Fluid transport pipe with high thermal resistance

Abstract

A turbomachine is provided that is configured for using a fluid for cooling and sealing functions conducted by a fluid transport pipe (216) with a hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe (216) from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe (216).

Description

2023PF12554FLUID TRANSPORT PIPE WITH HIGH THERMAL RESISTANCEBACKGROUND

[0001] Turbomachines are devices that transfer energy between a rotor and a fluid, typically a gas or liquid, either by imparting energy to the fluid (as in compressors and pumps) or extracting energy from the fluid (as in turbines). Turbomachines are useful to many industrial and power-generation systems, and their operation relies on precise control and management of fluid flow and pressure. Turbomachines use fluids, such as cooling fluids or sealing fluids, to be delivered to various parts of the turbomachine.SUMMARY

[0002] According to an embodiment, a turbomachine is provided. The turbo machine includes a shaft, a bearing disposed around the shaft for rotatably supporting the shaft, a bearing housing disposed around the bearing, a bearing housing pathway disposed within the bearing housing extending from an upstream end of the bearing housing to a downstream end, and a fluid transport pipe disposed within the bearing housing pathway for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough. The fluid transport pipe includes a sealing fluid tube hollow wall portion within a sealing fluid tube wall extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe.

[0003] According to another embodiment, a turbomachine is provided. The turbomachine includes a casing. The turbomachine further includes an inlet section for receiving a process fluid at a flow inlet of a process fluid flow path, conducting the process fluid therethrough, and discharging the process fluid through a flow outlet. The process fluid flow path is defined within and separate from the casing extending axially between the flow inlet and the flow outlet. The2023PF12554 turbomachine further includes a shaft extending into the casing. The turbomachine further includes an energy imparting section having a first impeller coupled to the shaft, the first impeller including a plurality of rotating blades circumferentially disposed around a periphery of the first impeller and extending radially outwardly from the first impeller into the process fluid flow path for compressing the process fluid and increasing a first amount of kinetic energy of the process fluid in a first compression step. The turbomachine further includes a diffuser section disposed downstream of the energy imparting section for converting the kinetic energy imparted to the process fluid in the energy imparting section into heat energy. The turbomachine further includes a fluid transport pipe radially disposed within a pathway for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough. The fluid transport pipe includes a sealing fluid hollow wall portion within a sealing fluid tube wall extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe.

[0004] According to yet another embodiment, a turbomachine is provided. The turboheating machine includes an inlet section. The turboheating machine further includes an energy imparting section disposed downstream of the inlet section. The turboheating machine further includes a diffuser section disposed downstream of the energy imparting section and receiving a process fluid at a flow inlet of a process fluid flow path, conducting the process fluid therethrough, and discharging the process fluid through a flow outlet. The turboheating machine further includes a casing. A flow path is defined within and separate from the casing, the flow path extending axially between the flow inlet and the flow outlet. The turboheating machine further includes a shaft extending into the casing. The turboheating machine further includes a first impeller coupled to the shaft, the first impeller including a plurality of rotating blades circumferentially disposed around a periphery of the first impeller and extending radially outwardly from the first impeller into the flow path for heating the process fluid and increasing a first amount of kinetic energy of the process fluid in a heating step. The diffuser section converts the first amount of kinetic energy imparted to the process fluid in2023PF12554 the energy imparting section into heat energy sufficient to initiate a desired chemical reaction in the process fluid. The turboheating machine further includes a bearing disposed around the shaft for rotatably supporting the shaft. The turboheating machine further includes a bearing housing disposed around the bearing. The turboheating machine further includes a bearing housing pathway disposed within the bearing housing extending from an upstream end of the bearing housing to a downstream end. The turboheating machine further includes a fluid transport pipe disposed within the bearing housing pathway for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough. The fluid transport pipe includes a sealing fluid hollow wall portion within a sealing fluid tube wall extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe.

[0005] The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of an embodiment of a turbomachine arranged to impart thermal energy to a process fluid directed along a flow path in accordance with one embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 A illustrates an external view of a turbomachine (e.g., the turbomachine of FIG. 1) in accordance with one embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the turbomachine of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment.2023PF12554

[0010] FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid transfer pipe within a bearing housing of the turbomachine of FIG. 2A in accordance with one embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid transfer pipe connection to a fluid supply system in accordance with one embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of a portion of the bearing housing 210 of FIGS. 2B and 2C including a portion of the fluid transport pipe 216 of FIGS. 2B and 2C in accordance with one embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of a portion of the bearing housing 210 of FIGS. 2B and 2C including a portion of the fluid transport pipe 216 of FIGS. 2B and 2C in accordance with one embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 3D illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of vacuum tube sleave feature for a fluid transfer pipe in accordance with one embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an array of fluid transport pipes in accordance with one embodiment.

[0016] The diagrams depicted herein are illustrative. There can be many variations to the diagram or the operations described therein without departing from the scope of the embodiments described herein. For instance, the actions can be performed in a differing order or actions can be added, deleted or modified. Also, the term “coupled” and variations thereof describes having a communications path between two elements and does not imply a direct connection between the elements with no intervening elements / connections between them. All of these variations are considered a part of the specification.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Before disclosed embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that disclosed embodiments are not limited in applicability to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in this description or illustrated in the following drawings. The underlying principles embodied in disclosed embodiments may be realized by way of further embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also,2023PF12554 it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0018] Various technologies that pertain to apparatuses and / or methodologies will now be described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. The drawings discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged apparatus. It is to be understood that functionality that is described as being carried out by certain elements may be performed by multiple elements. Similarly, for instance, an element may be configured to perform functionality that is described as being carried out by multiple elements. The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with reference to exemplary non-limiting embodiments.

[0019] It should be understood that the words or phrases used herein should be construed broadly, unless expressly limited in some examples. For example, the terms “including,” “having,” and “comprising,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and / or, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. Furthermore, while multiple embodiments or constructions may be described herein, any features, methods, steps, components, etc. described with regard to one embodiment are equally applicable to other embodiments absent a specific statement to the contrary.2023PF12554

[0020] Also, although the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and so forth may be used herein to refer to various elements, information, functions, or acts, these elements, information, functions, or acts should not be limited by these terms. Rather these numeral adjectives are used to distinguish different elements, information, functions or acts from each other. For example, a first element, information, function, or act could be termed a second element, information, function, or act, and, similarly, a second element, information, function, or act could be termed a first element, information, function, or act, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] In addition, the term “adjacent to” may mean that an element is relatively near to but not in contact with a further element or that the element is in contact with a further portion, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Terms “about” or “substantially” or like terms are intended to cover variations in a value that are within normal industry manufacturing tolerances for that dimension. If no industry standard is available, a variation of twenty percent would fall within the meaning of these terms unless otherwise stated.

[0022] One or more embodiments described herein relates to using a fluid to perform cooling and sealing functions of a turbomachine processing hydrocarbons or other flammable fluids. According to one or more embodiments, the fluid can be an inert fluid, a volatile fluid (e.g., a process gas), a hazardous fluid, and / or the like, including combinations and / or multiples thereof. One application of this is to use steam as the cooling and sealing fluid for a turbomachine designed to convert hydrocarbons to olefins using pyrolysis.

[0023] An embodiment described herein for olefin producing turbomachines is shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, steam is passed through a space between disks and exits into a primary flow through gaps between the stationary and rotating components of the turbomachine, preventing primary flow path fluid from entering the disk space region. Similarly, on the shroud side, a small amount of steam leaking into the primary flow path prevents hydrocarbon ingress in the2023PF12554 shroud cavity region. The pressure of the sealing steam at the different sealing locations is maintained at a value higher than the primary flow path to ensure hydrocarbons are restricted to the primary flow path.

[0024] Apart from the sealing function, the fluid (e.g., steam) is supplied at a lower temperature compared to the primary working fluid (e.g., hydrocarbons). The primary working fluid increases the temperature of the metal components of the turbomachine and may lead to failure due to degradation in material properties. The flow of fluid in the secondary circuit is designed to remove heat from high temperature components without interacting directly with the primary flow circuit. This ensures cooling of components to maintain structural integrity without sacrificing performance of the turbomachine.

[0025] One or more embodiments described herein relates to fluid transport pipes designed for fluid transport (e.g., steam) without undesirable transfer of heat to or from components in close proximity. A specific use for such a fluid transport pipe is for transporting seal fluids to a rotating shaft seal on a turbomachine (e.g., steam turbine, gas turbine, turbo-heater, etc.). A turbo-heater (also referred to as “turboheater” or “turboheating machine”) refers to a class of machinery that mainly converts mechanical energy into fluid energy in the form of heat. One or more embodiments described herein can be implemented on a bearing housing of a turbomachine, such as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, which are described in more detail herein. Because of significant space constraints of turbomachines, the sealing steam for the shaft seal is run through the bearing housing. The fluid transport pipes described herein allow steam piping to be integrated into the bearing housing walls with minimal deleterious heat input to the lubrication oil supply to the rotor shaft bearings.

[0026] The fluid transport pipe has a combination of features that facilitate nearly adiabatic transfer of a sealing fluid to the seal gland area, which are described in more detail herein. One or more embodiments may be configured for oil cooling.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one non-limiting embodiment of a turbomachine (e.g., the turbomachine 100 of FIG. 2A) arranged to impart thermal2023PF12554 energy to a process fluid 134 directed along a flow path 148. The turbomachine 100, which may be a turboheating machine, includes an inlet section 102, an energy imparting section 104, and a diffuser section 106. The turbomachine 100 includes an outer casing 136, such as a pressurized casing, housing the components of the turbomachine 100 aligned along a central axis 146.

[0028] A number of blades 118a, 118b are circumferentially mounted around a periphery of a rotor impeller 119, that in turn is coupled to a shaft 108 driven by a shaft-rotating power source or driver (not shown), such as an electric motor, steam or gas turbine, or another turbomachine. The turbomachine also includes stationary vanes, such as stationary vane row 132, which are stationary relative to the rotating blade rows 118a, 118b. The blades 118a, 118b of the rotor impellers 119a, 119b impart kinetic energy to the process fluid introduced at a process fluid inlet 150 through a well-understood momentum transfer process including accelerating the process fluid 134 to a supersonic velocity and then rapidly decelerating the process fluid 134. This process converts kinetic energy in the process fluid 134 to thermal energy, which can then be used for heating or to perform chemical reactions in the process fluid 134, such as cracking hydrocarbons in a natural gas stream. In the example embodiment of FIG. 1, two or more impellers, such as the impellers 119a, 119b, form an energy imparting section 104 for adding kinetic energy to the process fluid 134. In an embodiment, a row of static turning vanes (e.g., the stationary vane row 132) may be disposed between the impellers 119a, 119b, for example, to align the process fluid 134 discharged from impeller 119a and directed into the downstream impeller 119b. It will be appreciated that the number of rows of impellers 119a, 119b shown in FIG. 1 should be understood as an example and not as a limitation since such number can be adapted based on the needs of any given application. The process fluid 134 is then fluidly coupled to a supersonic diffuser 107 to decelerate the process fluid 134 and convert kinetic energy in the process fluid 134 into thermal energy, as described in greater detail below. Unlike other designs that impart kinetic energy to the process fluid 134 and then decelerate that process fluid 134 in the same stage, two or more impellers 119a, 119b advantageously provide a sequential buildup of kinetic energy imparted to the process fluid 134, such as in2023PF12554 a first energy imparting step, directly followed by a second energy imparting step before the additive kinetic energy of the sequential energy imparting steps are finally converted to thermal energy in the supersonic diffuser 107. The supersonic diffuser 107 is fluidically coupled to a downstream reaction zone 120 configured to condition the heated process fluid 134, for example, to generate a desired chemical reaction in the process fluid 134, such as by controlling the residence time of the heated process fluid 134 in the reaction zone 120. Residence time may be controlled by configuring one a more geometrical features of the reaction zone 120 to provide a desired chemical reaction. The process fluid 134 is then discharged at an outlet 121 of the turbomachine 100.

[0029] The turbomachine 100 further includes a fluid transport pipe 216 having an upstream end 215a and a downstream end 215b and being disposed in a bearing housing pathway 215 of a bearing housing 210. A sealing fluid 126 fluidly passes through the fluid transport pipe 216. Features of the fluid transport pipe 216 are now described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 4.

[0030] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are now described together. FIG. 2A illustrates an external view of a turbomachine 100 in accordance with one embodiment. The turbomachine 100 mechanically couples to a driver (not shown) at shaft 108 through coupling 211 and fluidly couples the process fluid 134 up and down stream of a turbomachine, such as the turbomachine 100. The turbomachine 100 can include a bearing housing 210, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 2B and 2C, for example. In this way, the turbomachine 100 provides a bearing support structure.

[0031] FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of a bearing housing 210 of the turbomachine 100 of FIG. 2 A in accordance with one embodiment. The turbomachine 100 includes a coupling 211, a shaft 108 and bearings 212a and 212b disposed around the shaft 108 for rotatably supporting the shaft 108. The bearing housing 210 includes a passage through the bearing housing 210. Because of significant space constraints within the turbomachine 100, the sealing steam for the shaft seal is run through the bearing housing 210.2023PF12554To do this, a fluid transport pipe 216 is used to integrate steam piping into the bearing housing 210 with minimal deleterious heat input to the lubrication oil supply to the support system, including the rotor shaft bearings (e.g., bearings 212a and 212b) of the rotor 214. The bearing housing 210 includes a bearing housing pathway 215 disposed within the bearing housing 210 extending from an upstream end 215a of the bearing housing 210 to a downstream end 215b. The fluid transport pipe 216 is disposed within the bearing housing pathway 215.

[0032] FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of the bearing housing 210 of the turbomachine 100 of FIG. 2 A in accordance with one embodiment. In this figure, the bearing housing 210 includes the fluid transport pipe 216 configured and arranged as shown. The fluid transport pipe 216 acts as an integrated seal steam transport pipe to facilitate nearly adiabatic transfer of relatively hot steam to a seal gland area of the turbomachine 100. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the fluid transport pipe 216 is disposed within a bearing housing pathway 215 formed within the bearing housing 210. The fluid transport pipe 216, also referred to as a “sealing fluid tube,” provides for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough. The fluid transport pipe 216 includes a sealing fluid hollow wall portion 220 within a sealing fluid tube wall 222 extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe 216. The sealing fluid hollow wall portion 220 is sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe 216 from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe 216. According to one or more embodiments, rather than using a vacuum, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion 220 is filled with a low thermal conductivity gas (e.g. argon, xenon, carbon dioxide, etc.) at atmospheric pressure.

[0033] FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of a portion of the bearing housing 210 of FIGS. 2B and 2C including a portion of the fluid transport pipe 216 of FIGS. 2B and 2C in accordance with one embodiment. A feature of the fluid transport pipe 216 is a double wall segment 310 for a substantial portion of its central extent in the bearing housing. At the ends of the double wall segment, the fluid transport pipe 216 reverts to a single wall section 312 with a space between the double wall segment 310 being sealed and capable2023PF12554 of containing the pressure differential of a deep vacuum. The dashed line 314 represents the transition between the double wall segment 310 and the single wall section 312. Once the space created within the double wall segment 310 is evacuated of fluids and other contaminants, this portion of the fluid transport pipe 216 presents a nearly adiabatic surface, thus inhibiting any substantial flow of heat from the steam into the bearing housing of the turbo machine. As shown in FIG. 3A, an end 312a of the single wall section 312 connects to a pipe fitting 315 that is connected to a steam source (not shown).

[0034] FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of a portion of the bearing housing 210 of FIGS. 2B and 2C including a portion of the fluid transport pipe 216 of FIGS. 2B and 2C in accordance with one embodiment. Another feature of the fluid transport pipe 216 is an end guide 330 at a steam exit end 312b of the fluid transport pipe 216. The steam exit end 312b is an end of the fluid transport pipe 216 where steam exits the fluid transport pipe 216. As shown, the fluid transport pipe 216 is positioned within the bearing housing pathway 215 in the bearing housing, with the diameter of the bearing housing pathway 215 being larger than the outer diameter of the outer wall (e.g., the sealing fluid tube wall 222) of the fluid transport pipe 216. According to one or more embodiments, the end guide 330 is a radially extended shape at the pipe end with rounded edges. The outer diameter of the end guide is slightly less than the diameter of the bearing housing pathway 215. The end guide 330 roughly centers the fluid transport pipe in the bearing housing pathway 215 while still allowing the steam exit end 312b to move freely, thus minimizing any thermally induced stresses due to differentials in thermal expansion between the fluid transport pipe 216 and the bearing housing pathway 215.

[0035] According to one or more embodiments, at the upstream end 215a, a vacuum tube sleave feature 354 (shown in FIG. 3D) provides steam seal and retainer functionality and is included at the outer wall (e.g., the sealing fluid tube wall 222) of the fluid transport pipe 216. The vacuum tube sleave feature 354 includes a press fit section 354a that is attached to the fluid transport pipe 216. The section 354a is attached to the fluid transport pipe 216 by brazing or other suitable means. The vacuum tube sleave feature 354 includes an annular metal2023PF12554 segment 352 affixed to the fluid transport pipe 216 with an outer diameter arranged to seal against an o-ring 356 that is positioned within the bearing housing pathway 215 at the upstream end 215a. The vacuum tube sleave feature 354 abuts an axial step in the well on the upstream end 215a and is retained by a snap ring 358 on the outboard end that is also fitted into a suitable groove (not shown) in the bearing housing pathway 215. This arrangement provides for sealing the bearing housing pathway 215 from the ambient environment. According to one or more embodiments, a swage style pipe fitting is used to connect the fluid transport pipe 216 to steam supply piping (not shown). In such one or more embodiments, the steam supply piping is connected via another standard pipe connection to a solid end of the fluid transport pipe 216.

[0036] FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic cross-sectional representation of a portion of the bearing housing 210 of FIGS. 2B and 2C including a portion of the fluid transport pipe 216 of FIGS. 2B and 2C in accordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, axial retention and sealing of the fluid transport pipe 216 relative to the bearing housing 210 is accomplished with a pipe connector 340 that is fastened to the bearing housing 210, such as using a threaded interface (not shown). According to one or more embodiments, the pipe connector 340 is a bored through compression fitting 360 (shown in FIG. 3D). According to one or more embodiments, the pipe connector 340 is sealed through a tapered thread or with an o-ring style seal. According to one or more embodiments, sealing of the fluid transport pipe 216 to the pipe connector 340 is accomplished using a swage or ferrule arrangement within the pipe connector 340 itself. With this embodiment the source pipe (not shown) is connected via another standard pipe connection to the single wall section 312 (e.g., solid wall through compression fitting) of the fluid transport pipe 216.

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an array of fluid transport pipes 416 (e.g., multiple instances of the fluid transport pipe 216) in accordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, the array of fluid transport pipes 416 are used to convey cooling fluid (e.g., steam) from an outer annulus 402 to an internal surface 404 of a hot flow path part 406 to be cooled in a turbomachine. In this embodiment, both ends of each of the array of fluid transport pipes 416 are2023PF12554 sealed by flexible metallic seal rings 418 (e.g. metallic c-ring) to allow the fluid transport pipes to sealingly move relative to the inlet and exit fixation points with no undue thermally induced stresses being imposed.

[0038] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, and improvements disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.

[0039] None of the description in the present application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, act, or function is an essential element, which must be included in the claim scope: the scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke a means plus function claim construction unless the exact words "means for" are followed by a participle.

Claims

2023PF12554CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A turbomachine comprising: a shaft; a bearing disposed around the shaft for rotatably supporting the shaft; a bearing housing disposed around the bearing; a bearing housing pathway disposed within the bearing housing extending from an upstream end of the bearing housing to a downstream end; and a fluid transport pipe disposed within the bearing housing pathway for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough, wherein the fluid transport pipe comprises a sealing fluid tube hollow wall portion within a sealing fluid tube wall extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe.

2. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein the turbomachine is a steam turbine.

3. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein the turbomachine is a gas turbine.

4. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein the turbomachine is a turbo-heater.

5. The turbomachine of claim 1, further comprising an end guide at a steam exit end of the fluid transport pipe.

6. The turbomachine of claim 5, wherein the end guide is a radially extended shape with rounded edges at the steam exit end of the fluid transport pipe.

7. The turbomachine of claim 6, wherein an outer diameter of the end guide is less than a diameter of the bearing housing pathway.

8. The turbomachine of claim 5, wherein the end guide substantially centers the fluid transport pipe in the bearing housing pathway while still allowing an end of the fluid transport pipe to more freely.2023PF125549. The turbomachine of claim 1, further comprising a steam seal and retainer at an outer wall of the fluid transport pipe.

10. The turbomachine of claim 9, wherein the steam seal and retainer comprises annular metal segment affixed to the fluid transport pipe with an outer diameter arranged to seal against an o-ring that is positioned within the bearing housing pathway.

11. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein the sealing fluid is steam.

12. A turbomachine comprising: a casing; an inlet section for receiving a process fluid at a flow inlet of a process fluid flow path, conducting the process fluid therethrough, and discharging the process fluid through a flow outlet, wherein the process fluid flow path is defined within and separate from the casing extending axially between the flow inlet and the flow outlet; a shaft extending into the casing; an energy imparting section comprising a first impeller coupled to the shaft, the first impeller comprising a plurality of rotating blades circumferentially disposed around a periphery of the first impeller and extending radially outwardly from the first impeller into the process fluid flow path for compressing the process fluid and increasing a first amount of kinetic energy of the process fluid in a first compression step; a diffuser section disposed downstream of the energy imparting section for converting the kinetic energy imparted to the process fluid in the energy imparting section into heat energy; and a fluid transport pipe radially disposed within a pathway for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough, wherein the fluid transport pipe comprises a sealing fluid hollow wall portion within a sealing fluid tube wall extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing2023PF12554 fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe.

13. The turbomachine of claim 12, wherein the fluid transport pipe conveys the sealing fluid from an outer annulus to an internal surface of a hot flow path part to be cooled in the turbomachine.

14. The turbomachine of claim 12, wherein the fluid transport pipe is one of a plurality of fluid transport pipes arranged in a radial array, wherein each end of each of the fluid transport pipes is sealed by a flexible metallic seal ring to allow the fluid transport pipe to sealingly move relative to an inlet and an exit without undue thermally induced stresses being imposed.

15. A turboheating machine comprising: an inlet section; an energy imparting section disposed downstream of the inlet section; a diffuser section disposed downstream of the energy imparting section and receiving a process fluid at a flow inlet of a process fluid flow path, conducting the process fluid therethrough, and discharging the process fluid through a flow outlet; a casing, wherein a flow path is defined within and separate from the casing, the flow path extending axially between the flow inlet and the flow outlet; a shaft extending into the casing; a first impeller coupled to the shaft, the first impeller comprising a plurality of rotating blades circumferentially disposed around a periphery of the first impeller and extending radially outwardly from the first impeller into the flow path for heating the process fluid and increasing a first amount of kinetic energy of the process fluid in a heating step, wherein the diffuser section converts the first amount of kinetic energy imparted to the process fluid in the energy imparting section into heat energy sufficient to initiate a desired chemical reaction in the process fluid; a bearing disposed around the shaft for rotatably supporting the shaft;2023PF12554 a bearing housing disposed around the bearing; a bearing housing pathway disposed within the bearing housing extending from an upstream end of the bearing housing to a downstream end; and a fluid transport pipe disposed within the bearing housing pathway for conducting a sealing fluid therethrough, wherein the fluid transport pipe comprises a sealing fluid hollow wall portion within a sealing fluid tube wall extending at least partially along an extent of the fluid transport pipe, the sealing fluid hollow wall portion sealed to maintain a vacuum therein for thermally isolating the sealing fluid flowing though the fluid transport pipe from an environment external to the fluid transport pipe.

16. The turboheating machine of claim 15, further comprising a second impeller.

17. The turboheating machine of claim 16, further comprising a turning vane disposed between the first impeller and the second impeller.

18. The turboheating machine of claim 15, wherein the sealing fluid is steam.

19. The turboheating machine of claim 15, further comprising an end guide at a steam exit end of the fluid transport pipe, wherein the end guide is a radially extended shape with rounded edges at the steam exit end of the fluid transport pipe, wherein an outer diameter of the end guide is less than a diameter of the bearing housing pathway.

20. The turboheating machine of claim 16, wherein the end guide substantially centers the fluid transport pipe in the bearing housing pathway while still allowing an end of the fluid transport pipe to more freely.

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