EP2115273A1 - "highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine" - Google Patents
"highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine"Info
- Publication number
- EP2115273A1 EP2115273A1 EP07713409A EP07713409A EP2115273A1 EP 2115273 A1 EP2115273 A1 EP 2115273A1 EP 07713409 A EP07713409 A EP 07713409A EP 07713409 A EP07713409 A EP 07713409A EP 2115273 A1 EP2115273 A1 EP 2115273A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- rings
- blade
- assembly according
- blades
- turbine
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 10
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 10
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 229910000856 hastalloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000251131 Sphyrna Species 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- RLQJEEJISHYWON-UHFFFAOYSA-N flonicamid Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C1=CC=NC=C1C(=O)NCC#N RLQJEEJISHYWON-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000734 martensite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 2
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chloride anion Chemical compound [Cl-] VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 229910000640 Fe alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000016571 aggressive behavior Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006399 behavior Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- WGVFWBFTCFWQKD-UHFFFAOYSA-N chromium iron molybdenum nickel tungsten Chemical compound [W].[Fe].[Mo].[Cr].[Ni] WGVFWBFTCFWQKD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002803 fossil fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003758 nuclear fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000004326 stimulated echo acquisition mode for imaging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001131 transforming effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D9/00—Stators
- F01D9/02—Nozzles; Nozzle boxes; Stator blades; Guide conduits, e.g. individual nozzles
- F01D9/04—Nozzles; Nozzle boxes; Stator blades; Guide conduits, e.g. individual nozzles forming ring or sector
- F01D9/041—Nozzles; Nozzle boxes; Stator blades; Guide conduits, e.g. individual nozzles forming ring or sector using blades
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D25/00—Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, other groups
- F01D25/24—Casings; Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings
- F01D25/246—Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D5/00—Blades; Blade-carrying members; Heating, heat-insulating, cooling or antivibration means on the blades or the members
- F01D5/30—Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots ; Blade spacers
- F01D5/3023—Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots ; Blade spacers of radial insertion type, e.g. in individual recesses
- F01D5/3046—Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots ; Blade spacers of radial insertion type, e.g. in individual recesses the rotor having ribs around the circumference
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2220/00—Application
- F05D2220/30—Application in turbines
- F05D2220/31—Application in turbines in steam turbines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2230/00—Manufacture
- F05D2230/70—Disassembly methods
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2260/00—Function
- F05D2260/30—Retaining components in desired mutual position
- F05D2260/36—Retaining components in desired mutual position by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking
Definitions
- the present invention concerns a highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine; the invention also concerns a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, equipped with this fixed blade assembly.
- a steam turbine In order to use the energy within the steam in an efficient manner, a steam turbine is normally composed of a number of successive stages, which for axial-flow turbines are arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation of the mobile blades (machine axis) , so that the steam discharged from one stage flows directly and more or less axially into the next.
- each 'stage includes a mobile blade assembly, formed by an array of blades carried integrally by the shaft, and a fixed blade assembly, usually called a diaphragm, facing the mobile blade assembly and formed by an array of fixed blades, opportunely shaped and arranged radially with respect to the machine axis.
- the fixed blades are supported by a pair of rings, radially internal and radially external respectively and normally composed of a pair of coupled half-rings; each blade is welded at both ends to the support rings.
- endogenous steam is characterized not only by much lower than normal thermodynamic conditions (substantially pressure and temperature) , but also by uncontrolled chemistry which depends strongly on the site from which the steam is extracted.
- the steam supplied to the turbine in geothermal systems is normally less than optimum, especially as regards chemical aggression.
- endogenous steam in fact normally contains various substances in various forms which impart aggressive characteristics to it which are totally absent in industrial steam, and which result in the formation of deposits on the steam turbine blades.
- the blades are normally made of martensitic stainless steels, for example, the AISI 403 type or similar.
- any mechanical joint systems for the ends of the fixed blades to support rings only serve for the positioning or centring of the blades, but do not have a structural function and are intrinsically unable to support the blades independently, always requiring structural welding to ensure the fixing of the blades.
- One object of the present invention is that of providing a highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, which is devoid of the above-described drawbacks of known art.
- the present invention therefore concerns a highly corrosion- resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, as essentially defined in the attached claim 1 and, for its preferred aspects, in the dependent claims.
- a steam turbine in itself generally known and therefore only schematically and partially represented, is designated by reference numeral 1.
- the turbine 1 is an axial impulse turbine, used in a geothermal power generation plant.
- the direction of the steam in the turbine 1 is schematically indicated by arrow 3.
- the turbine 1 includes a casing 2 containing a stator 5, integrally carried by the casing 2, and a rotor disc 6, integrally connected to a drive shaft 7 running through the casing 2 along a rotation axis A; as usual, the casing 2 houses a number of successive stages 10.
- Each stage 10 is defined by an array 11 of fixed stator blades 12, integral with the casing 2 and projecting from an internal wall 13 of the casing 2 in a substantially radial direction with respect to axis A, and an array 14 of mobile rotor blades 15, carried by the shaft 7 and integrally rotating with the shaft 7.
- Each stage 10 includes a fixed blade assembly 20, constituting a diaphragm of the stage 10 and formed by blades 12 and by two support rings 21 and 22, respectively externally radial and internally radial, substantially coaxial around the axis A and preferably formed by respective pairs of half-rings 23 and 24 coupled close together; the blades 12, having substantially known geometry and profile, are substantially arranged in a radial pattern around the axis A and radially extend inside the wall 13 of the casing 2 towards the shaft 7 between the rings 21 and 22.
- the outer ring 21 (formed by half-rings 23) is fixed, in a known manner, to the wall 13; the inner ring 22 (formed by half-rings 24) carries a sealing group 25, of known type, facing the shaft 7.
- Each blade 12 extends along a longitudinal axis L between two longitudinally opposite ends 27 and 28 provided with respective connection portions 29 and 30 that project transversally from the ends 27 and 28 of the blade 12; the connection portions 29 and 30 are made as an integral part of the blades 12 in the same material as the blades 12.
- Each blade 12 is integrally connected to the rings 21 and 22 (and specifically to a half-ring 23 and a half-ring 24) and is supported by the rings 21 and 22 via mechanical joints 31 and
- the joints 31 and 32 devoid of structural welds, so as to be removable from the rings 21 and 22 (or from the half-rings 23 and 24) without breaking the rings 21 and 22.
- the joints 31 and 32 have undercuts 33 that longitudinally constrain the blade 12 to the rings 21 and 22, along the longitudinal axis L of the blade
- structural welds is intended to indicate welds capable of ensuring firm connection of components under normal operating conditions, and specifically capable of ensuring that the rings 21 and 22 effectively support the blades 12 in use.
- each blade 12 is integrally connected to the half-rings 23 and 24 and is supported by the half-rings 23 and 24 and thus by the rings 21 and 22 via mechanical joint members 35 arranged at the ends 27 and 28 of the blade 12; each blade 12 is supported by the rings 21 and 22 exclusively via the joint members 35, and not via welding.
- the structural support function of the blades 12 is exclusively carried out by the joints 31 and 32; in other terms, the blades 12 do not form a monolithic body with the half-rings 23 and 24, but are instead separable from the half-rings 23 and 24.
- each blade 12 comprise a pair of male elements 36 that engage with respective female elements 37 having a shape matching the shape of the male elements 36.
- the male elements 36 are inserted in the respective female elements 37 with clearances that are eliminated by wedges or shims (known and not shown for simplicity) ; the final coupling between the male elements 36 and the respective female elements 37 is therefore devoid of play (zero-clearance) .
- Each blade 12 carries a male element 36 and a female element 37 arranged at the ends 27 and 28 of the blade 12.
- connection portions 29 facing towards the outer ring 21 carry male elements 36, shaped like a hammerhead for example, which engage respective female
- connection portions 30 facing towards the inner ring 22 are provided with respective female elements 37 or seats, which are engaged by respective male elements 36, these also, for example, shaped like a hammerhead, carried by the inner ring 22.
- the blades 12, including the connection portions 29 and 30, and preferable also the half-rings 23 and 24, are made by casting with a nickel-based metal alloy, for example, of the CX2MW type according to ASTM A494, similar to the alloy with the commercial name of Hastelloy C22 ® , or another alloy of similar characteristics.
- a nickel-based metal alloy for example, of the CX2MW type according to ASTM A494, similar to the alloy with the commercial name of Hastelloy C22 ® , or another alloy of similar characteristics.
- the metal alloys utilized in accordance with the present invention are essentially nickel-chromium- molybdenum-tungsten- iron alloys, having nickel as the predominant component, with high chromium content and containing significant quantities of molybdenum, together with tungsten and iron.
- the alloy utilized contains nickel in quantities greater than approximately 55% by weight and preferably greater than approximately 58% by weight, chromium in quantities approximately between 20% and 22.5% by weight, molybdenum in quantities approximately between 12.5% and 14.5% by weight, tungsten in quantities approximately between 2.5% and 3.5% by weight and iron in quantities approximately between 2% and 6% by weight .
- these alloys demonstrate a distinctly superior behaviour to those of conventional steels and, in particular, to AISI 403 type martensitic steels.
- the fixed blade assembly 20 and specifically the stator blades 12 made in accordance with the invention have significantly superior corrosion resistance with respect to blades made with traditional materials
- stator blades 12 can be substituted with reutilization of the support rings 21 and 22 (or the half-rings 23 and 24), with clearly evident advantages in terms of cost and simplicity of maintenance operations, - the solution of the invention can also be utilized in steam turbines originally designed for conventional solutions, with limited need for operations on the original fixed parts.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Turbine Rotor Nozzle Sealing (AREA)
Abstract
A highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly (20) for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, is formed by an array (11) of stator blades (12), supported at their respective longitudinally opposite ends (27, 28) by an outer ring (21) and an inner ring (22). Each blade (12), made with a nickel-based metal alloy, for example, an alloy of the Hastelloy® family or a similar material, is integrally connected to the rings (21, 22) and is supported by the rings via respective mechanical joints (31, 32) devoid of structural welds, so as to be removable from the rings without breaking the rings.
Description
"HIGHLY CORROSION-RESISTANT FIXED BLADE ASSEMBLY FOR A STEAM TURBINE, IN PARTICULAR A GEOTHERMAL IMPULSE TURBINE"
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention concerns a highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine; the invention also concerns a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, equipped with this fixed blade assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
As is known, in steam turbines the transfer of energy from the steam to the shaft takes place through a successive series of expansions of the steam that, expanding in the nozzles that constitute the fixed part of the turbine, increases in speed, therefore transforming the steam' s heat energy into kinetic energy; the kinetic energy is transmitted to the shaft through mobile blades mounted on the circumference of the shaft itself.
In order to use the energy within the steam in an efficient manner, a steam turbine is normally composed of a number of successive stages, which for axial-flow turbines are arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation of the mobile blades (machine axis) , so that the steam discharged from one stage flows directly and more or less axially into the next.
In impulse turbines, each 'stage includes a mobile blade assembly, formed by an array of blades carried integrally by the shaft, and a fixed blade assembly, usually called a diaphragm, facing the mobile blade assembly and formed by an array of fixed blades, opportunely shaped and arranged radially with respect to the machine axis. The fixed blades are supported by a pair of rings, radially internal and radially external respectively and normally composed of a pair
of coupled half-rings; each blade is welded at both ends to the support rings.
It is also known that steam turbines find one of their possible applications in geothermal power generation plants. In these plants, the fluid that evolves in the turbine consists of endogenous steam of natural origin, i.e. steam generated directly in the earth, instead of steam produced by conventional boilers fed with fossil or nuclear fuels, or by heat-recovery boilers as in combination-cycle systems.
With respect to boiler-generated steam, endogenous steam is characterized not only by much lower than normal thermodynamic conditions (substantially pressure and temperature) , but also by uncontrolled chemistry which depends strongly on the site from which the steam is extracted.
Therefore, unlike other types of systems, in which dedicated systems for processing the condensate used to produce the steam ensure optimum steam characteristics, the steam supplied to the turbine in geothermal systems is normally less than optimum, especially as regards chemical aggression. In addition to noncondensable gases, endogenous steam in fact normally contains various substances in various forms which impart aggressive characteristics to it which are totally absent in industrial steam, and which result in the formation of deposits on the steam turbine blades.
These effects are particularly noticeable in the stages in which the steam expanding in the turbine passes from the superheated state to the saturated state, and results in severe corrosion/erosion on the fixed blades and on the mobile blades.
The blades (fixed and mobile) are normally made of martensitic stainless steels, for example, the AISI 403 type or similar.
These materials are a good compromise between mechanical
characteristics and erosion resistance characteristics, and are therefore widely used in steam turbines, even in geothermal systems. Nevertheless, these materials have the problem of poor resistance to corrosion and stress corrosion, particularly in the presence of chloride, as in the case of geothermal system steam turbines, and particularly at the stages where the steam passes from the superheated to the wet state, where the condensation mechanism enriches the concentration of impurities in the steam.
It follows, in particular, that the service life for the fixed blades is relatively short, especially for the blades in the turbine stages in which the change of phase takes place, with consequently high operating costs related to the need to proceed with substitution of the blades relatively frequently; clearly, the plant stoppage times for carrying out the maintenance operations also generate significant costs due to lost production.
Secondly, since, as previously pointed out, the fixed blades in impulse turbines are welded at both of their ends to support rings (or half-rings) , in the case of deterioration of a blade, it becomes necessary to substitute the entire diaphragm.. In fact, in the known solutions, any mechanical joint systems for the ends of the fixed blades to support rings only serve for the positioning or centring of the blades, but do not have a structural function and are intrinsically unable to support the blades independently, always requiring structural welding to ensure the fixing of the blades.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
One object of the present invention is that of providing a highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, which is
devoid of the above-described drawbacks of known art.
The present invention therefore concerns a highly corrosion- resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, as essentially defined in the attached claim 1 and, for its preferred aspects, in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described further by way of example in the following non-limiting embodiment, with reference to the attached figure, which is a partial schematic view in longitudinal cross-section of a geothermal steam turbine equipped with fixed blade assembly in accordance with the invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the figure, a steam turbine, in itself generally known and therefore only schematically and partially represented, is designated by reference numeral 1. In particular, the turbine 1 is an axial impulse turbine, used in a geothermal power generation plant. The direction of the steam in the turbine 1 is schematically indicated by arrow 3.
In general terms, the turbine 1 includes a casing 2 containing a stator 5, integrally carried by the casing 2, and a rotor disc 6, integrally connected to a drive shaft 7 running through the casing 2 along a rotation axis A; as usual, the casing 2 houses a number of successive stages 10. Each stage 10 is defined by an array 11 of fixed stator blades 12, integral with the casing 2 and projecting from an internal wall 13 of the casing 2 in a substantially radial direction with respect to axis A, and an array 14 of mobile rotor blades 15, carried by the shaft 7 and integrally rotating with the shaft 7.
Each stage 10 includes a fixed blade assembly 20, constituting a diaphragm of the stage 10 and formed by blades 12 and by two support rings 21 and 22, respectively externally radial and internally radial, substantially coaxial around the axis A and preferably formed by respective pairs of half-rings 23 and 24 coupled close together; the blades 12, having substantially known geometry and profile, are substantially arranged in a radial pattern around the axis A and radially extend inside the wall 13 of the casing 2 towards the shaft 7 between the rings 21 and 22.
The outer ring 21 (formed by half-rings 23) is fixed, in a known manner, to the wall 13; the inner ring 22 (formed by half-rings 24) carries a sealing group 25, of known type, facing the shaft 7.
Each blade 12 extends along a longitudinal axis L between two longitudinally opposite ends 27 and 28 provided with respective connection portions 29 and 30 that project transversally from the ends 27 and 28 of the blade 12; the connection portions 29 and 30 are made as an integral part of the blades 12 in the same material as the blades 12.
Each blade 12 is integrally connected to the rings 21 and 22 (and specifically to a half-ring 23 and a half-ring 24) and is supported by the rings 21 and 22 via mechanical joints 31 and
32 devoid of structural welds, so as to be removable from the rings 21 and 22 (or from the half-rings 23 and 24) without breaking the rings 21 and 22. The joints 31 and 32 have undercuts 33 that longitudinally constrain the blade 12 to the rings 21 and 22, along the longitudinal axis L of the blade
12.
The term "structural welds" is intended to indicate welds capable of ensuring firm connection of components under normal operating conditions, and specifically capable of ensuring
that the rings 21 and 22 effectively support the blades 12 in use.
In particular, each blade 12 is integrally connected to the half-rings 23 and 24 and is supported by the half-rings 23 and 24 and thus by the rings 21 and 22 via mechanical joint members 35 arranged at the ends 27 and 28 of the blade 12; each blade 12 is supported by the rings 21 and 22 exclusively via the joint members 35, and not via welding. The structural support function of the blades 12 is exclusively carried out by the joints 31 and 32; in other terms, the blades 12 do not form a monolithic body with the half-rings 23 and 24, but are instead separable from the half-rings 23 and 24.
The joint members 35 of each blade 12 comprise a pair of male elements 36 that engage with respective female elements 37 having a shape matching the shape of the male elements 36. The male elements 36 are inserted in the respective female elements 37 with clearances that are eliminated by wedges or shims (known and not shown for simplicity) ; the final coupling between the male elements 36 and the respective female elements 37 is therefore devoid of play (zero-clearance) . Each blade 12 carries a male element 36 and a female element 37 arranged at the ends 27 and 28 of the blade 12.
In the shown example, the connection portions 29 facing towards the outer ring 21 carry male elements 36, shaped like a hammerhead for example, which engage respective female
■ elements 37, consisting of respective seats formed in the outer ring 21; instead, the connection portions 30 facing towards the inner ring 22 are provided with respective female elements 37 or seats, which are engaged by respective male elements 36, these also, for example, shaped like a hammerhead, carried by the inner ring 22.
The blades 12, including the connection portions 29 and 30,
and preferable also the half-rings 23 and 24, are made by casting with a nickel-based metal alloy, for example, of the CX2MW type according to ASTM A494, similar to the alloy with the commercial name of Hastelloy C22®, or another alloy of similar characteristics.
The metal alloys utilized in accordance with the present invention are essentially nickel-chromium- molybdenum-tungsten- iron alloys, having nickel as the predominant component, with high chromium content and containing significant quantities of molybdenum, together with tungsten and iron.
In particular, the alloy utilized contains nickel in quantities greater than approximately 55% by weight and preferably greater than approximately 58% by weight, chromium in quantities approximately between 20% and 22.5% by weight, molybdenum in quantities approximately between 12.5% and 14.5% by weight, tungsten in quantities approximately between 2.5% and 3.5% by weight and iron in quantities approximately between 2% and 6% by weight .
With regards to corrosion resistance in a geothermal environment, these alloys demonstrate a distinctly superior behaviour to those of conventional steels and, in particular, to AISI 403 type martensitic steels.
The advantages of the present invention with respect to known solutions clearly emerge from that which has been explained:
- the fixed blade assembly 20 and specifically the stator blades 12 made in accordance with the invention have significantly superior corrosion resistance with respect to blades made with traditional materials,
- the stator blades 12 can be substituted with reutilization of the support rings 21 and 22 (or the half-rings 23 and 24), with clearly evident advantages in terms of cost and simplicity of maintenance operations,
- the solution of the invention can also be utilized in steam turbines originally designed for conventional solutions, with limited need for operations on the original fixed parts.
Finally, it is clearly understood that changes and variations may be made to that which is described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.
Claims
1. A highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly (20) for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, comprising an array (11) of stator blades (12) substantially arranged in a radial pattern around an axis (A) and supported at respective longitudinally opposite ends (27, 28) by an outer support ring (21) and an inner support ring (22); the assembly (20) being characterized in that each blade (12) is firmly connected to the rings (21, 22) and is supported by the rings via respective mechanical joints (31, 32) devoid of structural welds, so as to be removable from the rings without breaking the rings.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the blades (12) are made of a nickel-based metal alloy.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each blade (12) is integrally connected to the rings (21, 22) and is supported by the rings (21, 22) via mechanical joint members (35) arranged at the ends (27, 28) of the blade.
4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that each blade (12) is supported by the rings (21, 22) exclusively via the joint members (35) .
5. An assembly according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the joint members (35) comprise a pair of male elements (36) that engage with respective female elements (37) having a shape matching the shape of the male elements (36) .
6. An assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the male elements (36) are inserted- in the respective female elements (37) with clearances that are eliminated by wedges or shims .
7. An assembly according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each blade (12) carries a male element
(36) and a female element (37) arranged at the respective ends (27 and 28) of the blade.
8. An assembly according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that each blade (12) has two connection portions (29, 30) arranged at the ends (27, 28) of the blade and which project transversally from the ends of the blade.
9. An assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the connection portions (29 and 30) respectively carry a male element (36) that engages a female element (37) formed in a first ring (21), and a female element (37) that is engaged by a male element (36) carried by a second ring (22) .
10. An assembly according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the connection portions (29 and 30) are made as an integral part of the blades (12) in the same material as the blades.
11. An assembly according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the blades (12) are made by casting with a nickel-based metal alloy containing chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and iron.
12. An assembly according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the blades (12) are made with a metal alloy of the CX2MW type according to ASTM A494 or another alloy of similar characteristics.
13. An assembly according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the blades (12) are made by casting with a nickel-based metal alloy of the Hastelloy® family or a similar material.
14. A steam turbine (1), in particular a geothermal impulse turbine, including a stator (5) and a rotor disc (6) integrally connected to a shaft (7) rotating around an axis (A) of rotation, the turbine being characterized in that the stator (5) includes a fixed blade assembly (20) according to any one of the previous claims .
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT2007/000003 WO2008081485A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2007-01-04 | 'highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine' |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP2115273A1 true EP2115273A1 (en) | 2009-11-11 |
Family
ID=38457734
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP07713409A Ceased EP2115273A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 | 2007-01-04 | "highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine" |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20100074741A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP2115273A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2010515849A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2008081485A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2218882A1 (en) * | 2009-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Stator vane carrier system |
| US8657562B2 (en) | 2010-11-19 | 2014-02-25 | General Electric Company | Self-aligning flow splitter for steam turbine |
| DE102012005771B4 (en) | 2011-03-25 | 2022-06-30 | General Electric Technology Gmbh | Sealing device for rotating turbine blades |
| JP5665724B2 (en) * | 2011-12-12 | 2015-02-04 | 株式会社東芝 | Stator blade cascade, method of assembling stator blade cascade, and steam turbine |
Family Cites Families (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL46195C (en) * | 1936-05-27 | |||
| GB666911A (en) * | 1949-06-07 | 1952-02-20 | Henry George Yates | Improvements in or relating to diaphragms for impulse turbines |
| DE949824C (en) * | 1951-08-04 | 1956-09-27 | Gustav Koehler Dipl Ing | Inside floor divided in the axial plane for chamber turbines |
| JPS62174377A (en) * | 1986-01-24 | 1987-07-31 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Turbine vane |
| US5056989A (en) * | 1990-10-01 | 1991-10-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Stage replacement blade ring flow guide |
| US5358379A (en) * | 1993-10-27 | 1994-10-25 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Gas turbine vane |
| US5593273A (en) * | 1994-03-28 | 1997-01-14 | General Electric Co. | Double flow turbine with axial adjustment and replaceable steam paths and methods of assembly |
| US5622475A (en) * | 1994-08-30 | 1997-04-22 | General Electric Company | Double rabbet rotor blade retention assembly |
| US5788456A (en) * | 1997-02-21 | 1998-08-04 | Dresser-Rand Company | Turbine diaphragm assembly and method thereof |
| JP2003529677A (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2003-10-07 | シーメンス アクチエンゲゼルシヤフト | Heat resistant structural member and method of manufacturing the same |
| US6759774B1 (en) * | 2001-03-08 | 2004-07-06 | Lawrence Pumps, Inc | Low speed canned motor |
| JP4040922B2 (en) * | 2001-07-19 | 2008-01-30 | 株式会社東芝 | Assembly type nozzle diaphragm and its assembly method |
| US20040258192A1 (en) * | 2003-06-16 | 2004-12-23 | General Electric Company | Mitigation of steam turbine stress corrosion cracking |
| JP2005146896A (en) * | 2003-11-11 | 2005-06-09 | Toshiba Corp | Steam turbine nozzle diaphragm and steam turbine plant |
| EP1536026A1 (en) * | 2003-11-27 | 2005-06-01 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | High temperature resistant article |
| ITMI20042483A1 (en) * | 2004-12-23 | 2005-03-23 | Nuovo Pignone Spa | STEAM TURBINE |
| US7874795B2 (en) * | 2006-09-11 | 2011-01-25 | General Electric Company | Turbine nozzle assemblies |
-
2007
- 2007-01-04 JP JP2009544496A patent/JP2010515849A/en active Pending
- 2007-01-04 WO PCT/IT2007/000003 patent/WO2008081485A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2007-01-04 US US12/522,154 patent/US20100074741A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-01-04 EP EP07713409A patent/EP2115273A1/en not_active Ceased
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See references of WO2008081485A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2008081485A1 (en) | 2008-07-10 |
| JP2010515849A (en) | 2010-05-13 |
| US20100074741A1 (en) | 2010-03-25 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7824152B2 (en) | Multivane segment mounting arrangement for a gas turbine | |
| US4961310A (en) | Single shaft combined cycle turbine | |
| US20110280715A1 (en) | Curved labyrinth seals | |
| US20080245071A1 (en) | Thermal power plant | |
| US8038405B2 (en) | Spring seal for turbine dovetail | |
| EP2372103A1 (en) | Seal structure for a steam turbine | |
| US8870526B2 (en) | Axially segmented guide vane mount for a gas turbine | |
| US20110164965A1 (en) | Steam turbine stationary component seal | |
| Saito et al. | Latest technologies and future prospects for a new steam turbine | |
| US20100074741A1 (en) | Highly corrosion-resistant fixed blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine | |
| US8398367B2 (en) | Extraction unit for turbine and related method | |
| EP2479379B1 (en) | A welded rotor, a steam turbine having a welded rotor and a method for producing a welded rotor | |
| Bhatt et al. | Performance enhancement in coal fired thermal power plants. Part II: steam turbines | |
| JP2009191850A (en) | Steam turbine engine and assembly method thereof | |
| US10041367B2 (en) | Axially faced seal system | |
| US20130078088A1 (en) | Steam turbine lp casing cylindrical struts between stages | |
| EP2047003B1 (en) | Highly corrosion-resistant movable blade assembly for a steam turbine, in particular a geothermal impulse turbine | |
| Leyzerovich | New benchmarks for steam turbine efficiency.(Steam Turbines) | |
| CN103195491A (en) | A multi-material rotor, a steam turbine having the rotor, and a method for producing the rotor | |
| EP4682354A1 (en) | Turbine exhaust case and bearing housing assembly | |
| JP2018127919A (en) | Steam turbine system | |
| Pickard | Repowering and Retrofitting | |
| Smith | Retrofit options increase steam turbine efficiency | |
| Armor et al. | Supercritical fossil steam plants: Operational issues and design needs for advanced plants | |
| Ashmore | Supercritical technology. |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20090803 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20091124 |
|
| DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
| REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R003 |
|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED |
|
| 18R | Application refused |
Effective date: 20120322 |