Integrally geared turbomachinery system with integrated driver

Abstract

An integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) comprising a wheel gear (290) configured to rotate around a rotating axis (R) and at least one shaft (210, 220) mechanically coupled to the wheel gear (90) and to at least one impeller (211, 212, 221, 222) and is configured to rotate around an axis (X, Y). The system (200) further comprises an epicyclic gear (80) mechanically coupled to the wheel gear (290) and a torque motor (270) mechanically coupled to the epicyclic gear (80) and enclosed in the epicyclic gear (80): the torque motor (270) is configured to transmit motion to the epicyclic gear (80) and the epicyclic gear (80) is configured to transmit motion to the wheel gear (290), so that no external drivers are required.

Description

TITLEIntegrally geared turbomachinery system with integrated driverDESCRIPTIONTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The subject-matter disclosed herein relates to innovative integrally geared turbomachinery system with integrated driver.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Known integrally geared turbomachinery trains are typically composed by a low-speed wheel (known as “bull gear”) with relative pinions on the outside of it which drive a plurality of high-speed shafts, in particular pinion shafts, and a driver of the low-speed wheel. In general, the driver is usually an electric motor or a turbine located at the external of a casing of the integrally geared turbomachinery train (see for example Fig. 1), which has a non- neglectable footprint.

[0003] For plants in which the installation of an integrally geared turbomachinery system was not initially considered, for example for applications like Carbon Capture and Utilization Storage (=CCUS), it could be difficult to find the needed space to install all the equipment. Therefore, in order to allow the installation of an integrally geared turbomachinery system also in a narrow zone, it would be desirable to have a system with a smaller footprint.SUMMARY

[0004] According to an aspect, the subject-matter disclosed herein relates to an integrally geared turbomachinery system comprising a wheel gear configured to rotate around a rotating axis and at least one shaft mechanically coupled to the wheel gear and to at least one impeller, the at least one shaft being configured to rotate around an axis. The system further comprises an epicyclic gear mechanically coupled to the wheel gear and a torque motor mechanically coupled to the epicyclic gear and integrated in the epicyclic gear. The torque motor is configured to transmit motion to the epicyclic gear and the epicyclic gear is configured to transmit motion to the wheel gear.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an integrally geared turbomachinery system of the prior art with external driver,Fig. 2 shows a more detailed diagram of a portion of Fig. 1,Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of innovative integrally geared turbomachinery system with integrated driver, andFig. 4 shows a more detailed diagram of a portion of Fig. 3.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0006] According to an aspect, the subject-matter disclosed herein relates to an innovative turbomachinery system comprising a wheel gear mechanically coupled to at least one compressor or one pump, the innovative turbomachinerysystem having a smaller footprint with respect to known integrally geared turbomachinery systems, as the driver of the innovative system is a torque motor integrated in the casing of the system (which has a smaller axial footprint with respect to typical external drivers). The torque motor is characterized with a very low rotation speed; therefore, the rotation speed needs to be increased so to properly drive the compressor(s) / pump(s). Hence, the system further comprises an epicyclic gear mechanically coupled to the torque motor and to the wheel gear and configured to create a kinematic chain with them to increase the rotation speed transmitted from the torque motor to the compressor(s) / pump(s) without increasing the axial footprint of the system, as the torque motor can be integrated in the epicyclic gear.

[0007] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. The examples and drawing figures are provided by way of explanation of the disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation of the disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In the following description, similar reference numerals are used for the illustration of figures of the embodiments to indicate elements performing the same or similar functions. Moreover, for clarity of illustration, some references may be not repeated in all the figures.

[0008] Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an integrally geared turbomachinery system 100 of the prior art with external driver and Fig. 2 is a more detailed diagram of a portion of the integrally geared turbomachinery system 100. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of innovative integrally geared turbomachinery system 200 with integrated driver and Fig. 4 is a more detailed diagram of a portion of the innovative integrally geared turbomachinery system 200.

[0009] The innovative integrally geared turbomachinery systems herein disclosed essentially differ from the prior art integrally geared turbomachinery system 100 of Fig. 1 in that the driver of the wheel gear of the system is a torque motor integrated in the casing of the system which transmits motion through an epicyclic gear to the wheel gear, therefore reducing the axial footprint of the system and allowing its implementation in existing plants where the available space is limited.

[0010] In fact, with non-limiting reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, known integrally geared turbomachinery system 100 comprises a wheel gear 190 (known also as “bull gear”) rotating around a rotating axis R and mechanically coupled to at least one shaft 110, in particular one pinion shaft, so to transmit motion to the shaft 110. It is to be noted that Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show two shafts 110 and 120, in particular two pinion shafts, mechanically coupled to the wheel gear 190 and configured to rotate respectively around a first axis X and a second axis Y. It is to be noted that the first shaft 110 and the second shaft 120 rotates around the axes X and Y at a rotating speed higher than the rotating speed of the wheel gear 190, so to properly drive one or more compressors and / or pumps mechanically coupled to the shafts 110 and 120. Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the wheel gear 190 and at least a portion of each shaft 110 and 120 are enclosed in a casing 160. It is further to be noted that the wheel gear 190 is driven by an external driver located outside the casing (see Fig. 1).

[0011] In Figure 3 there is shown, for example and without limitation, an embodiment of an innovative integrally geared turbomachinery system generally indicated with reference numeral 200. The system 200 comprises a wheel gear 290 (known also as “bull gear”) configured to rotate around a rotating axis R and at least one shaft, preferably a plurality of shafts 210 and 220, mechanically coupled to the wheel gear 290 and configured to rotate around an axis, preferably a different axis X and Y for each shaft 210 and 220.With non-limiting reference to Fig. 3, at least one shaft 210 and 220 is mechanically coupled to at least one impeller 211, 212, 221 and 222, which could be a compressor (or pump) and / or an expander

[0012] It is to be noted that Figure 3 (and Figure 4) shows only two shafts 210 and 220, in particular two pinion shafts; however, the number of shafts mechanically coupled to the wheel gear 290 may be different, in particular may vary from 1 to 10 shafts, more in particular from 1 to 5 shafts. It is also to be noted that the shafts 210 and 220 may rotate at different rotating speeds, for example depending on the dimension of the pinion portion of the shafts. Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 and as it will be better described in the following, the wheel gear 290 and at least a portion of each shaft 210 and 220 are enclosed in a casing 260.

[0013] Advantageously, the at least one shaft 210 and 220 is configured to be mechanically coupled to two impellers 211 and 212, 221 and 222 located respectively at the ends of each pinion shaft 210 and 220. With non-limiting reference to Fig. 3, there are shown two shafts 210 and 220 whose respective ends are mechanically coupled to an impeller 211, 212, 221 and 222. It is to be noted that, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the shaft 210 are both coupled to a compressor (or pump) 211 and 212, while the ends of the shaft 220 are coupled respectively to an expander 221 and to a compressor (or pump) 222 so that the total power balance is null (considering the power absorbed and generated by the turbomachinery and the losses). However, many other embodiments are possible without exiting from the scope of the present disclosure depending e.g. from the size of the driver and / or the type of turbomachinery.

[0014] As already stated above, the system 200 further comprises a torque motor 270 configured to transmit motion to the wheel gear 290 through an epicyclic gear 80; in particular, the epicyclic gear 80 is mechanically coupledto the wheel gear 290 and the torque motor 270 is mechanically coupled to the epicyclic gear 80, so that the torque motor 270 is configured to transmit motion to the epicyclic gear 80 and the epicyclic gear 80 is configured to transmit motion to the wheel gear 290. As it will be better described in the following, the torque motor 270 is integrated in the epicyclic gear 80; in other words, the volume occupied by the torque motor 270 may be enclose into the one occupied by the epicyclic gear 80.

[0015] In particular, the torque motor 270 comprises a stator part 271 and a rotor part 272. Advantageously, the stator part 271 is mechanically coupled to the casing 260, in particular fixed to the casing 260.

[0016] With non-limiting reference to Fig. 4, the epicyclic gear 80 comprises a sun gear 81 mechanically coupled to the torque motor 270, in particular to the rotor part 272 (e.g. integral with the rotor part 272), so that the torque motor transmits motion to the sun gear 81 ; in other words, the torque motor 270 drives the sun gear 81 so that the sun gear 81 rotates substantially at the same rotating speed of the rotor part 272 due to the motion transmitted by the torque motor 270.

[0017] Advantageously, the epicyclic gear 80 further comprises a plurality of planet gears 82, for example three planet gears, mechanically coupled to the sun gear 81; in particular, the plurality of planet gears 82 are configured to cooperate with a toothing of the sun gear 81, so that the sun gear 81 transmits motion to the plurality of planet gears 82. In particular, each planet gear of the plurality of planet gears 82 rotates at a rotating speed which is higher than the rotating speed of the sun gear 81. Even more advantageously, the plurality of planet gears 82 is mechanically coupled also to the wheel gear 290 so that the plurality of planet gears 82 transmit motion to the wheel gear 290; in other words, the plurality of planet gears 82 drives the wheel gear 290 so that the wheel gear 290 rotates substantially at the same rotating speed of the pluralityof planet gears 82 due to the motion transmitted by the plurality of planet gears 82.

[0018] Advantageously, the epicyclic gear 80 further comprises a fixed ring gear 83 mechanically coupled to the plurality of planet gears 82; in particular, the fixed ring gear 83 is configured to cooperate with a toothing of the plurality of planet gears. Advantageously, the fixed ring gear 83 is mechanically coupled, in particular fixed, to the casing 260.

[0019] It is to be noted that, from the embodiment described above, additional variants are possible, without departing from the teaching of the present disclosure. In particular, various epicyclic gears are nowadays known, typically classified as simple epicyclic gears or compound epicyclic gears.

[0020] As already mentioned above, the torque motor 270 is integrated in the epicyclic gear 80. Advantageously, with non-limiting reference to Fig. 4, the torque motor 270 is enclosed in the fixed ring gear 83, so that the axial footprint of the system 200 is limited.

[0021] As already mentioned above, the wheel gear 290 and at least a portion of each shaft 210 and 220 are advantageously enclosed in a casing 260. With non-limiting reference to Fig. 4, the casing 260 is configured to house the torque motor 270, the epicyclic gear 80, the wheel gear 290 and at least partially the shafts 210 and 220.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) comprising a wheel gear (290) configured to rotate around a rotating axis (R) and at least one shaft (210, 220) mechanically coupled to the wheel gear (290) and to at least one impeller (211, 212, 221, 222), wherein the at least one shaft (210, 220) is configured to rotate around an axis (X, Y), wherein the system (200) further comprises an epicyclic gear (80) mechanically coupled to the wheel gear (290) and a torque motor (270) mechanically coupled to the epicyclic gear (80), wherein the torque motor (270) is configured to transmit motion to the epicyclic gear (80) and the epicyclic gear (80) is configured to transmit motion to the wheel gear (290), wherein the torque motor (270) is integrated in the epicyclic gear (80).

2. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) of claim 1, wherein the at least one shaft (210, 220) is mechanically coupled to two impellers (211, 212, 221, 222) located respectively at each pinion shaft ends.

3. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) of claim 1, wherein the epicyclic gear (80) comprises a sun gear (81) mechanically coupled to the torque motor (270) so that the torque motor (270) transmits motion to the sun gear (81).

4. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) of claim 3, wherein the epicyclic gear (80) comprises a plurality of planet gears (82) mechanically coupled to the sun gear (81) and to the wheel gear (290), so that the sun gear (81) transmits motion to the plurality of planet gears (82) and the plurality of planet gears (82) transmit motion to the wheel gear (290).

5. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) of claim 4, wherein the epicyclic gear (80) comprises a fixed ring gear (83) mechanically coupled to the plurality of planet gears (82).

6. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) of claim 5, wherein the torque motor (270) is enclosed in the fixed ring gear (83).

7. Integrally geared turbomachinery system (200) of claim 1, further comprising a casing (260), wherein the casing (260) is configured to house the torque motor (270), the epicyclic gear (80), the wheel gear(290) and at least partially the at least one shaft (210, 220).