Turbine Assembly Stator Blade Carrier Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing steam turbine designs suffer from inadequate stiffness and strength due to excessive length of coupling bolts and subsequent weakening of the stator blade carrier, which complicates assembly and manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

The design eliminates direct coupling between the stator blade carrier and the outer casing, instead using a nozzle valve casing interposed between them, allowing for shorter bolts or integration of components through casting to enhance stiffness and strength, and simplify assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the stator blade carrier is directly coupled to the outer turbine casing using coupling bolts, then the assembly is structurally connected, but the coupling bolts become excessively long causing structural weakening and insufficient stiffness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength of casing assemblyVSAvoidlength of coupling bolts
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The turbine assembly is segmented into distinct modules: the outer turbine casing, the nozzle valve casing, and the stator blade carrier. Each module is independently manufactured and assembled, eliminating the need for excessively long coupling bolts by creating intermediate connection points through the nozzle valve casing that is fixed to the outer turbine casing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle valve casing serves as an intermediary component between the outer turbine casing and the stator blade carrier. It provides a intermediate mounting surface that reduces the required length of coupling bolts while maintaining structural integrity and stiffness of the overall assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If coupling bolts are used to connect the stator blade carrier and nozzle valve casing, then the components are joined, but the excessive bolt length weakens the stator blade carrier structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidstrength of stator blade carrier
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly is divided into separable modules that can be manufactured independently with standard-length fasteners, improving both manufacturability and structural strength by avoiding the need for oversized coupling holes that would weaken the stator blade carrier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design accepts the use of multiple shorter coupling bolts as a more economical and structurally sound solution compared to using fewer, excessively long bolts that would require large coupling holes and weaken the carrier structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the casing assembly uses traditional coupling methods, then the components are connected, but the stiffness level is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestiffness of casing assemblyVSAvoidcomplexity of coupling arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The casing assembly is segmented into rigid modules (outer turbine casing, nozzle valve casing, stator blade carrier) that are independently manufactured with high precision, then assembled using standardized coupling interfaces. This modular approach increases overall stiffness while managing complexity through standardization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3263851B1Turbine assembly
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3263851B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A turbine (1) comprises: - an outer casing (12), - a plurality of nozzle blades (16), - a plurality of stator blades (18), - a nozzle valve casing (14) supporting the plurality of nozzle blades (16), the nozzle valve casing (14) being fixed to the casing (12), - a stator blade carrier (22) supporting the plurality of stator blades (18), the stator blade carrier (22) being supported by the nozzle valve casing (14). The casing (12) comprises at least one seat (23, 24) to which the nozzle valve casing (14) is coupled. The nozzle valve casing (14) is interposed between the casing (12) and the stator blade carrier (22) in such a way that the casing (12) and the stator blade carrier (22) are separated from each other.