US4550562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of steam cooling a gas generator
Assignee: General Electric Switzerland GmbH
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Filing: 1982-09-09
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Granted: 1985-11-05
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Expires: 2002-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A reheat gas and double reheat steam turbine combined cycle is provided in which the outer compressor shell and gas generator turbine are cooled with steam to control tip clearance of the rotating blades of the compressor and gas generator turbine with the respective shells which confine the blading. Steam cooling of the gas generator turbine blading as well as the low and high pressure gas generator shafts are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan G. Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:33
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K23/00; F01K23/02; F01K23/06; F01K23/10; F02; F02C; F02C6/00; F02C6/18; F02C7/00; F02C7/12; F02C7/16; F05; F05D; F05D2250/00; F05D2250/20; F05D2250/25; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/20; F05D2260/202; F05D2260/232; F05D2260/2322; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/16; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
In a method of producing work in a gas generator, said gas generator including a gas compressor, a combustor downstream of said compressor and a gas turbine downstream of said combustor, compressing ambient air by means of rotating blades within said compressor, igniting a combustible fuel in the presence of said compressed air in said combustor to form an exhaust gas and expanding said exhaust gas through the blading of said gas turbine, said compressor comprising an outer shell confining said rotating blades, and further controlling the tip clearance of at least a portion of said rotating blades relative to said outer shell by passing a controlled amount of coolant in heat exchange relationship with said outer shell to shrink or expand said outer shell, the improvement comprising; wherein said outer compressor shell comprises hollow steam chambers contained therein and an inner casing in contact with said compressed air and an outer casing annularly spaced from said inner casing, controlling the blade-tip clearance of said rotating blades within said outer compressor shell by passing coolant steam through said hollow steam chambers to provide heat exchange with said compressor shell to shrink or expand said compressor shell and further directing air or steam as a thermal barrier in said annular space between said inner and outer casings of said compressor shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
In a method of producing work in a gas generator, said gas generator including a gas compressor, a combustor downstream of said compressor and a gas turbine downstream of said combustor, compressing ambient air by means of rotating blades within said compressor, igniting a combustible fuel in the presence of said compressed air in said combustor to form an exhaust gas and expanding said exhaust gas through the blading of said gas turbine, said compressor comprising an outer shell confining said rotating blades, and further controlling the tip clearance of at least a portion of said rotating blades relative to said outer shell by passing a controlled amount of coolant in heat exchange relationship with said outer shell to shrink or expand said outer shell, the improvement comprising; wherein said outer compressor shell comprises hollow steam chambers contained therein and an inner casing in contact with said compressed air and an outer casing annularly spaced from said inner casing, controlling the blade-tip clearance of said rotating blades within said outer compressor shell by passing coolant steam through said hollow steam chambers to provide heat exchange with said compressor shell to shrink or expand said compressor shell and further directing air or steam as a thermal barrier in said annular space between said inner and outer casings of said compressor shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The improvement of claim 1 comprising directing air as a thermal barrier in said annular space between said inner and outer casings of said compressor shell at the low pressure portion of said compressor wherein the ambient air enters the compressor and directing steam as a thermal barrier in said annular space between said inner and outer casings of said compressor shell at the high pressure portion of said compressor wherein said ambient air exits said compressor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 1 comprising passing said coolant steam in heat exchange relationship with said compressor shell in the same direction as ambient air flow through said compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said rotating blades within said compressor shell are associated with a rotating shaft, cooling said rotating shaft by passing coolant steam in heat exchange relationship with said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said rotating blades of said compressor are associated with said compressor shaft by means of rotating discs connecting said rotating blades with said shaft, cooling said rotating discs by passing coolant steam from said heat exchange relationship with said shaft to a location in heat exchange relationship with said discs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said outer casing contains said hollow steam chambers, said compressor shell further comprises a plurality of radial support struts positioned circumferentially around the surface of said outer casing and spaced along the length of said compressor shell, said radial support struts extending radially from a location adjacent to said inner casing to a point beyond said outer casing, said radially support struts containing elongated steam chambers, shrinking or expanding said compressor shell by passing a controlled amount of coolant steam through said elongated steam chambers in said radial support struts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said hollow steam chambers contained in said outer casing communicate with said elongated steam chambers in said radial support struts, passing said coolant steam through said hollow steam chambers contained in said outer casing and into said elongated steam chambers in said radial support struts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said inner casing contains orifices to provide passage of air from within said compressor shell to said annular space, directing ambient air within said compressor shell through said orifices to said annular space between said inner and outer casings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said elongated steam chambers contain orifices to provide passage of coolant from said elongated steam chambers to said annular space, directing steam from said elongated steam chambers through said orifices into said annular space between said inner and outer casings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-04 | 1989-05-06 | 1989-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-04 | 1993-05-06 | 1993-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-04 | 1997-05-06 | 1997-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |