverting member includes a flow diverting surface that guides a fluid flow toward each of the first and second inlet sections. A first locking member engages the first mounting element and the first mounting member, and a second locking member engages the second mounting element and the second mounting member. The first and second locking members join the flow diverting member to the first and second end portions.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of joining a flow splitter to a turbomachine includes positioning a flow splitter assembly between first and second turbine portions of a double steam turbine with the flow splitter assembly including a first end portion and a second end portion, mounting a flow diverting member between the first end portion and the second end portion, engaging a first mounting member provided on the first end portion of the flow splitter assembly with a first mounting element provided on a first end section of the flow diverting member, connecting a second mounting member provided on the second end portion of the flow splitter assembly with a second mounting element provided on a second end section of the flow diverting member, and interlocking the first mounting member with the first mounting element and the second mounting member with the second mounting element.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a flow splitter assembly includes a first end portion having a first mounting member, a second end portion having a second mounting member, and a flow diverting member positioned between the first and second end portions. The flow diverting member includes a first end section having a first mounting element operatively coupled to the first mounting member and a second end section having a second mounting element operatively coupled to the second mounting member. The flow diverting member includes a flow diverting surface. A first locking member engages the first mounting element and the first mounting member and a second locking member engages the second mounting element and the second mounting member. The first and second locking members join the flow diverting member to the first and second end portions.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
A turbomachine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is indicated generally at 2 in
As best shown in
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, first inner ring 44 includes a first mounting member 64 configured to engage with flow diverting member 40. First mounting member 64 includes a first section 66 that is joined to a second section 67 through a third section 68. First mounting member 64 is also shown to include a fourth section 69 that creates a hook member 70, and a slot member 71. Slot member 71 is defined between third section 68 and fourth section 69. Similarly, second inner ring 54 includes a second mounting member 75 having a first section 76 that is joined to a second section 77 through a third section 78. Second mounting member 75 is also shown to include a fourth section 79 that defines, at least in part, a hook member 83 and a slot member 85. That is, slot member 85 is defined between third section 78 and fourth section 79.
In further accordance with the exemplary embodiment, flow diverting member 40 includes a first end section 92 that extends to a second end section 93 through a flow diverting surface 95. Flow diverting surface 95 includes a first sloping zone 97 and a second opposing sloping zone 98. First sloping surface 97 guides fluid toward first inlet section 6 and second sloping zone 98 guides fluid toward second inlet section 10. Flow diverting member 40 includes a first mounting element 104 arranged at first end section 92 and a second mounting element 105 arranged at second end section 93. First mounting element 104 includes a first hook element 107 and second mounting element 105 includes a second hook element 108. First mounting element 104 also includes a first slot element 110 and second mounting element 105 includes a second slot element 111.
With this arrangement, flow diverting member 40 is mounted between first and second end portions 37 and 38. More specifically, first mounting element 104 is operatively connected to first mounting member 64. Once engaged, first slot element 110 registers with first slot member 71. Likewise, second mounting element 105 is operatively connected to second mounting member 75. Once engaged, second slot element 111 registers with second slot member 85. At this point, a first locking member, which takes the form of a radial strip 117, is inserted between first mounting member 64 and first mounting element 104. More specifically, radial strip 117 is slidingly engaged into first slot member 71 and first slot element 110. Similarly, a second locking member or radial strip 118 is inserted between second mounting member 75 and second mounting element 105. More specifically, second locking radial strip 118 is slidingly engaged into second slot member 85 and second slot element 111.
In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, in addition to first radial strip 117 additional radial strips, two of which are shown at 120 and 121 in
Reference will now be made to
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, first inner ring 154 includes a first mounting member 166 having a first hook member 167 and a first slot member 168. Similarly, second inner ring 161 includes a second mounting member 171 having a second hook member 172 and a second slot member 173. As will be discussed more fully below, first and second mounting members 166 and 171 are configured to engage with flow diverting member 150.
In further accordance with the exemplary embodiment, flow diverting member 150 includes a first end section 180 that leads to a second end section 181 through a flow diverting surface 183. Flow diverting surface 183 includes a first sloping zone 185 and a second sloping zone 186. First sloping zone 185 guides fluid towards first inlet section 6 while second sloping zone 186 guides fluid toward second inlet section 10. Flow diverting member 150 also includes a first mounting element 188 arranged at first end section 180. First mounting element 188 includes a first section 190 that leads to a second section 191 and a third section 192 thereby defining a first hook element 194. Flow diverting member 150 also includes a second mounting element 197 arranged at second end section 181. Second mounting element 197 includes a first section 199 that leads to a second section 200 and a third section 201 thereby defining a second hook element 203. First mounting element 188 includes a first slot element 206 and second mounting element 197 includes a second slot element 207.
With this arrangement, flow diverting member 150 is mounted between first and second end portions 147 and 148. More specifically, first hook element 194 is operatively connected to first hook member 167. Once engaged, first slot element 206 registers with first slot member 168. Likewise, second hook element 203 is operatively connected to second hook member 172. Once engaged, second slot element 207 registers with second slot member 173. At this point, a first locking member or radial strip 209 is inserted between first mounting member 166 and first mounting element 188. More specifically, first radial strip 209 is slidingly engaged into first slot member 168 and first slot element 206. Similarly, a second locking member or radial strip 210 is inserted between second mounting member 171 and second mounting element 197. More specifically, second radial strip 210 is slidingly engaged into second slot member 173 and second slot element 207. In a manner similar to that described above, first and second radial strips 209 and 210 are secured by corresponding first and second retaining members 213 and 214. First and second retaining members 213 and 214 are themselves secured by corresponding first and second screws 216 and 217.
Reference will now be made to
In a manner similar to that described above, flow diverting member 226 includes a first mounting element 240 arranged at first end section 227. First mounting element 240 includes a first section 241 that leads to a second section 242 and a third section 243 thereby defining a first hook element 244. Flow diverting member 226 also includes a second mounting element 246 arranged at second end section 228. Second mounting element 246 includes a first section 247 that leads to a second section 248 and a third section 249 thereby defining a second hook element 250. First mounting element 240 includes a first slot element 255 and second mounting element 246 includes a second slot element 256. First and second mounting elements 240 and 246 are configured to cooperate with first and second mounting members 166 and 171 to join flow diverting member 226 to first and second end portions 147 and 148.
Reference will now be made to
In a manner similar to that described above, flow diverting member 270 includes a first mounting element 275 arranged at first end section 271. First mounting element 275 includes a first section 276 that leads to a second section 277 and a third section 278 thereby defining a first hook element 279. Flow diverting member 270 also includes a second mounting element 282 arranged at second end section 272. Second mounting element 282 includes a first section 283 that leads to a second section 284 and a third section 285 thereby defining a second hook element 287. First mounting element 275 includes a first slot element 290 and second mounting element 282 includes a second slot element 291. First and second mounting elements 275 and 282 are configured to cooperate with first and second mounting members 166 and 171 to join flow diverting member 270 to first and second end portions 147 and 148.
At this point it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments provide a flow splitter assembly for a dual flow turbine turbomachine that is readily assembled without the need for multiple mechanical fasteners such as bolts and nuts. The removal of the multiple mechanical fasteners reduces cost and machining operations for the flow splitter assembly. Furthermore, by eliminating joints from a central region of the flow diverting member, frictional losses on surfaces of the flow splitter resulting from leakage steam are reduced. The reduction in leakage steam enhances turbine efficiency. In addition, the exemplary embodiments simplify construction techniques bey facilitating the use of Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welds as well as the use of forgings, instead of machining operations to form the various components. The use of forgings leads to s significant savings by reducing waste associated with machining operations. Finally, the exemplary embodiments enable each component to be formed separately thereby reducing overall production lead time for the flow splitter assembly.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
