Abstract: A support system for assembling and shipping a steam turbine is provided that includes an annular support fixture configured to be coupled to a longitudinal end of a casing of the steam turbine. The annular support fixture includes a first protrusion that extends in an axial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of a rotor of the steam turbine between the rotor and the casing and that is configured to support the rotor in the radial direction. The annular support fixture includes a second protrusion, which extends in the radial direction toward a lateral surface of the rotor and which includes a surface configured to face the rotor in the axial direction. The support system includes a block configured to be disposed between the surface of the second protrusion and the rotor, such that the block blocks movement of the rotor in the axial direction during shipping of the steam turbine.

Abstract: A support system for assembling and shipping a steam turbine is provided that includes an annular support fixture configured to be coupled to a longitudinal end of a casing of the steam turbine. The annular support fixture includes a first protrusion that extends in an axial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of a rotor of the steam turbine between the rotor and the casing and that is configured to support the rotor in the radial direction. The annular support fixture includes a second protrusion, which extends in the radial direction toward a lateral surface of the rotor and which includes a surface configured to face the rotor in the axial direction. The support system includes a block configured to be disposed between the surface of the second protrusion and the rotor, such that the block blocks movement of the rotor in the axial direction during shipping of the steam turbine.

Abstract: A casing half shell for a turbine system, a steam turbine system and related method are provided. The casing half shell includes a body having an open interior for enclosing parts of the turbine system; a first inlet in the body for delivering a first working fluid flow into the open interior in a first direction; and a second inlet in the body for delivering a second working fluid flow into the open interior in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction. A working fluid dam extends radially and axially in the body between the first inlet and the second inlet, the working fluid dam includes a stress-mitigating slot extending radially therein. A fill member may be mounted in the stress-mitigating slot to provide full functioning of the working fluid dam.

Abstract: A casing half shell for a turbine system, a steam turbine system and related method are provided. The casing half shell includes a body having an open interior for enclosing parts of the turbine system; a first inlet in the body for delivering a first working fluid flow into the open interior in a first direction; and a second inlet in the body for delivering a second working fluid flow into the open interior in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction. A working fluid dam extends radially and axially in the body between the first inlet and the second inlet, the working fluid dam includes a stress-mitigating slot extending radially therein. A fill member may be mounted in the stress-mitigating slot to provide full functioning of the working fluid dam.

Abstract: A bolt tensioning assembly includes a bolt having a through-hole extending longitudinally through the bolt. A ram is inserted into the through-hole. A top cap is configured to be attached to a first end portion of the bolt. A load distributing member is configured to engage the ram at a location adjacent a second end portion of the bolt to distribute a force exerted thereon by the ram, and an actuator is connected to the top cap to exert a force on the ram to cause the ram to engage the load distributing member such that the bolt is placed under tensile stress.

Abstract: A bolt tensioning assembly includes a bolt having a through-hole extending longitudinally through the bolt. A ram is inserted into the through-hole. A top cap is configured to be attached to a first end portion of the bolt. A load distributing member is configured to engage the ram at a location adjacent a second end portion of the bolt to distribute a force exerted thereon by the ram, and an actuator is connected to the top cap to exert a force on the ram to cause the ram to engage the load distributing member such that the bolt is placed under tensile stress.

Abstract: Systems and devices configured to reduce windage and mixing losses in a turbine by redirecting and/or aligning a direction of a leakage flow with the flowpath of the main flow of a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a base configured to connect to a diaphragm of a turbine; and a radial portion connected to the base and extending radially inboard from the base toward a rotor of the turbine, the radial portion oriented to adjust a direction of travel of a leakage flow of working fluid radially inboard at an angle complementary to a primary working fluid path of the turbine.

Abstract: Systems and devices configured to reduce windage and mixing losses in a turbine by redirecting and/or aligning a direction of a leakage flow with the flowpath of the main flow of a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a base configured to connect to a diaphragm of a turbine; and a radial portion connected to the base and extending radially inboard from the base toward a rotor of the turbine, the radial portion oriented to adjust a direction of travel of a leakage flow of working fluid radially inboard at an angle complementary to a primary working fluid path of the turbine.

Abstract: A system for detecting a leak in a steam turbine includes an infrared imaging device adapted to scan at least a portion of the steam turbine and communicate with a notification device. The infrared imaging device includes a cooled detector and a filter with a spectral response or bandpass between about 2.5 ?m and about 8 ?m. The leak will be indicated on the notification device, and the cooled detector is cooled to between about ?80° C. and about ?200° C. The steam turbine may be on-line during leak detection.

Abstract: A variable clearance mechanism for use in a turbine engine is provided that includes a stationary component, a plurality of articulating seal members coupled to the stationary component, and a biasing mechanism including an actuation ring. The variable clearance mechanism varies the position of stationary seal members to provide variable bucket tip clearance as a function of an operating condition of the turbine engine. The biasing mechanism is coupled to the plurality of articulating seal members for use in selectively translating the plurality of articulating seal members when the actuation ring is rotated circumferentially relative to the stationary component.

Abstract: Systems and devices configured to reduce windage and mixing losses in a turbine by redirecting and/or aligning a direction of a leakage flow with the flowpath of the main flow of a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a base configured to connect to a diaphragm of a turbine; and a radial portion connected to the base and extending radially inboard from the base toward a rotor of the turbine, the radial portion oriented to adjust a direction of travel of a leakage flow of working fluid radially inboard at an angle complementary to a primary working fluid path of the turbine.

Abstract: A seal for a turbine system includes a rotor, a bowl region and a stator assembly having a tip strip disposed proximate the rotor. Also included is a packing head disposed proximate the tip strip. Further included is a flex seal having a first end portion fixedly secured to at least one of the tip strip and the packing head, with a second end portion slidably engaged with at least one of the tip strip and the packing head.

Abstract: A turbine exhaust diffuser for use adjacent a last stage row of buckets fixed to a turbine rotor includes an annular inner diffuser ring and an annular outer diffuser ring defining a flow path for steam exiting a last stage row of buckets in a first substantially axial direction at a diffuser inlet, and turning substantially ninety degrees to a diffuser outlet. The outer diffuser ring has a curved steam guide surface extending between the diffuser inlet and the diffuser outlet including a first portion extending away from the diffuser inlet and a second portion extending to said diffuser outlet, the second portion shaped to extend beyond vertical and back toward the diffuser inlet so as to establish a flow component in a second opposite axial direction. The second portion is also provided with a plurality of turbulators to minimize flow separation along the steam guide surface.

Abstract: Steam turbine bucket covers have forward and aft clearance surfaces on a pressure side edge of the cover, a contact surface between the clearance surfaces and an undercut fillet between the forward clearance surface and the contact surface. The adjoining bucket cover has forward and aft clearance surfaces, a contact surface between the clearance surfaces and an outside radius between the forward clearance surface and the contact surfaces along the suction side edge of the cover. The undercut fillet includes two different radii to minimize or eliminate fretting damage caused by high stresses in the interference fit between the contact surfaces of adjacent covers.

Abstract: A new high-strength titanium-based alloy bucket specifically suited for use as the last stage buckets in steam turbine engines having vane lengths of about 40 inches or greater and the method for forming such bucket. Exemplary buckets according to the invention are formed from a titanium-based alloy containing up to about 6.25% aluminum; (b) about to 3.5% vanadium; (c) about 2.25% tin, (d) about 2.25% zirconium, (e) about 1.75% molybdenum, (f) about 2.25% chromium, (g) about 0.7% silicon; and (h) about 2.3% iron, with the balance being titanium. After forming, the bucket can be heat treated to provide stress relief and then machined in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A steam turbine blade includes a shank portion and an airfoil portion. The airfoil portion is formed with at least one pocket filled with a polymer filler material chosen as a function of natural frequency impact on the turbine blade or as a function of the damping characteristics of the filler materials. A steam turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of blades secured about a circumferential periphery of the wheel, each blade having one or more pockets in the airfoil portion, the plurality of blades divided into two groups of blades. The pockets of one group of blades are filled with one or more polymer filler materials, and the pockets of the other group of blades filled with one or more polymer filler materials, wherein the polymer filler materials in the one group of blades creates different natural frequencies or damping characteristics in the blades of the one group than the polymer filler materials in the blades of the other group.

Abstract: A bucket for use on a steam turbine rotor wheel, the bucket comprising a shank portion and an airfoil portion, the airfoil portion having a radially outer tip with a tip cover adapted to be engaged, in use, by a similar tip cover on an adjacent bucket, wherein a radial step is formed in the tip cover and the airfoil portion along a leading edge of the airfoil portion.

Abstract: A steam turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of buckets secured about a circumferential periphery of the wheel, each bucket comprising a shank portion and an airfoil portion, the plurality of buckets including two groups of buckets having respective different predetermined resonant frequencies. A method of reducing vibration in a row of buckets on a steam turbine rotor wheel includes a) providing a first group of buckets with a first predetermined natural frequency range; b) providing a second group of buckets with a second predetermined natural frequency range different than the first predetermined natural frequency range; and c) assembling buckets of the first and second groups of buckets in alternating fashion on the rotor wheel.

Abstract: A method of modifying a rotor blade, and a rotor blade are provided. The rotor blade is for a steam turbine and it is modified to facilitate altering a natural vibratory frequency of the rotor blade, the rotor blade includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls are connected axially at the leading and trailing edges, and the sidewalls extending radially between a rotor blade root to a rotor blade tip. The method includes determining a vibratory resonance condition of the rotor blade and forming a blade extension between the rotor blade root and the rotor blade tip that alters the determined resonance condition.

Abstract: A steam turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of buckets secured about a circumferential periphery of the wheel, each bucket comprising a shank portion and an airfoil portion, the plurality of buckets including two groups of buckets having respective different predetermined resonant frequencies. A method of reducing vibration in a row of buckets on a steam turbine rotor wheel includes a) providing a first group of buckets with a first predetermined natural frequency range; b) providing a second group of buckets with a second predetermined natural frequency range different than the first predetermined natural frequency range; and c) assembling buckets of the first and second groups of buckets in alternating fashion on the rotor wheel.