Compressor Casing Inlet Opening for Temper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal stratification in gas turbine compressor casings leads to temperature differences causing lateral deformation and potential rubbing of the rotor assembly during shutdown, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine design featuring an inner and outer compressor casing chamber separated by a casing wall, with a tempering gas jet injected through inlet openings along the boundary casing wall to balance temperature variations, reducing thermal stratification and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas turbine is shut down, then the working fluid flow stops, but thermal stratification causes temperature differences leading to lateral deformation and potential rubbing of the rotor assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The tempering gas flow is introduced into the outer compressor casing chamber before the gas turbine shutdown to pre-cool the compressor casing. This preliminary cooling action prevents thermal stratification and subsequent lateral deformation that would occur during shutdown, thereby maintaining rotor assembly clearance and preventing rubbing.
Solution Approach 2:
A tempering gas flow serves as an intermediary substance between the hot compressor casing and the environment. This tempering gas absorbs excess heat from the compressor casing during shutdown, acting as a heat transfer medium that prevents thermal stratification and the resulting lateral deformation of the compressor casing.
2Temperature
If the compressor casing is cooled to prevent thermal stratification, then temperature uniformity improves, but additional cooling systems increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The outer compressor casing chamber serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the compressor casing and simultaneously acts as a cooling chamber for introducing tempering gas flow. This multi-functionality approach prevents thermal stratification without requiring separate cooling systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tempering gas flow system utilizes the existing outer compressor casing chamber structure for its cooling function, making the system self-sufficient. The tempering gas is introduced through the boundary casing wall into the existing outer chamber, eliminating the need for additional dedicated cooling infrastructure and reducing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces the probability of temperature-induced rubbing by balancing temperature differences within the compressor casing, ensuring the rotor assembly can rotate without deformation during shutdown, thereby enhancing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption of thermal energy by gas molecules of the inlet tempering gas flow and a distribution of this absorbed thermal energy alongside the compressor casing wall will result. Temperature differences within the compressor casing, which especially might appear while a shut down operational state of a gas turbine, are balanced
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine includes at least one rotor assembly and at least one compressor casing. The compressor casing has at least one inner compressor casing chamber for arranging the rotor assembly and at least one outer compressor casing chamber for tempering the compressor casing. The inner and outer compressor casing chambers are separated from each other by a separating casing wall. The outer compressor casing chamber has at least one boundary casing wall. The boundary casing wall and the separating casing wall are oppositely spaced such that the outer compressor casing chamber is formed. The boundary casing wall has at least one inlet opening for leading in an inlet tempering gas flow with tempering gas into the outer compressor casing chamber such that a tangential material temperature variation of the compressor casing is reduced in comparison to a non tempered compressor casing.