Turbomachine Casing Horizontal Joint Heating for Tip Clearance Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachines face challenges in maintaining uniform thermal expansion across casing joints, leading to inefficiencies and increased compressor losses due to non-uniform tip clearance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of horizontal joint heating using fluid passages within the casing halves of turbomachines, where heated gases are guided along the joints to facilitate uniform thermal expansion, allowing for tighter tip clearances and improved efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If horizontal joints are used to assemble casing halves, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but non-uniform thermal expansion occurs leading to out-of-roundness and increased compressor losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating to the horizontal joints before the casing reaches its maximum operating temperature. By pre-heating the joints through fluid passages that deliver heated gas or liquid, the casing expands uniformly in advance, preventing out-of-roundness when the casing later reaches full operating temperature. This preliminary thermal conditioning ensures the joints expand at the correct rate before critical measurements are taken.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the horizontal joints by introducing heated fluid through embedded passages. This allows precise control of the joint temperature and expansion rate, transforming the thermal state of the casing to achieve uniform expansion. The parameter change involves controlling temperature distribution across the casing to maintain roundness despite the presence of expansion joints.
2Loss of energy
If tip clearance is reduced to improve efficiency, then compressor losses are reduced, but thermal expansion non-uniformity increases making clearance control difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the casing and rotor assembly by heating the horizontal joints to a controlled temperature before operation. This preliminary thermal conditioning ensures that when the turbomachine reaches full operating temperature, the tip clearance remains uniform and predictable. The parameter change allows the system to achieve both tight clearances for efficiency and uniformity for reliable clearance control.
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
This approach enhances compressor efficiency by reducing out-of-roundness and compressor losses through uniform thermal expansion, achieved by pre-heating the joints with hot gases from the compressor and turbine sections.
Implementation Method 1
heating the horizontal joint to facilitate a substantially uniform thermal expansion of the casing
Implementation Method 2
The first and second fluid passages are configured and disposed to guide heated fluid along respective ones of the first and second horizontal joints
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbomachine includes a casing having a first casing half including first and second edge portions and a second casing half including first and second edge sections. The first edge portion is configured and disposed to be joined to the first edge section to form a first horizontal joint and the second edge portion is configured and disposed to be joined to the second edge section to form a second horizontal joint. At least one of the first edge portion and the first edge section including a first fluid passage, and at least one of the second edge portion and second edge section including a second fluid passage. The first and second fluid passages are configured and disposed to guide heated fluid along respective ones of the first and second horizontal joints.