Turbine Transition Duct Loading Assembly for Thermal Stress Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine systems with off-axis transition ducts experience thermal expansion, leading to undesirable shifts and stress within the ducts, causing potential failure and improper load distribution, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A loading assembly comprising load members that extend from transition ducts to adjacent ducts, allowing for thermal growth and load transfer along various axes, such as longitudinal, tangential, and radial axes, to prevent damage and ensure even load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If off-axis transition ducts are used to shift hot gas flow radially or tangentially, then first stage nozzles can be eliminated and turbine efficiency increases, but thermal expansion causes undesirable duct shifts and stresses that may lead to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The loading assembly incorporates movable connection elements that allow the ducts to dynamically adjust their positions in response to thermal expansion. The connection mechanism includes sliding surfaces and adjustable linkages that enable the ducts to shift along longitudinal, radial, and tangential axes while maintaining structural integrity and proper load distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
A loading assembly serves as an intermediary mechanism between adjacent ducts, providing controlled movement and load transfer capabilities. This intermediate structure allows thermal expansion to be accommodated through regulated shifts while ensuring loads are properly distributed and transferred between ducts, preventing direct stress concentration that would lead to failure.
2Productivity
If ducts are shifted off-axis to improve flow distribution, then system efficiency increases, but load distribution between ducts becomes improper and stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The loading assembly enables dynamic load distribution by allowing ducts to shift positions based on thermal conditions. The movable connection elements adjust in real-time to equalize loads between adjacent ducts, preventing stress concentration while maintaining the off-axis configuration needed for efficient flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows parameters such as duct position, angle, and spacing to change in response to thermal expansion. The loading assembly incorporates adjustable linkages and sliding mechanisms that modify the geometric parameters of duct connections, enabling the system to adapt to thermal conditions while maintaining proper load distribution and reducing stresses.
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 loading assembly effectively transfers loads between transition ducts, mitigating stress and strain caused by thermal expansion, thereby enhancing the durability and efficiency of turbine systems by allowing for thermal growth and even load distribution.
Implementation Method 1
thermal expansion of the ducts can cause undesirable shifts in the ducts along or about various axes
Implementation Method 2
loads carried by the ducts may not be properly distributed and, when shifting occurs, the loads may not be properly transferred between the various ducts
Data Source
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AI summary
A loading assembly (102) for a turbine system (10) is disclosed. The loading assembly (102) includes a transition duct (50) and a load member (100). The transition duct (50) extends between a fuel nozzle (40) and a turbine section (18), and has an inlet (52), an outlet (54), and a passage (56) extending between the inlet (52) and the outlet (54) and defining a longitudinal axis (90), a radial axis (94), and a tangential axis (92). The outlet (54) of the transition duct (50) is offset from the inlet (52) along the longitudinal axis (90) and the tangential axis (92). The load member (100) extends from the transition duct (50) and is configured to transfer a load between the transition duct (50) and an adjacent transition duct (50) along at least one of the longitudinal axis (90), the radial axis (94), or the tangential axis (92).