An annular section divider 134 extends radially inwardly from central section 118 towards a rotor shaft 140 that extends between HP section 102 and IP section 104. More specifically, divider 134 extends circumferentially around a portion of rotor shaft 140 between a first HP section inlet nozzle 136 and a first IP section inlet nozzle 138. Divider 134 is received in a channel 142 defined in a packing casing 144. More specifically, channel 142 is a C-shaped channel that extends radially into packing casing 144 and around an outer circumference of packing casing 144, such that a center opening of channel 142 faces radially outwardly.
During operation, high pressure steam inlet 120 receives high pressure/high temperature steam from a steam source, for example, a power boiler (not shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, steam turbine 100 is an opposed-flow high pressure and intermediate pressure steam turbine combination. Alternatively, steam turbine 100 may be used with any individual turbine including, but not being limited to low pressure turbines. In addition, the present invention is not limited to being used with opposed-flow steam turbines, but rather may be used with steam turbine configurations that include, but are not limited to, single-flow and double-flow turbine steam turbines. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to steam turbines, but rather may be used with gas turbine engines.
In the exemplary embodiment, first end section 202, first bearing section 204, and first packing section 206 are forged from a single piece of steel alloy or any other material suitable for use in a steam turbine. In an alternative embodiment, first end section 202, first bearing section 204, and first packing section 206 are individually forged and coupled together using any suitable coupling method such as, but not limited to, bolting, threading, welding, brazing, friction fitting, and/or shrink fitting. Similarly, in the exemplary embodiment, second end section 208, second bearing section 210, and second packing section 212 are forged from a single piece of steel alloy or any other material suitable for use in a steam turbine. In an alternative embodiment, second end section 208, second bearing section 210, and second packing section 212 are individually forged and coupled together using any suitable coupling method such as, but not limited to, bolting, threading, welding, brazing, friction fitting, and/or shrink fitting. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, steampath section 214 is coupled to first packing section 206 and second packing section 212 using any suitable coupling method such as, but not limited to, bolting, threading, welding, brazing, friction fitting, and/or shrink fitting.
Steampath section 214 includes a plurality of circumferential disks 220 coupled together. Disks 220 are individually forged from a steel alloy or any other material suitable for use in a turbine. In the exemplary embodiment twelve disks 220 are illustrated. However, in alternative embodiments, steampath section 214 includes any suitable numbers of disks 220. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, each disk 220 represents a stage of steampath section 214. In an alternative embodiment, each stage of steampath section 214 includes a group of disks 220. In such an embodiment, each group of disks 220 includes any suitable number of disks 220. Each disk 220 includes an upstream member 222 and a downstream member 224. Specifically upstream member 222 includes a plurality of airfoils (not shown) and downstream member 224 provides a space between the airfoils through which a stator assembly extends.
In the exemplary embodiment, the downstream member 224 of each disk 220 is coupled against an upstream member 222 of an adjacent disk 220. In an alternative embodiment, at least one of a circumferential seal, a circumferential spacer, and/or a balance wheel is coupled between member 222 and the adjacent disk 220. Alternatively, balance wheels may be coupled to any portion of rotor 200. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, each subsequent disk 220 has a greater circumference than the disk 220 positioned immediately upstream. In an alternative embodiment, disks 220 each have substantially the same diameter D1. In an embodiment, wherein the disks 220 are grouped together in stages, each disk 220 within a respective stage has approximately the same diameter D1 and each subsequent stage of disks 220 has a greater diameter D1 than the disks 220 within the stage immediately upstream.
Disk body 232 also includes a plurality of apertures 242 spaced circumferentially and extending therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, disk body 232 includes eighteen apertures 242. Alternatively disk body 232 may include any suitable number of apertures 242. Apertures 242 of each adjacent disk 220 are substantially concentrically aligned to facilitate disks 220 being coupled together. Specifically, disks 220 are coupled using at least one of an axial bolt, a stud, a threaded rod, or any other suitable coupling mechanism extending through each aperture 242. Alternatively, disks 220 are coupled via at least one of a weld process, a braze process, or any other suitable retention process.
A plurality of airfoils 244 coupled at disk upstream end 222 extend radially outwardly from body 232. Airfoils 244 are oriented such that, when disks 220 are coupled together, a gap is defined at downstream end 224 between the plurality of airfoils 244 of each adjacent disk 220. Moreover, the gap enables a stator assembly to be extended therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, airfoils 244 are fabricated unitarily with body 232. In an alternative embodiment, body 232 includes a plurality of dovetail slots that are each sized to receive and retain an airfoil 244. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, disk 220 includes an integral seal tip 246 that is coupled to each airfoil 244 and extends around disk 220. In an alternative embodiment, seal tip 246 is fabricated from a plurality of sections coupled together to form a unitary circumferential seal tip. In another alternative embodiment, disk 220 does not include seal tip 246.
During fabrication of rotor 200, disks 220 are coupled together, as described above, to provide a rotor 200 having a generally concentric bore 230 extending therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, bore 230 extends through steampath section 214. In an alternative embodiment, the other sections of rotor 200 are fabricated such that bore 230 extends substantially through a full length of rotor 200. Bore 230 reduces the weight of rotor 200, such that, during operation of turbine 100, the first critical speed is increased. As such, turbine 100 is operable under normal operating conditions without reaching the first critical speed. As such, vibrations within turbine 100 are facilitated to be reduced. Moreover, bore 230 facilitates reducing maintenance associated turbine 100, while improving turbine efficiency and life span.
Furthermore, bore 230 substantially reduces costs associated with a turbine rotor. Specifically, the design of disk 220 reduces manufacturing costs and the cost of support equipment associated with known rotors that have operating speeds that require the rotor to pass through the first critical speed. Furthermore, the design of rotor 200 facilitates reducing the weight and size of the rotor such that time and costs associated with forging the rotor are reduced. Moreover, the reduction of rotor size and weight increases the number of material vendors available for fabrication of the rotor. In addition, the design of rotor 200 reduces an amount unused and wasted rotor forging and bucket materials.
In the exemplary embodiment, a method of fabricating a turbine rotor is provided. The method includes fabricating a plurality of substantially cylindrical disks. Fabricating each disk includes fabricating a substantially cylindrical body and extending a bore substantially concentrically through the body. The method also includes coupling at least two of the plurality of disks together to form a rotor having a bore extending axially therethrough.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.
Although the apparatus and methods described herein are described in the context of fabricating a rotor for a steam turbine, it is understood that the apparatus and methods are not limited to rotors or steam turbines. Likewise, the rotor components illustrated are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of rotor can be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.