The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 07, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2000
Philip M. Caruso, Selkirk, NY (US);
Sacheverel Quentin Eldrid, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
Azad A. Ladhani, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Alan Richard DeMania, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Gene David Palmer, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Ian David Wilson, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Lisa Shirley Rathbun, Scotia, NY (US);
Robert Craig Akin, Schenectady, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
In a turbine having closed-circuit steam-cooling passages about the rim of the rotor during steady-state operation, compressor discharge air is supplied to the rotor bore for passage radially outwardly into the wheel space cavities between the wheels and spacers. Communicating slots and channels in the spacers and wheels at circumferentially spaced positions enable egress of the compressor discharge air into the hot gas flow path. At turbine startup, cooling air flows through the closed-circuit steam passages to cool the outer rim of the rotor while compressor discharge air pre-warms the wheels and spacers. At steady-state, cooling steam is supplied in the closed-circuit steam-cooling passages and compressor discharge air is supplied through the bore and into the wheel space cavities to cool the rotor.