Abstract: A deswirler system for a centrifugal compressor of a gas turbine engine that improves overall engine performance as a result of exhibiting significantly reduced friction losses. The deswirler system generally entails an annular-shaped manifold having an inlet configured to receive radially-outward flowing gas from a diffuser of the compressor, an outlet configured to discharge the gas in an axial downstream direction, and an arcuate passage therebetween. The deswirler system further includes a plurality of deswirler vanes directly within the arcuate passage and closely coupled to the diffuser.

Abstract: A solid wheel turbine including a series of spaced overlapping buckets suitable for use in high quality and wet steam applications is disclosed. Complex flow passageways for buckets in a turbine wheel are utilized to achieve both high erosion resistance and improved performance by guiding the discharge from the bucket. The solid turbine wheel has a reduced diameter rim portion and a full diameter rim portion such that the flow passageway may change in the relative radial displacement between the inlet and the discharge. An L-shaped passageway extending from the reduced diameter portion to the full diameter portion is utilized to obtain additional guidance of the flow as it is discharged from the turbine wheel to obtain improved performance.

Abstract: The buckets of a turbine wheel are formed as a series of equally spaced, overlapping U-shaped passages in the rim of a wheel blank. In the machining operation, an island is left as the inner segment of the curved portion of the U and this is used in combination with labyrinth seals to provide a fluid seal between the inlet and the outlet portion of each bucket.