Steam Turbine Nozzle Support Bar Hook Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steam turbine nozzle assemblies require time-consuming and costly processes for maintenance and removal of the bottom half of the diaphragm due to the rigid support bars and centering pin, limiting access and alignment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A steam turbine nozzle support assembly with a support bar featuring a hook-shaped portion that non-affixedly joins the casing to the diaphragm segment, allowing for removability in an axial direction without affixing to either component, thereby enabling easier maintenance and alignment without removing the rotor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support bars are rigidly attached to the bottom half of the diaphragm stage, then structural support is provided, but maintenance and removal of the bottom half become time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion, a hook-shaped portion with first and second flanges, and a tongue portion. This segmentation allows the support bar to be attached to the diaphragm while the hook engages with the casing, enabling maintenance without complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bar transitions from a rigid, permanently fixed component to a dynamic, removable component. The hook-shaped portion allows the support bar to be attached and detached from the casing, enabling the bottom half of the diaphragm to be removed for maintenance while providing structural support during operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the bottom half of the diaphragm is coupled to the casing with support bars and centering pin, then the diaphragm is stable, but the bottom half cannot rotate about the turbine rotor
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar is designed with separable engagement features: the body portion attaches to the diaphragm while the hook-shaped portion engages the casing. This segmentation allows the bottom half to be detached when rotation or alignment work is needed, providing both stability during operation and adaptability when maintenance is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system transitions from a fixed, non-rotatable connection to a dynamic, removable connection. The hook-shaped portion enables the support bar to be attached during operation for stability and removed when rotation or alignment adjustments are needed, providing both stability and adaptability as required.
3Strength
If support bars are used to join the diaphragm to the casing, then the diaphragm is supported, but removal of the bottom half is necessary for alignment, requiring rotor removal
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar is segmented into a body portion that attaches to the diaphragm and a hook-shaped portion that engages the casing. This segmentation allows the support bar to be removed from the casing while leaving the diaphragm attached to the rotor, enabling alignment work without rotor removal and reducing maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook-shaped portion acts as an intermediary between the support bar and the casing. It provides the support function during operation but can be independently removed, serving as a mediator that allows maintenance procedures to be simplified by decoupling the support function from the permanent attachment.
4Reliability
If traditional support bars are used, then the diaphragm is securely held, but maintenance requires time-consuming and costly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar transitions from a static, permanently fixed component to a dynamic, removable component. The hook-shaped portion allows the support bar to be quickly attached and detached from the casing, maintaining secure holding during operation while dramatically reducing maintenance time by enabling rapid removal without rotor disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bar is segmented into functional portions that can be independently engaged and disengaged. The body portion remains attached to the diaphragm while the hook-shaped portion can be quickly removed from the casing, providing both reliable support during operation and rapid maintenance access, thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A support bar (140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) for a steam turbine nozzle assembly (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the support bar (140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) includes a hook-shaped portion (143) for engaging a lip portion (161) of a steam turbine diaphragm (130), wherein the steam turbine support bar (140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) is configured to non-affixedly join a steam turbine casing (120) to the steam turbine diaphragm (130).