Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to gas turbine engines and more specifically to a turbine vane configuration having reduced airfoil stresses.
A gas turbine engine typically comprises a multi-stage compressor, which compresses air drawn into the engine to a higher pressure and temperature. A majority of this air passes to the combustors, which mix the compressed heated air with fuel and contain the resulting reaction that generates the hot combustion gases. These gases then pass through a multi-stage turbine, which, in turn drives the compressor, before exiting the engine. A portion of the compressed air from the compressor bypasses the combustors and is used to cool the turbine blades and vanes that are continuously exposed to the hot gases of the combustors. In land-based gas turbines, the turbine is also coupled to a generator for generating electricity.
Turbines are typically comprised of alternating rows of rotating and stationary airfoils. The stationary airfoils, or vanes, direct the flow of hot combustion gases onto the subsequent row of rotating airfoils, or blades, at the proper orientation such as to maximize the output of the turbine. As a result of the hot combustion gases passing through the vanes, the vanes operate at a very high temperature, typically beyond the capability of the material from which they are made. In order to lower the operating temperatures of the vane material to a more acceptable level, vanes are often cooled, either by air or steam. Typically, turbine vanes are configured in multiple segments, with each segment including a plurality of vanes. This configuration is well known in order to minimize hot gas leakage between adjacent vanes, thereby lowering turbine performance. While this configuration is advantageous from a leakage perspective, it has inherent disadvantages as well, including an increased stiffness along the platform that connects the adjacent vanes, relative to a single vane configuration.
A vane assembly 10 of the prior art, is shown in
What is needed is a vane assembly configuration that lowers the operating stresses in the vane and platform for a vane assembly having an inner rail portion that is exposed to lower operating temperatures than the platform or vane.
A turbine vane assembly for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed having lower thermally induced stresses in the airfoil and platform region resulting in improved component durability. In an embodiment of the invention, the vane assembly comprises a first platform, a second platform positioned radially outward of the first platform, and at least one airfoil extending therebetween. The source of cracking in prior art vane assemblies related to the significant temperature differences over a short radial distance between the vane, platform, and first rail, located along the first platform, opposite to the airfoil. In the present invention, the first platform further comprises a first rail having a first rail length, a first rail height, a first rail thickness, a first rail wall, and at least one opening extending from the first rail wall and through the first rail thickness. The at least one opening is sized to allow the first platform to have reduced resistance to thermal deflections while not compromising the structural integrity of the first platform nor allowing leakage of vane cooling fluid.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a turbine vane assembly having reduced thermal stresses in the airfoil and platform regions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a turbine vane assembly having increased flexibility along the first platform region.
In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in a description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.
The present invention is shown in detail in
Referring now to
Referring now to
As it can be seen from
As previously discussed, extending radially outward to the second arc-shaped platform 29 from the first arc-shaped platform 21 is at least one airfoil 30. The airfoil 30 extends from the first arc-shaped platform 21, opposite from the first rail 23. For the embodiment shown in the figures, two airfoils are present in each vane assembly 20. However, it is important to note that the present invention can be applied to a vane assembly having fewer or greater number of airfoils 30. As one skilled in the art will understand, turbine blades and vanes operate at extremely high temperatures, often times at temperatures that would ordinarily exceed the capability of the material. As such, the vane assemblies 20 of the present invention pass a cooling fluid through the airfoils 30 for lowering the operating temperatures. The cooling fluid is typically air, but can also be steam.
The vane assembly 20 further comprises a seal 31 as shown in
The focus of the present invention is directed towards the first rail 23 and at least one opening 28 located therein, which is shown in the figures is the inner rail closest to the axis A-A. The stress relief provided to the first rail 23 by the opening 28 could be applied to a variety of vane assemblies and is not limited to the embodiment disclosed. The opening 28 is configured to allow the first arc-shaped platform 21 to have increased flexibility while not compromising the structural integrity of the platform. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening 28 comprises a slot having a generally circular end, as shown in
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the system and method. While the invention has been described in what is known as presently the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the scope of the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/891,400, filed on Jul. 14, 2004, and assigned to the same assignee hereof.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10891400 | Jul 2004 | US |
Child | 11692505 | Mar 2007 | US |