EP4019743B1 - Gas turbine assembly and method for operating said gas turbine assembly - Google Patents
Gas turbine assembly and method for operating said gas turbine assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4019743B1 EP4019743B1 EP20217259.9A EP20217259A EP4019743B1 EP 4019743 B1 EP4019743 B1 EP 4019743B1 EP 20217259 A EP20217259 A EP 20217259A EP 4019743 B1 EP4019743 B1 EP 4019743B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- gas turbine
- turbine assembly
- movable element
- sealing element
- stator
- 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.)
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 8
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 64
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 25
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013016 damping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- F01D11/00—Preventing or minimising internal leakage of working-fluid, e.g. between stages
- F01D11/08—Preventing or minimising internal leakage of working-fluid, e.g. between stages for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator
- F01D11/14—Adjusting or regulating tip-clearance, i.e. distance between rotor-blade tips and stator casing
- F01D11/16—Adjusting or regulating tip-clearance, i.e. distance between rotor-blade tips and stator casing by self-adjusting means
-
- 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
- F05D2240/00—Components
- F05D2240/55—Seals
- F05D2240/56—Brush seals
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a gas turbine assembly and to a method for operating said gas turbine assembly.
- the gas turbine assembly of the present invention can be part of a plant for the production of electrical energy.
- a gas turbine assembly for power plants comprises a compressor, a combustor and a turbine.
- the compressor comprises an inlet supplied with air and a plurality of rotating blades compressing the passing air.
- the compressed air leaving the compressor flows into a plenum, i.e. a closed volume delimited by an outer casing, and from there into the combustor.
- a plenum i.e. a closed volume delimited by an outer casing
- the compressed air is mixed with at least one fuel and then the fuel is combusted.
- the resulting hot gas leaves the combustor and expands in the turbine. In the turbine the hot gas expansion moves rotating blades connected to a rotor, performing work.
- Both the compressor and the turbine comprise a plurality of stator assemblies axially interposed between rotor assemblies.
- Each stator assembly comprises a plurality of stator vanes supported by a respective stator structure (casing or carrier) and a stator ring arranged about the rotor.
- Each rotor assembly comprises a rotor disk rotating about a main axis and a plurality of blades supported by the rotor disk.
- the tips of the blades are spaced from the stator.
- said spacing can change due to thermal expansions and mechanical backlashes depending on the operational conditions of the gas turbine assembly.
- the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a gas turbine assembly, wherein the gap between the tip of the blades and the stator is controlled in a simple and reliable way.
- the resulting force acting on the movable element is regulated by the pressures in the chambers of the regulating gap and by the pressures in the clearance gap.
- the pressures in the chambers of the regulating gap are strictly linked to the pressures upstream and downstream of the rotor stage. In this way, the clearance gap is regulated naturally, without the need of active control means. This implies low realization costs and high performances of the gas turbine assembly.
- the movable element is provided with an inner face, facing, in use, the at least one tip of the blade and with an outer face, facing, in use, the regulating gap; on the outer face the movable element being provided with at least one first recess housing the first sealing element.
- the axial dimension of the first recess is greater than the axial dimension of the sealing element.
- the first sealing element is transversal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis, preferably orthogonal to the longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis.
- the first sealing element is a brush seal.
- the first sealing element comprises a metal sheet.
- the movable element is provided with a second sealing element arranged at a distance from the first sealing element so as to create an intermediate chamber between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; the intermediate chamber being arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber.
- the intermediate chamber is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap.
- the intermediate chamber is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap by means of a through hole made in the movable element.
- the intermediate chamber is in fluidic communication with the first chamber and/or the second chamber through at least one passage at the first sealing element and/or at the second sealing element.
- the retaining device is configured to reduce the regulating gap when the turbine assembly is not operating.
- the retaining device is configured to limit the radial movement of the movable element between a minimum displacement and a maximum displacement.
- the retaining device can comprises at least one spring, or at least one bimetallic element, or at least one bellow filled with heat-sensitive material or a magnet, or a combination thereof.
- the pressure fields acting on the movable element regulates the position of the movable element so that a proper clearance control is obtained (i.e. the net force acting on the movable element and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width of the clearance gap).
- the gas turbine assembly 1 comprises a compressor 3, a combustion chamber 4, a turbine 5.
- the rotor 11 comprises a front shaft 12, a plurality of rotor stages 13 and a rear shaft 14.
- Each rotor stage 13 comprises a rotor disk 16 and a plurality of rotor blades 17 coupled to the rotor disk 16 and radially arranged.
- the plurality of rotor disks 16 are arranged in succession between the front shaft 12 and the rear shaft 14 and preferably clamped as a pack by a central tie rod 18. As an alternative, the rotor disks may be welded together.
- a central shaft 20 separates the rotor disks 16 of the compressor 3 from the rotor disks 16 of the turbine 5 and extends through the combustion chamber 4.
- stator stages 22 are alternated with the compressor rotor stages 13.
- Each stator stage 22 comprises a stator ring 24 and a plurality of stator vanes 25, which are radially arranged and coupled to the stator ring 24 and to a respective structure of the stator 6.
- the gas turbine assembly 1 comprises at least one movable element 30, which is coupled to the stator 6 by means of at least one retaining device 32 and moves radially between the stator 6 and at least one tip 29 of the blades 17 for regulating a clearance gap 33 between the at least one tip 29 and the movable element 30.
- the movable element 30 is coupled to the stator 6 so as to create a regulating gap 35 between the stator 6 and the movable element 30, which is in fluidic communication with the expansion working channel 8.
- the sealing element 30 is arranged orthogonal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis A.
- the pressure in the first chamber 38a is P1 and the pressure in the second chamber 38b is P2.
- the movable element 30 is moved radially outward by the pressure field in order to increase the radial width of the clearance gap 33.
- the clearance gap 33 has a radial width corresponding to the operational one and is not changed by the pressure field acting on the movable element.
- the positioning of the sealing element 37 is, therefore, designed specifically in order to obtain the above behaviour in use.
- the positioning of the sealing element 37 determines the areas on which the outer pressures act in the chambers 38.
- the axial position of the sealing element 37 is designed in order to obtain the proper adjustment of the radial width Wr of the clearance gap 33.
- the positioning of the sealing element 37 is defined so that the net force acting on the movable element 30 and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width Wr of the clearance gap.
- the axial position of sealing element is designed so as the second chamber 38b insists on an area of the outer face 41 greater than the area on which assures the first chamber 38a.
- Figure 5 shows a variant of the present invention, wherein the movable element 30 is provided with a further sealing element 47 arranged at a distance from the sealing element 37 so as to create an intermediate chamber 48 between the sealing element 37 and the sealing element 47.
- the intermediate chamber 48 is arranged between the first chamber 38a and the second chamber 38b.
- the intermediate chamber 48 is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap 33, preferably by means of a through hole 50 made in the movable element.
- the intermediate chamber 48 can be in fluidic communication with the first chamber 38a and/or the second chamber 38b through at least one passage at the sealing element 37 and/or at the sealing element 47.
- sealing element 37 and the sealing element 47 are substantially identical.
- sealing element 47 is housed in a recess 53 having axial dimensions greater that the axial dimensions of the sealing element 47.
- figure 6A it is represented the pressure trend on the inner face 40 (dashed lines) and on the outer face 41 (continuous line) when the radial width of the clearance gap 33 is large. With the expression "large” it is intended that the radial width is greater than a threshold.
- the pressure in the first chamber 38a is P1 and the pressure in the second chamber 38b is P2, the pressure in the intermediate chamber 48 is P3.
- the resulting net force acting on the movable device 30 is greater towards the tip 29.
- the movable element 30 is moved radially inward by the pressure field in order to reduce the radial width Wr of the clearance gap 33.
- the pressure trend on the inner face 40 depends on several factors, i.e. the shape of the airfoil of the blade 17.
- the pressure in the first chamber 38a is P1
- the pressure in the second chamber 38b is P2
- the pressure in the intermediate chamber 48 is P3.
- the resulting net force acting on the movable device 30 is greater radially outward (away from the tip 29).
- the movable element 30 is moved radially outward by the pressure field in order to increase the radial width Wr of the clearance gap 33.
- the clearance gap 33 has a radial width Wr corresponding to the operational one and is not changed by the pressure field acting on the movable element.
- both the positioning of the sealing element 37 and the sealing element 47 must be designed properly depending on the pressure field.
- the positioning of the through hole 50 should be properly placed in order to have a desired pressure field in the intermediate chamber 48.
- the pressure in the intermediate chamber 48 is equal to the pressure in the clearance gap 33 substantially at the axial position of the through hole 50. Therefore, the positioning of the through hole 50 determines the pressure in the intermediate chamber 48.
- the positioning of the sealing elements 37, 47 and the through hole 50 is defined so that the net force acting on the movable element 30 and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width Wr of the clearance gap.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Turbine Rotor Nozzle Sealing (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a gas turbine assembly and to a method for operating said gas turbine assembly. In particular, the gas turbine assembly of the present invention can be part of a plant for the production of electrical energy.
- As is known, a gas turbine assembly for power plants comprises a compressor, a combustor and a turbine.
- In particular, the compressor comprises an inlet supplied with air and a plurality of rotating blades compressing the passing air. The compressed air leaving the compressor flows into a plenum, i.e. a closed volume delimited by an outer casing, and from there into the combustor. Inside the combustor, the compressed air is mixed with at least one fuel and then the fuel is combusted. The resulting hot gas leaves the combustor and expands in the turbine. In the turbine the hot gas expansion moves rotating blades connected to a rotor, performing work.
- Both the compressor and the turbine comprise a plurality of stator assemblies axially interposed between rotor assemblies.
- Each stator assembly comprises a plurality of stator vanes supported by a respective stator structure (casing or carrier) and a stator ring arranged about the rotor.
- Each rotor assembly comprises a rotor disk rotating about a main axis and a plurality of blades supported by the rotor disk.
- During rotation, the tips of the blades are spaced from the stator. However, said spacing can change due to thermal expansions and mechanical backlashes depending on the operational conditions of the gas turbine assembly.
- It is therefore necessary to properly control the dimensions of said gap in order to avoid an excessive spacing between the tips of the blades and the stator or a dangerous excessive reduction of the gap that may lead to a contact between the tips and the stator.
- A proper control of the gap between the tip of the blades and the stator improves the reliability and the efficiency of the gas turbine assembly. An example of a turbine sealing system is disclosed in
US2015337852 . However, such a solution is not able to properly control the clearance radial gap between the stator and the tips of the rotor blades. - The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a gas turbine assembly, wherein the gap between the tip of the blades and the stator is controlled in a simple and reliable way.
- In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas turbine assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a stator defining a working channel;
- a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor stages; each rotor stage comprising a plurality of blades rotatable in the working channel about the longitudinal axis;
- each blade being provided with a tip;
- at least one movable element which is coupled to the stator by means of at least one retaining device and moves radially between the stator and at least one tip of the blades for regulating a clearance gap between the at least one tip and the movable element;
- wherein the movable element is coupled to the stator so as to create a regulating gap between the stator and the movable element, which is in fluidic communication with the working channel; the movable element being provided with at least one first sealing element dividing the regulating gap in at least two chambers; one first chamber of the at least two chambers being in fluidic communication with the working channel upstream the rotor stage and one second chamber of the at least two chambers being in fluidic communication with the working channel downstream the rotor stage.
- Thanks to presence of the first sealing element, the resulting force acting on the movable element is regulated by the pressures in the chambers of the regulating gap and by the pressures in the clearance gap.
The pressures in the chambers of the regulating gap are strictly linked to the pressures upstream and downstream of the rotor stage. In this way, the clearance gap is regulated naturally, without the need of active control means. This implies low realization costs and high performances of the gas turbine assembly. - According to a variant of the present invention, the movable element is provided with an inner face, facing, in use, the at least one tip of the blade and with an outer face, facing, in use, the regulating gap; on the outer face the movable element being provided with at least one first recess housing the first sealing element.
- Preferably, the axial dimension of the first recess is greater than the axial dimension of the sealing element.
- According to a variant of the present invention, the first sealing element is transversal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis, preferably orthogonal to the longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis.
- According to a variant of the present invention, the the first sealing element is a brush seal.
- According to another variant of the present invention, the first sealing element comprises a metal sheet.
- According to a variant of the present invention, the movable element is provided with a second sealing element arranged at a distance from the first sealing element so as to create an intermediate chamber between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; the intermediate chamber being arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber.
- Preferably, the intermediate chamber is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap.
- More preferably, the intermediate chamber is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap by means of a through hole made in the movable element.
- According to a variant of the present invention, the intermediate chamber is in fluidic communication with the first chamber and/or the second chamber through at least one passage at the first sealing element and/or at the second sealing element.
- According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retaining device is configured to reduce the regulating gap when the turbine assembly is not operating.
- More preferably, the retaining device is configured to limit the radial movement of the movable element between a minimum displacement and a maximum displacement.
- The retaining device can comprises at least one spring, or at least one bimetallic element, or at least one bellow filled with heat-sensitive material or a magnet, or a combination thereof.
- It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a gas turbine assembly, which is able to properly control the gap between the tip of the blades and the stator in a simple and reliable way.
- In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a gas turbine assembly according to claim 15.
- In this way the pressure fields acting on the movable element regulates the position of the movable element so that a proper clearance control is obtained (i.e. the net force acting on the movable element and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width of the clearance gap).
- The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limitative embodiment, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a schematic sectional front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a gas turbine assembly according to the present invention; -
Figure 2A is a schematic sectional front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a first detail ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 2B is a schematic sectional lateral view, with parts removed for clarity, of a second detail ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 3A is a schematic representation of the pressure trends along the axial direction acting on a movable element of the first detail offigure 2 in a first operating condition (large clearance condition); -
Figure 3B is a schematic representation of the resulting force acting on the movable element of the first detail offigure 2 in the first operating condition offigure 3a ; -
Figure 4A is a schematic representation of the pressure trends along the axial direction acting on a movable element of the first detail offigure 2 in a second operating condition (very small clearance condition); -
Figure 4B is a schematic representation of the resulting force acting on the movable element of the first detail offigure 2 in the second operating condition offigure 4A ; -
Figure 5 is a schematic sectional front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a first detail ofFigure 1 according to a variant of the present invention; -
Figure 6A is a schematic representation of the resulting force acting on the movable element of the first detail offigure 5 in a first operating condition (large clearance); -
Figure 6B is a schematic representation of the resulting force acting on the movable element of the first detail offigure 5 in a second operating condition (very small clearance condition). - In
figure 1 reference numeral 1 indicates a gas turbine assembly (schematically shown inFigure 1 ). - The
gas turbine assembly 1 comprises acompressor 3, acombustion chamber 4, aturbine 5. - In particular, the
gas turbine assembly 1 comprises astator 6, defining at least acompression working channel 8 and anexpansion working channel 9. - The
compressor 3 and theturbine 5 are mounted on a same shaft to form arotor 11, which is housed in thestator 6 and extends along an axis A. - In greater detail, the
rotor 11 comprises afront shaft 12, a plurality ofrotor stages 13 and arear shaft 14. - Each
rotor stage 13 comprises arotor disk 16 and a plurality ofrotor blades 17 coupled to therotor disk 16 and radially arranged. - The plurality of
rotor disks 16 are arranged in succession between thefront shaft 12 and therear shaft 14 and preferably clamped as a pack by acentral tie rod 18. As an alternative, the rotor disks may be welded together. - A
central shaft 20 separates therotor disks 16 of thecompressor 3 from therotor disks 16 of theturbine 5 and extends through thecombustion chamber 4. - Further, stator stages 22 are alternated with the compressor rotor stages 13.
- Each
stator stage 22 comprises astator ring 24 and a plurality ofstator vanes 25, which are radially arranged and coupled to thestator ring 24 and to a respective structure of thestator 6. - In
figure 2A an enlarged view of arotor stage 13 is illustrated. Therotor stage 13 illustrated infigure 2A is housed in thecompression working channel 8 of thecompressor 3. However, the same features here below detailed can be applied, mutatis mutandis, to arotor stage 13 housed in theexpansion working channel 9 of theturbine 5 wherein a hot gas flows. - The
rotor blade 17 extends along a radial direction r with respect to longitudinal axis A and is provided with a base 28 coupled to the rotor disk 15 and with afree tip 29, arranged radially opposite to thebase 28. - The
blade 17 comprise a leading edge LE, which is the edge first meeting the incoming flow and which separates the flow, and a trailing edge TE, which is the edge at which the air divided by the leading edge LE meets again. - Arrow D indicates the direction of the air flow flowing in the
compression working channel 8. - The
gas turbine assembly 1 comprises at least onemovable element 30, which is coupled to thestator 6 by means of at least oneretaining device 32 and moves radially between thestator 6 and at least onetip 29 of theblades 17 for regulating aclearance gap 33 between the at least onetip 29 and themovable element 30. - In particular, the
movable element 30 is coupled to thestator 6 so as to create a regulatinggap 35 between thestator 6 and themovable element 30, which is in fluidic communication with theexpansion working channel 8. - With reference to
figure 2B , thegas turbine assembly 1 preferably comprise a plurality ofmovable elements 30 for eachrotor stage 13. The plurality ofmovable elements 30 are preferably arranged circumferentially about the longitudinal axis A at a distance. - Each
movable element 30 has a radial length Lr and circumferential length Lc. - With reference again to
figure 2A , themovable element 30 is provided with at least onefirst sealing element 37 dividing the regulatinggap 35 in at least two chambers 38: onefirst chamber 38a is in fluidic communication with the workingchannel 8 upstream therotor stage 13 and onesecond chamber 38b is in fluidic communication with the workingchannel 8 downstream therotor stage 13. - The
movable element 30 is provided with aninner face 40, facing, in use, the at least onetip 29 of theblade 17 and with anouter face 41, facing, in use, the regulatinggap 35. - Preferably, on the
outer face 41 the movable element 39 is provided with at least onerecess 43 housing thefirst sealing element 37. - Preferably, the axial dimension of the
recess 43 is greater than the axial dimension of the sealingelement 37 in order to allow the sealingelement 37 to move inside therecess 43. - In use, in fact, the sealing
element 37 should maintain the division between the chambers 38 in all the positions of themovable element 30. - Therefore, when the
movable element 30 moves radially, the sealingelement 37 can consequently slide radially in therecess 43. For example, when themovable element 30 is in the position closest to the stator 6 (i.e. radial width of the regulatinggap 35 is at the minimum and radial width of theclearance gap 33 is at the maximum) the sealingelement 37 substantially engages completely therecess 43 touching the bottom of therecess 43. When themovable element 30 is in the position farthest to thestator 6, the sealingelements 37 is radially spaced from the bottom of therecess 43. Said radially spacing between the sealingelement 37 and the bottom of therecess 43 defines the maximum radial width variation of the regulatinggap 35. - The sealing
element 37 can be a brush seal having inclined movable bristles or a sheet metal that can slide radially at the shoulder of therecess 43. - As we will see in detail later, due to the pressure difference between the chambers 38, in use, the sealing
element 37 is pressed against one shoulder of therecess 43. - Preferably, the sealing
element 30 extends transversal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis A. - More preferably, the sealing
element 30 is arranged orthogonal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis A. - According to a variant not shown, the outer face of the movable element is not provided with a recess and the first sealing element is coupled to the outer face.
- The retaining
device 32 is preferably configured to limit the radial movement of themovable element 30 between a minimum displacement and a maximum displacement. - In other words, the retaining
device 32 is configured to safely limit the movement of themovable element 30 in order to avoid an excessive approaching of themovable element 30 towards thetip 29 of the blade 17 (in order to avoid dangerous rubbing between thetip 29 and the movable element 30) or an excessive approaching of themovable element 30 towards the stator 6 (in order to avoid an excessive reduction of the regulating gap 35). - The retaining
device 32 is also preferably configured to reduce the regulatinggap 35 when thegas turbine assembly 1 is not operating. In other words, when no pressures field is acting on themovable element 30 the retainingdevice 32 moves themovable element 30 away from thetip 29 of theblade 17 in order to avoid rubbing between thetip 29 and themovable element 30. - Thus, at standstill conditions, in fact, a
clearance gap 33 is provided and it is possible to turn the rotor slowly (e.g. rotor barring) without rubbing of thetip 29 of theblade 17. - The retaining
device 32 is also preferably configured to damp the potential oscillations of themovable element 30. - In the non-limiting example here disclosed and illustrated, the retaining
device 32 comprises twosprings 45 coupled to thestator 6 and to theouter face 41 of themovable element 30. - The
movable element 30 has eigenfrequencies due to the presence of thesprings 45 and therefore can vibrate due to flow induced excitation. A damping device is therefore advantageous. The damping can be obtained by the friction of the sealingelement 37 on the shoulders of therecess 43. Other methods to create friction are possible. - According to a first variant not shown, the retaining device may comprise at least one bimetallic element.
- According to a second variant not shown, the retaining device may comprise at least one bellow filled with heat-sensitive material.
- According to a further variant not shown, the retaining device may comprise at least one magnet or a combination of the options above.
- With reference to
figure 3A-3B 4A-4B , themovable element 30, in operation moves under the effect of the pressure field acting on it. - In particular, on the
inner face 40 of themovable element 30, the pressure field depends mainly on the dimensions of theclearance gap 33 and on the operating conditions. - On the
outer face 41, the pressure field depends on the dimensions of the chambers 38 created by the sealingelement 37. - In the
first chamber 38a, in fact, the pressure is identical to the pressure P1 in the working channel upstream of therotor stage 13. - In the
second chamber 38b, the pressure is identical to the pressure P2 in the working channel downstream of therotor stage 13. - In
figure 3A it is represented the pressure trend on the inner face 40 (dashed lines) and on the outer face 41 (continuous line) when the radial width of theclearance gap 33 is large. With the expression "large" it is intended that the radial width is greater than a threshold. - In this situation, on the
inner face 40 there is approximately a linear pressure increase from value P1 to value P2 from the leading edge LE to the trailing edge TE. - The pressure trend on the
inner face 40 depends on several factors, i.e. the shape of the airfoil of theblade 17. - On the
outer face 41, the pressure in thefirst chamber 38a is P1 and the pressure in thesecond chamber 38b is P2. - Looking at the diagram in
figure 3B , the resulting net force acting on themovable device 30 is greater towards thetip 29. - Therefore, if the
clearance gap 33 is large, themovable element 30 is moved radially inward by the pressure field in order to reduce the radial width of theclearance gap 33. -
- Pouter is the pressure on the
outer face 41; - Pinner is the pressure on the
inner face 40; - A is the area on which the pressure field acts.
- In
figure 4A it is represented the pressure trend on theinner face 40 and on theouter face 41 when the radial width of theclearance gap 33 is small. With the expression "small" it is intended that the radial width is lower than a further threshold. - In this situation, on the
inner face 40 the pressure starts from value P1 and increases strongly close to the leading edge LE and then the pressure trend tends to value P2, which is reached at the trailing edge TE. - On the
outer face 41, the pressure in thefirst chamber 38a is P1 and the pressure in thesecond chamber 38b is P2. - Looking at the diagram in
figure 4B , the resulting net force acting on themovable device 30 is greater radially outward (away from the tip 29). - Therefore, if the
clearance gap 33 is small, themovable element 30 is moved radially outward by the pressure field in order to increase the radial width of theclearance gap 33. - If the net force is zero, the
clearance gap 33 has a radial width corresponding to the operational one and is not changed by the pressure field acting on the movable element. - The positioning of the sealing
element 37 is, therefore, designed specifically in order to obtain the above behaviour in use. - The positioning of the sealing
element 37, in fact, determines the areas on which the outer pressures act in the chambers 38. - In the non-limiting example here disclosed and illustrated, the axial position of the sealing
element 37 is designed in order to obtain the proper adjustment of the radial width Wr of theclearance gap 33. - In particular, the positioning of the sealing
element 37 is defined so that the net force acting on themovable element 30 and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width Wr of the clearance gap. - In the non-limiting example here disclosed and illustrated, the axial position of sealing element is designed so as the
second chamber 38b insists on an area of theouter face 41 greater than the area on which insists thefirst chamber 38a. -
Figure 5 shows a variant of the present invention, wherein themovable element 30 is provided with afurther sealing element 47 arranged at a distance from the sealingelement 37 so as to create anintermediate chamber 48 between the sealingelement 37 and the sealingelement 47. - The
intermediate chamber 48 is arranged between thefirst chamber 38a and thesecond chamber 38b. - In the non-limiting example here disclosed and illustrated, the
intermediate chamber 48 is in fluidic communication with theclearance gap 33, preferably by means of a throughhole 50 made in the movable element. - According to a variant not shown, the
intermediate chamber 48 can be in fluidic communication with thefirst chamber 38a and/or thesecond chamber 38b through at least one passage at the sealingelement 37 and/or at the sealingelement 47. - Preferably, the sealing
element 37 and the sealingelement 47 are substantially identical. - Similarly, the sealing
element 47 is housed in arecess 53 having axial dimensions greater that the axial dimensions of the sealingelement 47. - In
figure 6A it is represented the pressure trend on the inner face 40 (dashed lines) and on the outer face 41 (continuous line) when the radial width of theclearance gap 33 is large. With the expression "large" it is intended that the radial width is greater than a threshold. - In this situation, on the
inner face 40 there is approximately a linear pressure increase from value P1 to value P2 from the leading edge LE to the trailing edge TE. - On the
outer face 41, the pressure in thefirst chamber 38a is P1 and the pressure in thesecond chamber 38b is P2, the pressure in theintermediate chamber 48 is P3. - The resulting net force acting on the
movable device 30 is greater towards thetip 29. - Therefore, if the
clearance gap 33 is large, themovable element 30 is moved radially inward by the pressure field in order to reduce the radial width Wr of theclearance gap 33. - In
figure 6B it is shown the pressure trend on theinner face 40 and on theouter face 41 when the radial width of theclearance gap 33 is small. With the expression "small" it is intended that the radial width Wr is lower than a further threshold. - In this situation, on the
inner face 40 the pressure starts from value P1 and increases strongly close to the trailing edge TE and then the pressure trend tends to value P2, which is reached at the trailing edge TE. As already stated, the pressure trend on theinner face 40 depends on several factors, i.e. the shape of the airfoil of theblade 17. - On the
outer face 41, the pressure in thefirst chamber 38a is P1, the pressure in thesecond chamber 38b is P2 and the pressure in theintermediate chamber 48 is P3. - The resulting net force acting on the
movable device 30 is greater radially outward (away from the tip 29). - Therefore, if the
clearance gap 33 is small, themovable element 30 is moved radially outward by the pressure field in order to increase the radial width Wr of theclearance gap 33. - If the net force is zero, the
clearance gap 33 has a radial width Wr corresponding to the operational one and is not changed by the pressure field acting on the movable element. - In order to obtain a proper clearance control of the radial width Wr of the
clearance gap 33, in this embodiment, both the positioning of the sealingelement 37 and the sealingelement 47 must be designed properly depending on the pressure field. - Moreover, also the positioning of the through
hole 50 should be properly placed in order to have a desired pressure field in theintermediate chamber 48. As we will see later, the pressure in theintermediate chamber 48 is equal to the pressure in theclearance gap 33 substantially at the axial position of the throughhole 50. Therefore, the positioning of the throughhole 50 determines the pressure in theintermediate chamber 48. - In particular, the positioning of the sealing
elements hole 50 is defined so that the net force acting on themovable element 30 and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width Wr of the clearance gap. - Other solutions not shown may comprise a plurality of sealing elements in order to create several chambers whose pressure can be adjusted properly in order to obtain the desired clearance control.
- Finally, it is clear that modifications and variants can be made to the gas turbine assembly and to the method described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (15)
- Gas turbine assembly extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and comprising:a stator (6) defining a working channel (8, 9);a rotor (11) comprising a plurality of rotor stages (13);each rotor stage (13) comprising a plurality of blades (17) rotatable in the working channel (8, 9) about the longitudinal axis (A); each blade (17) being provided with a tip (29);at least one movable element (30) which is coupled to the stator (6) by means of at least one retaining device (32) and moves radially between the stator (6) and at least one tip (29) of the blades (17) for regulating a clearance gap (33) between the at least one tip (29) and the movable element (30);characterised in thatthe movable element (30) is coupled to the stator (6) by means of said at least one retaining device (32) so as to create a regulating gap (35) between the stator (6) and the movable element (30) which is in fluidic communication with the working channel (8, 9); the movable element (30) being provided with at least one first sealing element (37) dividing the regulating gap (35) in at least two chambers (38); one first chamber (38a) of the at least two chambers (38) being in fluidic communication with the working channel (8, 9) upstream the rotor stage (13) and one second chamber (38b) of the at least two chambers (38) being in fluidic communication with the working channel (8, 9) downstream the rotor stage (13).
- Gas turbine assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable element (30) is provided with an inner face (40), facing, in use, the at least one tip (29) of the blade (17) and with an outer face (41), facing, in use, the regulating gap (35); on the outer face (41) the movable element (30) being provided with at least one first recess (43) housing the first sealing element (37) .
- Gas turbine assembly according to claim 2, wherein the axial dimension of the first recess (43) is greater than the axial dimension of the sealing element (37).
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the first sealing element (37) is transversal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis (A).
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the first sealing element (37) is orthogonal to a longitudinal plane containing the longitudinal axis (A).
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the first sealing element (37) is a brush seal.
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the claims 1-6, wherein the first sealing element (37) comprises a metal sheet.
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the movable element (30) is provided with a second sealing element (47) arranged at a distance from the first sealing element (37) so as to create an intermediate chamber (48) between the first sealing element (37) and the second sealing element (47); the intermediate chamber (48) being arranged between the first chamber (38a) and the second chamber (38b) .
- Gas turbine assembly according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate chamber (48) is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap (33).
- Gas turbine assembly according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate chamber (48) is in fluidic communication with the clearance gap (33) by means of a through hole (50) made in the movable element (30).
- Gas turbine assembly according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate chamber (48) is in fluidic communication with the first chamber (38a) and/or the second chamber (38b) through at least one passage at the first sealing element (37) and/or at the second sealing element (47).
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining device (32) is configured to reduce the regulating gap (35) when the turbine assembly (1) is not operating.
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining device (32) is configured to limit the radial movement of the movable element (30) between a minimum displacement and a maximum displacement.
- Gas turbine assembly according to anyone of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining device (32) comprises at least one spring (45), or at least one bimetallic element, or at least one bellow filled with heat-sensitive material or a magnet, or a combination thereof.
- Method for operating a gas turbine assembly (1) extending along a longitudinal axis (A); the gas turbine assembly (1) comprising:a stator (6) defining a working channel (8, 9);a rotor (11) comprising a plurality of rotor stages (13);each rotor stage (13) comprising a plurality of blades (17) rotatable in the working channel (8, 9) about the longitudinal axis (A); each blade (17) being provided with a tip (29);at least one movable element (30) which is coupled to the stator (6) and moves radially between the stator (6) and at least one tip (29) of the blades (17) for regulating a clearance gap (33) between the at least one tip (29) and the movable element (30);wherein the movable element (30) is coupled to the stator (6) so as to create a regulating gap (35) between the stator (6) and the movable element (30) which is in fluidic communication with the working channel (8, 9); the movable element (30) being provided with at least one first sealing element (37) dividing the regulating gap (35) in at least two chambers (38); one first chamber (38a) of the at least two chambers (38) being in fluidic communication with the working channel (8, 9) upstream of the rotor stage (13) and one second chamber (38b) of the at least two chambers (38) being in fluidic communication with the working channel (38b) downstream of the rotor stage (13); the method comprising positioning the at least one first sealing element (37) so that the net force acting on the movable element (30) and determined by the pressure fields is zero at a target radial width (Wr) of the clearance gap (33) .
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP20217259.9A EP4019743B1 (en) | 2020-12-24 | 2020-12-24 | Gas turbine assembly and method for operating said gas turbine assembly |
CN202111561359.2A CN114673565A (en) | 2020-12-24 | 2021-12-20 | Gas turbine assembly and method for operating the same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP20217259.9A EP4019743B1 (en) | 2020-12-24 | 2020-12-24 | Gas turbine assembly and method for operating said gas turbine assembly |
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EP4019743A1 EP4019743A1 (en) | 2022-06-29 |
EP4019743B1 true EP4019743B1 (en) | 2024-06-12 |
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EP20217259.9A Active EP4019743B1 (en) | 2020-12-24 | 2020-12-24 | Gas turbine assembly and method for operating said gas turbine assembly |
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CN (1) | CN114673565A (en) |
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CN115013079A (en) * | 2022-07-08 | 2022-09-06 | 泰安凯顺机电工程有限公司 | Steam turbine with long service life |
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US9829007B2 (en) * | 2014-05-23 | 2017-11-28 | General Electric Company | Turbine sealing system |
US10132186B2 (en) * | 2015-08-13 | 2018-11-20 | General Electric Company | System and method for supporting a turbine shroud |
US11208912B2 (en) * | 2018-12-13 | 2021-12-28 | General Electric Company | Turbine engine with floating shrouds |
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