The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the art of turbomachine systems and, more particularly to a variable purge flow seal employed between a transition piece and a turbine portion of a turbomachine system.
Turbomachine systems typically include a turbomachine coupled to an intake system and a load. The turbomachine typically includes a compressor portion and a turbine portion. An airstream passes through the intake system into the compressor portion. The compressor portion forms a compressed air stream that is introduced into the turbine portion. In a gas turbomachine, a portion of the compressed airstream mixes with products of combustion in a combustor assembly forming a hot gas stream that is introduced into the turbine portion through a transition piece.
The hot gas stream flows from a transition piece fluidically connecting the combustor assembly and the turbine portion. The hot gases passing from the transition piece flow toward a first stage of the turbine portion. The hot gases flow over a first stage nozzle prior to impacting first stage rotor blades. The first stage nozzle conditions and directs the hot gases toward the first stage rotor blades. The hot gases expand through additional stages of the turbine portion each having associated rotor blades before passing to an exhaust system. The rotor blades are generally connected to a wheel which, in turn, may be connected to a shaft. Typically, the shaft is operatively connected to a load. The hot gas stream imparts a force to the rotor blades causing rotation of the shaft. The rotation of the shaft is transferred to the rotor. Thus, the turbine portion converts thermal energy from the hot gas stream into mechanical/rotational energy that is used to drive the load. The load may take on a variety of forms including a generator, a pump, an aircraft, a locomotive, or the like.
According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a turbomachine includes a compressor portion, and a turbine portion operatively connected to the compressor portion. The turbine portion includes a compressor discharge portion, a hot gas path, and a first stage nozzle arranged at the hot gas path. A combustor assembly is fluidically connected to the compressor portion. A transition piece has an inlet portion fluidically connected to the combustor assembly and an outlet portion fluidically connected to the turbine portion. A seal member is operatively connected relative to one of the transition piece and the first stage nozzle of the turbine portion. The seal member extends from a first end to a second, cantilevered end through an intermediate portion including one or more openings that provide a variable purge fluid flow from the compressor discharge portion toward the hot gas path.
According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a turbomachine system includes a compressor portion including an inlet, an intake system fluidically connected to the inlet of the compressor portion, and a turbine portion operatively connected to the compressor portion. The turbine portion includes a compressor discharge portion, a hot gas path and a first stage nozzle arranged at the hot gas path. A load is operatively connected to one of the compressor portion and the turbine portion. A combustor assembly is fluidically connected to the compressor portion. A transition piece has an inlet portion fluidically connected to the combustor assembly and an outlet portion fluidically connected to the turbine portion. A seal member is operatively connected relative to one of the transition piece and the first stage nozzle of the turbine portion. The seal member extends from a first end to a second, cantilevered end through an intermediate portion including one or more openings that provide a variable purge fluid flow from the compressor discharge portion toward the hot gas path.
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.
With initial reference to
As shown in
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, turbomachine 4 includes a seal member 60 that extends between aft frame 41 and first stage nozzle 12. As will be discussed more fully below, seal member 60 prevents hot gases from entering compressor discharge portion 19 via a trench cavity 66. As shown in
In further accordance with an exemplary embodiment, seal member 60 includes one or more openings, indicated generally at 80, that extend through intermediate portion 75. Openings 80 are generally circular and extend between first end 72 and second end 73. Openings 80 allow compressed air to pass from compressor discharge portion 19 toward hot gas path 16. The compressed air interacts with the products of combustion creating a flow vortex in trench cavity 66. The flow vortex improves an overall sealing efficacy of seal member 60.
In accordance with another aspect of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In further accordance with the another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, seal member 90 includes one or more openings, indicated generally at 100, that extend through intermediate portion 97. Openings 100 take the form of elongated opening that extend from a first end section 101 arranged at first end 94 toward a second end section 102 arranged at second end 95. Openings 100 allow a variable purge fluid flow in the form of compressed air to pass from compressor discharge portion 19 toward hot gas path 16. The compressed air interacts with the products of combustion creating a flow vortex in trench cavity 66. The flow vortex improves an overall sealing efficacy of seal member 90. In the exemplary aspect shown, second end section 102 extends through second end 95. In this manner, openings 100 may create a plurality of voids 104 in second end 95.
At this point it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments describe a seal member that spans a trench cavity in a turbine portion of a turbomachine. The seal member maintains a seal as components of the turbine portion expand/grow during operation. The seal includes openings that allow compressed air to pass from the compressor discharge portion to the hot gas path to reduce hot gas injection through the trench cavity. Further, by adjusting the number, size, shape, pattern and/or location of the openings, the flow through the seal member may be regulated for various turbomachine installations and operating conditions. In addition, it should be understood that the seal may be arranged in an inner diameter of the nozzle, an outer diameter of the nozzle, or may extend annularly about the nozzles.
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.