Gas Turbine Nozzle Segment Separation Using a Blocking Pin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Removal of turbine nozzles from the casing is difficult due to high temperatures and pressures causing them to stick together, with limited space for application of force, making separation and removal time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle segment separation tool with support plates, a hydraulic cylinder, a pushing bar, a nozzle catch plate, and a blocking pin, which engages and separates adjacent nozzle segments by applying force through the hydraulic cylinder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high temperature and high pressure environment is maintained in the turbine, then efficient energy extraction is achieved, but nozzle segments stick together and seize in the supporting structure
Solution Approach 1:
A blocking pin is inserted through the casing to act as an intermediary mechanical element. The pin engages with the pushing bar and forces the nozzle catch plate to engage the nozzle segment, providing the necessary separation force without requiring direct access to the stuck nozzle segments. This intermediary mechanism overcomes the sticking problem caused by high temperature and pressure.
2Volume of moving object
If small clearances are maintained in the turbine section, then compact design is achieved, but there is very little space to access the nozzles and apply force to separate them
Solution Approach 1:
The separation tool approaches the nozzle segments from a different spatial dimension by inserting the blocking pin through the casing wall. This bypasses the limited radial clearance problem and provides access to the nozzle segments from the axial direction, where there is sufficient space to operate the tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking pin serves as a mediator that transmits force from the external tool through the casing to the nozzle catch plate, enabling separation without direct access to the nozzle segments in the constrained radial space.
3Force
If significant force is applied to separate stuck nozzles, then separation is achieved, but the required space for force application is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking pin acts as a force transmission intermediary, allowing significant separation force to be applied through the pin and pushing bar mechanism without requiring large application space. The force is transmitted axially through the pin rather than requiring radial force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual force application method is replaced with a hydraulic cylinder that generates the necessary separation force. This mechanical substitution provides high force output in a compact package that can be operated from the axial direction through the blocking pin mechanism.
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
Efficiently separates nozzle segments in a gas turbine engine, facilitating safe and timely removal for repair or replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic cylinder positioned within the pair of support plates
Implementation Method 2
a pushing bar attached to the hydraulic cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle segment separation tool for use with a pair of adjacent nozzle segments in a casing of a turbine. The nozzle segment separation tool may include a pair of support plates, a hydraulic cylinder positioned within the pair of support plates, a pushing bar attached to the hydraulic cylinder, a nozzle catch plate positioned within the pair of support plates, and a blocking pin inserted through the casing. The blocking pin forces the nozzle catch plate to engage a first nozzle segment of the pair of adjacent nozzle segments and blocks movement of the pushing bar such that the nozzle catch plate separates the pair of adjacent nozzle segments.