Steam Turbine Outer Casing Support Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
The steam turbine system with a side condenser type outer casing is prone to deformation and displacement due to external pressure differences, leading to potential recessing and misalignment of the outer and inner casings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating support rods within the outer casing that connect the end plates, ceiling plates, and curved plates to distribute and counteract the forces caused by pressure differences, thereby preventing deformation and displacement of the casings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the outer casing is in a vacuum state to improve steam turbine efficiency, then the steam turbine system performance is improved, but the outer casing becomes prone to deformation due to external pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the outer casing by adding support rods that extend from the end plates to the curved plate, modifying the mechanical strength parameters to resist vacuum-induced deformation while maintaining the vacuum state for steam turbine efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The curved plate design with specific curvature and the arrangement of support rods create a distributed structural framework that better withstands external pressure, transforming the rigid flat structure into a more resilient curved support system
2Ease of manufacture
If the exhaust port is positioned on the first side in lateral direction to reduce building height and foundation level, then construction cost is reduced, but the outer casing experiences displacement toward the exhaust port due to steam discharge forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the outer casing into multiple structural components (end plates, curved plate, support rods) that can independently withstand and distribute the asymmetric forces from steam discharge, preventing overall displacement while maintaining the cost-effective side exhaust port configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The support rods act as counterbalancing structural elements that provide mechanical resistance to the asymmetric forces generated by steam discharge toward the exhaust port, counteracting the displacement tendency while preserving the optimized building layout
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 support rods effectively suppress deformation and displacement of the outer and inner casings, maintaining structural integrity and alignment by transmitting forces in a manner that counteracts the pressure-induced stresses.
Implementation Method 1
a first support rod provided inside the outer casing and extending in one direction... with provision of the first support rod having the configuration described above, the first support rod functions as a brace (support bar) between the inner surface of the end plate and the inner surface of the ceiling plate, making it possible to suppress deformation of the outer casing
Implementation Method 2
an interior of the outer casing is in a vacuum state and may therefore become recessed due to the effect of external pressure
Data Source
AI summary
This steam turbine system is provided with a first support rod (41) which is disposed in an outer casing (33) and extends in one direction. The first support rod (41) includes a first end (41A) which is connected to a surface, of an inner surface (45a) of an upper half of an end plate (45), on a first side in a lateral direction of an axial line of a rotor. The first support rod (41) includes a second end (41B) which is connected to an inner surface (48a) of a ceiling plate (48) which is disposed further on a second side in the lateral direction of the outer casing (33) than the first end (41A).