General Electric Company

Norman Douglas Lathrop

Douglas Carl Hofer

Edward John Sharrow

Daniel Mark Brown

Michael Joseph Boss

Kenneth James Robertson

Raymond Kenneth Overbaugh, Jr

Alison Carol Farrell

Robert Paul Czachor

Gene David Palmer

William Thomas Parry

David Ernest Welch

John Cleland Lavash

Edward Leo Kudlacik

Robert Gerard Baran

David Forrest Loy

Christopher Walter Sullivan

Robert James Sherwood

Scott William Blackwell

Christen A Vitrone

Samuel Gregory Clifford

John Keeling

Yuexi Xiong

Kristin Segreto

A steam turbine apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the steam turbine apparatus comprises: an exhaust shell portion including: a first section having a semi-circular cross-section; an exhaust section contiguous with the first section, the exhaust section including an intermediate-pressure exhaust outlet; and a second section having an oblate spherical cross-section including a substantially flattened portion, the second section configured to fluidly connect with the first section, wherein the first section and the second section form a continuous steam flow path.

Steam turbine shell

A method to facilitate sealing between a rotary component and a stationary component is provided. The rotary component includes at least one bucket secured thereon, the bucket having a flow admission side and a flow exit side. The method includes coupling a spill strip in a gap defined between the rotary and stationary component, wherein the spill strip has a substantially flat contact surface, and coupling a cover to a radially outer tip of the bucket, wherein a protrusion extends from the bucket cover to contact the substantially flat contact surface of the spill strip.

Method and apparatus to facilitate sealing within turbines

A method and apparatus for reducing self sealing flow in a combined cycle double flow steam turbine, the method and apparatus include providing a brush seal in a packing ring of a packing ring assembly at either end defining the double flow steam turbine.

Method and apparatus for reducing self sealing flow in combined-cycle steam turbines

A method and a system for determining radial clearances in a rotating machine are provided. The rotating machine includes at least one shell, at least one rotor, and at least one stationary component. The method includes creating a finite element model for at least one component within the rotating machine, creating a cycle deck data file for the rotating machine, determining an initial clearance versus time, and determining an initial clearance versus location. The system includes a client system including a browser, a centralized database for storing machine information, and a server system configured to be coupled to the client system and the database wherein the server system is further configured to receive machine information from the client system, store finite element model information in the centralized database, track machine information, update the centralized database periodically with newly received machine information to maintain machine information, and provide machine information in response to an inquiry.

Methods and systems for calculating steam turbine radial clearance

A method for assembling a power system is provided. The method includes coupling a first turbine and second turbine together with a coupling that extends between a first rotor of a first turbine and a second rotor of the second turbine, and such that the first turbine has fluid flow along a first flow path, and the second turbine has fluid flow along a second flow path. The method further includes fixedly coupling an outer wall to the first turbine that directs fluid flow from the first flow path towards the second flow path.

Methods and apparatus for assembling turbine engines

A casing ( ) for a steam turbine section has a housing ( ) installed therein for a bearing supporting a rotor for buckets. A housing support structure ( ) includes a pair of horizontally extending struts (T -T ) extending from a side ( ) of the casing to the housing and a second pair of struts (T , not shown) extending from the opposite side of the casing to the housing. The struts are in fluid communication with the interior of the housing and the atmosphere and both support the housing within the casing and vent the interior of the housing. Vertical struts (T -T ) also extend between the casing and the housing. A foundation plate ( ) is installed beneath the casing, and a pair of gibs ( ) are installed on opposite sides of the casing along the longitudinal centerline thereof to strengthen the casing and prevent tilting of components within the casing when a vacuum within the casing is present.

Support structure for stream turbine bearing housing

The shafts of upstream and downstream turbines are interconnected by a coupling. A diffuser is provided in an intermediate cavity between the upstream and downstream turbines to recover kinetic energy, as well as minimize or eliminate windage and spinning losses resultant from exposure of the coupling to the flowpath along the turbines. A radial entry inlet provides a supplemental fluid admission into the intermediate cavity, the admission being turned axially and circumferentially for joining with the flow exiting the upstream turbine for combined flow to the downstream turbine.

Diffusing coupling cover for axially joined turbines

The root region of a flowpath through a turbine includes a sealing configuration for minimizing leakage flow and secondary aerodynamic losses. Entrance and exit root radial seals are provided between upstream and downstream nozzles at locations radially inwardly of the root region of the flowpath to minimize radial leakage flow. To minimize intrusion flow into the flowpath from rotor pumping action and consequent aerodynamic losses, an exit flow guide on each bucket turns the exiting radial flow in a predominantly axial direction. Additionally, the upstream bucket root radius and nozzle root radius are faired or tapered to minimize the possibility of a protuberance projecting into the flowpath at steady state operation. An additional entrance root axial fin is provided on the buckets to reduce the flow coefficient and afford further reduction in leakage flow.

Flowpath sealing and streamlining configuration for a turbine

Multiple tubes are connected to steam supply and spent cooling steam return manifolds for supplying cooling steam to buckets and returning spent cooling steam from the buckets to the manifolds, respectively. The tubes are prevented from axial movement in one direction by flanges engaging end faces of the spacer between the first and second-stage wheels. Retention sleeves are disposed about cantilevered ends of the tubes. One end of the retention sleeve engages an enlarged flange on the tube, while an opposite end is spaced axially from an end face of the adjoining wheel, forming a gap, enabling thermal expansion of the tubes and limiting axial displacement of the tube in the opposite direction.

Retention sleeve for a thermal medium carrying tube in a gas turbine

Windage cover plates are secured between the wheels and spacer of a turbine rotor to prevent hot flow path gas ingestion into the wheelspace cavities. Each cover plate includes a linear, axially extending body curved circumferentially with a radially outwardly directed wall at one axial end. The wall defines a axially opening recess for receiving a dovetail lug. The cover plate includes an axially extending tongue received in a circumferential groove of the spacer. The cover plate is secured with the tongue in the groove and dovetail lug in the recess. Lap joints between circumferentially adjacent cover plates are provided.

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Ballston Lake, NY, United States of America

Norman Douglas Lathrop