General Electric Company

Kyle E Coneybeer

David Martin Johnson

Iain Robertson Kellock

Sacheverel Quentin Eldrid

Albert Myers

Hans M Knuijt

Brendan F Sexton

A turbine includes a plurality of inner shell sections mounting first and second stage nozzle and shroud portions. The inner shell sections are pinned to an outer containment shell formed of sections to preclude circumferential movement of the inner shell relative to the outer shell and enable thermal expansion and contraction of the inner shell relative to the outer shell. Positive bucket tip clearance control is afforded by passing a thermal medium about the inner shell in heat transfer relation with the shrouds about the first and second stage bucket tips, the thermal medium being provided from a source of heating/cooling fluid independent of the turbine. Access is provided to the rotor and turbine buckets by removing the outer and inner shell sections.

Removable inner turbine shell with bucket tip clearance control

Removable inner turbine shell and bucket tip clearance control

A turbine includes a plurality of inner shell sections mounting first and second stage nozzle and shroud portions. An outer housing surrounds the inner shell sections and includes at least two outer shell sections overlying the inner shell sections. The inner shell sections are releasably connected to one another and the outer shell sections are releasably connected to one another. Upon removing an outer shell section, an access opening is provided through which an uppermost inner shell section is removed. Rollers are provided between the lower outer and inner shell sections so that the lower inner shell section is rotated into the access opening and can be removed through the access opening.

Growing community of inventors

Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Kyle E Coneybeer