Abstract: A cooling system configured to cool aspects of the turbine engine between a compressor and a turbine assembly is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the cooling system may include one or more mid-frame cooling channels extending from an inlet through one or more mid-frame torque discs positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the turbine assembly. The inlet may be positioned to receive compressor bleed air. The mid-frame cooling channel may be positioned in a radially outer portion of the mid-frame torque disc to provide cooling to outer aspects of the mid-frame torque disc such that conventional, low cost materials may be used to form the mid-frame torque disc rather than high cost materials with capacity to withstand higher temperatures. The cooling fluid routed through the mid-frame cooling channel in the mid-frame torque disc may be exhausted into a cooling system (10) for the downstream turbine assembly.

Abstract: A cooling system configured to cool aspects of the turbine engine between a compressor and a turbine assembly is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the cooling system may include one or more mid-frame cooling channels extending from an inlet through one or more mid-frame torque discs positioned downstream of the compressor and upstream of the turbine assembly. The inlet may be positioned to receive compressor bleed air. The mid-frame cooling channel may be positioned in a radially outer portion of the mid-frame torque disc to provide cooling to outer aspects of the mid-frame torque disc such that conventional, low cost materials may be used to form the mid-frame torque disc rather than high cost materials with capacity to withstand higher temperatures. The cooling fluid routed through the mid-frame cooling channel in the mid-frame torque disc may be exhausted into a cooling system (10) for the downstream turbine assembly.

Abstract: A rotor disc configured to reduce the likelihood of fractures developing in spindle bolts in gas turbine engines is disclosed. The spindle bolts extend axially through the rotor disc to retain the rotor assembly in place in the gas turbine engine. The rotor disc may be formed from a rotor disc body having a plurality of circumferentially positioned spindle bolt holes sized to house a spindle bolts within each spindle bolt hole. One or more relief channels, which also may be referred to as scallops, may extend radially outward from one of the spindle bolt holes. The relief channels may foster removal of condensation and debris from the space between the spindle bolt and the surface forming the spindle bolt hole and may be configured to discourage the ingress of air through the relief channel and into space between the spindle bolt and the surface forming the spindle bolt hole.

Abstract: A device to route cooling air to a turbine blade is provided. The device includes a seal ring having an L-shaped cross section configured to abut a turbine disc. The seal ring includes a radial portion extending radially with respect to a rotor and an axial portion extending axially with respect to the rotor. The seal ring also includes a plurality of radial cooling holes disposed within the radial portion of the seal ring and arranged circumferentially around the seal ring. The plurality of cooling holes route cooling air from a device configured to impart tangential momentum to the cooling air to a turbine blade in order to cool the turbine blade. A system and a method to improve a flow of rotor cooling air to a turbine blade are also provided.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor (14), including: a rotor disk (16) comprising a bolt hole (82) there through and a counterbore (86); a bolt (18) configured to fit in the bolt hole and when so disposed to define an end (72) protruding beyond the counterbore; and a nut (84) configured to be disposed in the counterbore and to engage the protruding end. The counterbore is configured to permit limited eccentricity between the nut and the protruding end.

Abstract: A spindle bolt structure is provided in a gas turbine engine, and includes a pilot region located within a bolt hole extending through a seal disk. The pilot region includes a circumferential pilot ridge located adjacent to a downstream axial face of the seal disk and a circumferential trough portion located between a bolt shoulder and the pilot ridge. The trough portion defines a trough diameter that is less than a diameter of the bolt shoulder and less than a diameter of the pilot ridge. The bolt shoulder and pilot ridge are formed with an applied compressive residual stress and are positioned for engagement with the seal disk.

Abstract: Broken remnants of turbine engine rotor thru-bolt/nut interfaces are enveloped in a housing that is coupled to the rotor, so that the remnant does not migrate to other portions of the engine. In exemplary embodiments the housing directly mates with and engages the thru-bolt stud male threaded portion that projects outwardly from the nut, such as by a female threaded sleeve that is engaged with the male threads. The sleeve is in turn coupled to and/or supported by the rest of the housing. Some housing embodiments surround one or more of the threaded stud/nut interfaces. Housing embodiments of the invention are installed in situ without removing the rotor structure from the engine.

Abstract: A sealing band located in opposing seal band receiving slots of adjacent turbine disks to seal an annular gap therebetween. An anti-rotation body including a base portion is located between edges of the sealing band within the annular gap, and a pin portion extends axially from the base portion for engagement with a cut-out portion of at least one of the disks. A pair of spaced projections extend from the base portion and into through openings in the sealing band at a location within the annular gap. The projections define an attachment structure attaching the anti-rotation body to the sealing band.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor (14), including: a rotor disk (16) comprising a bolt hole (82) there through and a counterbore (86); a bolt (18) configured to fit in the bolt hole and when so disposed to define an end (72) protruding beyond the counterbore; and a nut (84) configured to be disposed in the counterbore and to engage the protruding end. The counterbore is configured to permit limited eccentricity between the nut and the protruding end.

Abstract: A spindle bolt structure is provided in a gas turbine engine, and includes a pilot region located within a bolt hole extending through a seal disk. The pilot region includes a circumferential pilot ridge located adjacent to a downstream axial face of the seal disk and a circumferential trough portion located between a bolt shoulder and the pilot ridge. The trough portion defines a trough diameter that is less than a diameter of the bolt shoulder and less than a diameter of the pilot ridge. The bolt shoulder and pilot ridge are formed with an applied compressive residual stress and are positioned for engagement with the seal disk.

Abstract: Broken remnants of turbine engine rotor thru-bolt/nut interfaces are enveloped in a housing that is coupled to the rotor, so that the remnant does not migrate to other portions of the engine. In exemplary embodiments the housing directly mates with and engages the thru-bolt stud male threaded portion that projects outwardly from the nut, such as by a female threaded sleeve that is engaged with the male threads. The sleeve is in turn coupled to and/or supported by the rest of the housing. Some housing embodiments surround one or more of the threaded stud/nut interfaces. Housing embodiments of the invention are installed in situ without removing the rotor structure from the engine.

Abstract: A power turbine receiving cooling fluid from compressor apparatus is provided. The turbine comprises: fixed housing structure; a support shaft rotatably supported in the housing structure; at least one disk overhung on the support shaft and coupled to the support shaft so as to rotate with the support shaft; and cooling fluid structure. The at least one disk is formed from a low-alloy-content steel. The cooling fluid supply structure extends through the support shaft and the at least one disk so as to supply cooling fluid to the at least one disk.

Abstract: A rotor disc configured to reduce the likelihood of fractures developing in spindle bolts in gas turbine engines is disclosed. The spindle bolts extend axially through the rotor disc to retain the rotor assembly in place in the gas turbine engine. The rotor disc may be formed from a rotor disc body having a plurality of circumferentially positioned spindle bolt holes sized to house a spindle bolts within each spindle bolt hole. One or more relief channels, which also may be referred to as scallops, may extend radially outward from one of the spindle bolt holes. The relief channels may foster removal of condensation and debris from the space between the spindle bolt and the surface forming the spindle bolt hole and may be configured to discourage the ingress of air through the relief channel and into space between the spindle bolt and the surface forming the spindle bolt hole.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section operating to produce a power output during a first mode of operation. A heat retention and distribution system is provided to the engine wherein the heat retention system operates in a second mode of operation, following a shutdown of the engine, to maintain an elevated temperature in components of each of the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section in order to effect (1) a reduction in an effective cyclic life consumption of the components and extend a maintenance interval associated with the effective cyclic life consumption, and (2) clearances by maintaining a higher vane carrier temperature with time during a non-power producing mode and more uniform temperature of most stationary components in the circumferential orientation.

Abstract: A sealing band located in opposing seal band receiving slots of adjacent turbine disks to seal an annular gap therebetween. An anti-rotation body including a base portion is located between edges of the sealing band within the annular gap, and a pin portion extends axially from the base portion for engagement with a cut-out portion of at least one of the disks. A pair of spaced projections extend from the base portion and into through openings in the sealing band at a location within the annular gap. The projections define an attachment structure attaching the anti-rotation body to the sealing band.

Abstract: A spindle bolt structure is provided in a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a rotor including a plurality of turbine disks for supporting rows of blades, a torque tube located on a compressor side of the turbine disks, and a seal disk located between the torque tube and a first stage turbine disk. The spindle bolt structure includes a plurality of spindle bolts extending through the turbine disks and disposed offset from a rotational axis of the turbine disks. The spindle bolts include a first terminal end located adjacent to the compressor side of the turbine disks, and a sleeve member is provided extending over a portion of the first terminal end of each spindle bolt and embedded within a compressor side of the seal disk for effecting a reduction in fretting movement of the spindle bolt relative to the seal disk.

Abstract: A combustion turbine includes a compressor section, a combustion section downstream from the compressor section, and a turbine section downstream from the combustion section. A diffuser section is downstream from the turbine section and has an outer wall, an inner wall, and at least one strut member extending therebetween. The outer wall has at least one first gas passageway therein, the inner wall has at least one second gas passageway therein, and the at least one strut member has at least one third gas passageway therein. The at least one first, second and third gas passageways deliver gas therethrough to assist attachment of a boundary layer to adjacent surfaces of the outer wall, the inner wall, and the at least one strut, respectively.

Abstract: A power turbine receiving cooling fluid from compressor apparatus is provided. The turbine comprises: fixed housing structure; a support shaft rotatably supported in the housing structure; at least one disk overhung on the support shaft and coupled to the support shaft so as to rotate with the support shaft; and cooling fluid structure. The at least one disk is formed from a low-alloy-content steel. The cooling fluid supply structure extends through the support shaft and the at least one disk so as to supply cooling fluid to the at least one disk.

Abstract: A spindle bolt structure is provided in a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a rotor including a plurality of turbine disks for supporting rows of blades, a torque tube located on a compressor side of the turbine disks, and a seal disk located between the torque tube and a first stage turbine disk. The spindle bolt structure includes a plurality of spindle bolts extending through the turbine disks and disposed offset from a rotational axis of the turbine disks. The spindle bolts include a first terminal end located adjacent to the compressor side of the turbine disks, and a sleeve member is provided extending over a portion of the first terminal end of each spindle bolt and embedded within a compressor side of the seal disk for effecting a reduction in fretting movement of the spindle bolt relative to the seal disk.

Abstract: An inner mounting ring (20) for gas turbine flow path components such as shroud ring segments (24). The inner ring (20) may be mounted to an outer ring (22) on radially slidable mounts (26, 28) that maintain the two rings (20, 22) in coaxial relationship, but allows them to thermally expand at different rates. This allows matching of the radial expansion rate of the inner ring (20) to that of the turbine blade tips (32), thus providing reduced clearance (33) between the turbine blade tips (32) and the inner surface of the shroud ring segments (24) under all engine operating conditions. The inner ring (20) may be made of a material with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the outer ring (22).