Working Fluid On At Least One Side Of Heat Exchange Wall Patents (Class 415/178)
  • Publication number: 20110135450
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed herein in which a heat-transfer fluid can be directed through a gap defined between a fillet and a chamfer. The apparatus includes a first member having a body portion and a flange portion projecting from the body portion. The flange portion extends along an endless path encircling an axis to define a receiving aperture. A fillet is defined at a junction of the body portion and an inner surface of the flange portion. The apparatus also includes a second member having a plug portion receivable in the receiving aperture. The plug portion includes a first surface operable to abut the body portion and limit movement of the plug portion into the receiving aperture. The plug portion also includes a second surface slidably engageable with the inner surface of the flange portion to guide movement of the plug portion into the receiving aperture along the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: MARK OWEN CASWELL
  • Patent number: 7950234
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a ring seal segment having a base portion and a frame portion. The base portion and the frame portion are a unitary structure. The frame portion is made of four unitary side walls: a forward wall, an aft wall and a pair of transverse side walls. The side walls can be arranged in a rectangular configuration. At least a part of the base portion can be coated with a thermal insulating material. A ring seal segment according to aspects of the invention is well suited to withstand the expected operational loads in the turbine section. The transverse side walls can provide bending strength to the base and can strengthen the forward and aft side walls. Transition regions between the side walls and the base portion are strengthened by three perpendicular planes that cooperate to provide structural strength to the ring seal segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Radonovich, Douglas Allen Keller, Jay Alan Morrison, Malberto Fernandez Gonzalez, Anthony L. Schiavo
  • Patent number: 7946807
    Abstract: A turbine stator of a gas turbine engine includes a turbine casing, a turbine shroud ring and a shroud ring support connecting the shroud ring to the casing. The stator is one wherein the support is provided with a heat shield positioned on the turbine side. This assembly makes it possible to reduce the take-up of play during transient operating phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventor: Vincent Philippot
  • Patent number: 7946806
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving heat exchange are provided. In this regard, a representative heat exchange system for a gas turbine engine includes: a heat exchanger; and a flow restrictor operative to selectively restrict a flow of gas flowing along an annular gas flow path; in an open position, the flow restrictor enabling gas to flow along the gas flow path and, in a closed position, the flow restrictor restricting the flow of gas such that at least a portion of the gas is provided to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being located radially outboard of the flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Murphy
  • Patent number: 7938624
    Abstract: A component, such as a blade, vane or combustor wall of a gas turbine engine comprises two walls defining a coolant passage and has an array of pedestals extending between the two walls for heat removal. Each pedestal changes in cross-section along its length. Alternate rows of pedestals are arranged such that their larger cross-sectional area is adjacent one wall then the other. When a coolant flows through the passage it is forced to flow between one wall and the other wall so as to increase turbulence and hence mixing for a more even coolant temperature. The array of pedestals can also be used to tailor the individual heat loads on each wall independently and has the ability to use differing levels of blockage to counter adverse pressure gradients along successive rows of pedestals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Ian Tibbott
  • Publication number: 20110085895
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an oil tube for delivering oil through a high temperature zone of the engine to an engine component for cooling and lubrication. An insulation tube surrounds the oil tube and extends in a substantial length of the oil tube. The opposed ends of the insulation tube are integrally and sealingly connected to respective end portions of the oil tube to form a dead air annulus between the oil tube and the insulation tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric DUROCHER, John WATSON
  • Patent number: 7918651
    Abstract: An impeller includes a hub, a plurality of first blades, and a plurality of second blades. The first blades are disposed around the hub. The second blades are disposed between the first blades. The lengths of the second blades are shorter than those of the first blades. The impeller can avoid the airflow reflux and have good airflow efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Mo Jiang, Chung-Kai Lan, Hung-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 7903406
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a cylindrical housing for housing an impeller, a motor for driving the impeller and a disk-like circuit board that are arranged coaxially in an accumulated manner. When the impeller rotates, air is taken in along the axial direction of the housing and goes out through an air outlet disposed in the circumference surface of the housing. A ring-like air inlet is disposed in a wall face on one side of the housing in the axial direction. An outer rim of the circuit board that is disposed inside the wall face is substantially within the inside edge of the air inlet, and a self-heating electronic component is mounted on the circuit board at the outer edge portion. A part of air taken in from the air inlet flows at a vicinity of the electronic component so that the electronic component is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20110014028
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods (“utilities”) for use in “internally” cooling the compressor of a gas turbine engine so as to approximate isothermal compression and thereby increase the power and/or efficiency of the engine. In one arrangement, a “cooling jacket” or heat exchanger having coolant circulating or passing therethrough may be mounted around an outer surface of the compressor to absorb heat or thermal energy generated from the compressor. In another arrangement, the stator blades of the compressor may include passages through which a coolant may be circulated or passed to absorb heat from air passing through the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Ryan S. Wood, W. Gene Steward, Mark Waters, Diane Waters
  • Publication number: 20100326041
    Abstract: A heated guide vane for turbomachinery includes a guide vane having two major surfaces joined about their periphery by edges and an electric heater element, wherein the electric heater element is secured to at least one major surface of the guide vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Wayne Garcia Edmondson
  • Publication number: 20100303616
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for an aero gas turbine engine. The system has a duct which diverts a portion of a bypass air stream of the engine. A heat exchanger located in the duct receives cooling air for cooling components of the engine. The cooling air is cooled in the heat exchanger by the diverted bypass air stream. After cooling the cooling air, the spent diverted air stream is routed to a tail cone located at the exit of the engine and ejected through a nozzle at the tail cone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Adam P. Chir, Andrew M. Rolt
  • Publication number: 20100296910
    Abstract: A working member for a power plant is disclosed herein. The working member includes a body defining at least one working surface of the working member. The at least one working surface is operable to contact a working fluid. The body also includes at least one inner surface opposite the at least one working surface. The working member also includes an interior chamber defined within at least part of the body proximate to the at least one working surface. The working member also includes at least one inlet to the interior chamber. The working member also includes at least one outlet from the interior chamber. The working member also includes a quantity of open-cell foam positioned in the interior chamber between the inlet and the outlet. The quantity of open-cell foam fills less than all of the interior chamber such that at least one empty space is defined in the interior chamber between the at least one inner surface and the quantity of open-cell foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: ROBERT LEE WOLFORD
  • Publication number: 20100284824
    Abstract: An electrically controlled turbocharger has a motor mounted on a shaft in a motor housing between a turbine and compressor. Oil is sprayed onto the motor stator to cool the stator. An oil gallery is disposed above the stator to receive lubricating oil and contains apertures that perform as jets to allow oil to be sprayed directly on the motor stator. A coolant jacket is formed in the turbocharger housing between the turbine and the motor to allow liquid coolant to circulate therein and dissipate heat from the turbine end prior to reaching the motor components. Other embodiments provide for a stator component to be submerged in flowing cooling oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: EcoMotors International, Inc.
    Inventors: Will Hippen, Franz Laimboeck, Tyler Garrard
  • Publication number: 20100284800
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle segment includes an outer band portion, an inner band portion, and at least one nozzle vane extending between the band portions. A cooling plenum is defined in a mating side face of at least one of the band portions and extends transversely at least partially through the respective band portion. First and second cooling passages extend from the cooling plenum to respective first and second cooling chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: EVAN ANDREW SEWALL, DAVID RICHARD JOHNS, GARY MICHAEL ITZEL
  • Patent number: 7819626
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine plasma blade tip clearance control system includes an annular shroud surrounding rotatable blade tips and an annular plasma generator spaced radially outwardly and apart from the blade tips. An exemplary embodiment of the annular plasma generator is mounted to the annular shroud and includes radially inner and outer electrodes separated by a dielectric material disposed within an annular groove in a radially inwardly facing surface of the annular shroud. The plasma generator is operable for producing an annular plasma between the annular shroud and blade tips and an effective clearance produced by the annular plasma between the annular shroud and blade tips that is smaller than a clearance between the annular shroud and blade tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Aspi Rustom Wadia, David Glenn Cherry, Scott Michael Carson
  • Publication number: 20100251716
    Abstract: Cooled exhaust hood plates are provided in areas of high velocity steam flow within an exhaust steam flow of a steam turbine. Coolant is directed within double walled exhaust hood plates to cool plate surfaces adjacent to the high velocity exhaust steam flow. The cooled exhaust hood plates cool and condense the exhaust steam in proximity. Condensation will occur in low velocity area near the exhaust hood plate to reduce the boundary layer and improve the flow through the hood, improving overall turbine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Michael J. Boss, William T. Parry
  • Patent number: 7797936
    Abstract: An exhaust turbo supercharger is provided that is able to effectively prevent exhaust gas that has flowed into between a turbine housing and a bearing housing from leaking to outside of the device, while allowing an excellent level of workability in assembly and disassembly. Included is a turbine housing, into which exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is introduced; a turbine wheel which is provided within the turbine housing and which is rotation-driven by the exhaust gas; a turbine shaft, one end of which is inserted into the turbine housing, and to which the turbine wheel is attached; a bearing which supports the turbine shaft; and a bearing housing which is connected to the turbine housing and inside of which the bearing is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Hayashi, Yasuaki Jinnai, Seiichi Ibaraki, Fumiharu Takahashi, Yoh Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7798776
    Abstract: A showerhead film cooling hole arrangement for a turbine blade used in a gas turbine engine. The showerhead includes at least three rows of film cooling holes with the middle row arranged along the stagnation point. A second row of film cooling holes is arranged on the pressure side of the first row, and a third row of film cooling holes is arranged on the suction side of the first row. Each of the three rows includes a diffusion opening in which the diffusion is expanding in the outward direction or the inward direction with an angle from greater than zero degrees to around 5 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Publication number: 20100226762
    Abstract: A turbine engine component has a flow path wall and a support wall. The turbine engine component has at least one cooling compact heat exchanger. Each cooling compact heat exchanger has a pedestal array and at least one structural member within the pedestal array for preventing modal crossing in operation range, for preventing panel bulging, and/or for connecting the flow path wall to at least one outer diameter support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Paul M. Lutjen, Gary L. Grogg
  • Patent number: 7789620
    Abstract: A heater assembly for deicing and/or anti-icing a component includes a metallic heating element adjacent to a densely woven fabric layer impregnated with a resin that is capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 550° F. (288° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John Henry Vontell, Sr., George Alan Salisbury, Charles R. Watson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7766611
    Abstract: The invention relates a method for improving the hot-starting behavior of a turbomachine. By virtue of the setting of a radial gap formed between a brushing edge of a blade profile and a guide face lying opposite this, in which setting a guide ring forming the guide face can be acted upon with a coolant, the hot-starting behavior can be improved, in that the guide ring is cooled before the start of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Buchal, Gerhard Hülsemann, Mirko Milazar, Dieter Minninger, Michael Neubauer, Harald Nimptsch, Heinrich Pütz, Kang Qian, Arnd Reichert, Volker Vosberg
  • Patent number: 7762083
    Abstract: In a gas turbine plant and a gas turbine power generator plant, as a device of reducing the heat transfer from the gas turbine to the compressor, for instance, an air flow path for circulating part of compressed air from the compressor toward the gas turbine is formed between the gas turbine and the compressor. With the air flow path, which is a heat transfer reducing device, the heat conducted from the gas turbine to the compressor can be reduced by cooling or interception, and accordingly the temperature on the compressor side does not rise high, making it possible to prevent the performance of the compressor from deteriorating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Hayasaka, Masaru Sekihara
  • Patent number: 7753107
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device for a heat-generating electronic component includes a heat sink (10) and a fan (20) mounted on a lateral side of the heat sink. The heat sink defines a plurality of channels (162) therein. A fan holder (30) is rotatably mounted on the heat sink. The fan is fixedly mounted on the fan holder and faces towards the channels of the heat sink. An airflow generated by the fan flows through the channels of the fan. When the fan holder rotates with respect to the heat sink, an airflow direction of the fan is changed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Da-Yuan Zhou, Guang Yu, Chun-Chi Chen, Shih-Hsun Wung
  • Publication number: 20100119360
    Abstract: The description relates to a heatable pump housing part comprising a heat distribution sheet fixed on the housing part and a tubular heating element fixed on the heat distribution sheet. According to the invention the tubular heating element is positioned in a groove or a step on the housing part that is covered by the heat distribution sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Bredl, Ulrich Schlachter, Christian Spiegel, Armin Lang
  • Publication number: 20100092280
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a combustor configured to burn a hydrocarbon fuel input and provide a combustion product hot gas output to a turbine inlet having a turbine inlet temperature exceeding about 2200° F., the hot gas output also includes ash in an amount of 0.1% or more by weight of the hydrocarbon fuel input. The turbine also includes a stationary nozzle configured to receive the hot gas output that includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes and a vane cooling circuit located within vane sidewalls configured for circulation of steam as a coolant. The turbine also includes a rotatable rotor configured to receive the hot gas output exiting the nozzle that includes a plurality of buckets and a bucket cooling circuit located within the bucket sidewalls and shank that is configured for circulation of steam as a coolant for the bucket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Samuel David Draper
  • Publication number: 20100074736
    Abstract: In one embodiment a gas turbine engine is disclosed having a heat exchanger at least partially disposed in a bypass duct. In one form the gas turbine engine is a high bypass ratio engine. The heat exchanger may be coupled with a directed energy weapon to provide coolant flow and regulate the temperature of the directed energy weapon. Other devices may also be coupled with the heat exchanger, either as an alternative to in addition to the directed energy weapon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Larry Allen Junod
  • Publication number: 20100074735
    Abstract: A thermal shield for reducing thermal stress induced proximate to a first joint formed between adjacent engine casing components in a gas turbine engine. The thermal shield includes a cover structure for covering a radially inner portion of at least one of the engine casing components. The cover structure is disposed proximate to the first joint and attached to the respective engine casing component so as to limit exposure of a covered inner portion of the engine casing component to hot gases in an interior volume defined by the engine casing components. A thermally insulating layer is disposed between the cover structure and the engine casing component for effecting a reduced amount of heat transfer to the covered inner portion of the engine casing component from the hot gases in the interior volume defined by the engine casing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Weidong Cai, David M. Parker
  • Publication number: 20100054926
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes: a turbine assembly including an inlet housing, a compressor in fluid communication with the inlet housing, a power turbine in fluid communication with the compressor, and an exhaust assembly in fluid communication with the power turbine; and at least one heat pipe having a first portion disposed in thermal communication with the inlet housing and a second portion disposed in thermal communication with the exhaust assembly, the at least one heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy from the exhaust assembly to at least one of input gas entering the inlet housing and at least one component of the inlet housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball, JR.
  • Patent number: 7670108
    Abstract: An air seal unit to be positioned adjacent blade structure in a gas turbine is provided. The air seal unit comprises a main body including a plurality of first impingement cavities and at least one first interconnecting passage extending between and communicating with a first pair of the first impingement cavities. The first interconnecting passage is nonparallel to the first pair of the first impingement cavities and defines a path for cooling air to pass from one impingement cavity of the first pair of the first impingement cavities to another impingement cavity of the first pair of the first impingement cavities so as to strike a wall defining at least a part of the other impingement cavity of the first pair of the first impingement cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Patent number: 7670105
    Abstract: A drain pump is provided that reduces the operating noise when the head is low. The drain pump has a pump casing, and an impeller. The pump casing has a drain inlet for sucking in drain water at a lower end part and a drain outlet for discharging drain water at a side part. The impeller has a shaft part disposed extending in a vertical direction inside the pump casing, a main blade disposed on the outer circumferential side of the shaft part, an auxiliary blade disposed on the lower side of the main blade, and a disc shaped dish part disposed between the main blade and the auxiliary blade. The dish part has an annular partition part extending upward from the outer circumferential edge part of the main blade, which is disposed at a position lower than the upper end part of the partition part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Nakata, Masakazu Hirai, Kazushige Maeda, Hironori Iwanaga, Tsunehisa Sanagi
  • Publication number: 20100028140
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor having an intake portion and an outlet portion. The compressor compresses air received at the intake portion to form a compressed airflow that is passed from the outlet portion. The turbomachine also includes an intercooler operatively connected downstream from the compressor. The intercooler includes a plurality of heat pipes that are configured to extract heat from the compressed airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Jatila Ranasinghe, David Wesley Ball, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100028139
    Abstract: A turbojet for an aircraft includes an engine housed in a nacelle and a thermal exchanger that can be traversed by a hot fluid designed to be cooled by thermal exchange with a cold fluid external to the thermal exchanger. The thermal exchanger is disposed in an internal volume of the nacelle, between an internal wall of the nacelle and an external wall of the engine, in such a way as to present two thermal exchange surfaces in the flow of the air stream from the turbojet. The disclosed embodiments also relate to an aircraft equipped with such a jet turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Guillaume Bulin, Patrick Oberle
  • Patent number: 7651318
    Abstract: A super steam turbine (100) into which high-temperature steam of 650° C. or more is introduced is provided with an inner steam pipe (120) which is disposed through an inner casing (110) and an outer casing (111), an outer steam pipe (130) which is welded to the outer casing (111) and disposed outside of the inner steam pipe (120) along the inner steam pipe (120) with a prescribed space therebetween, and a radiation heat shielding pipe (140) which is disposed along the inner steam pipe (120) between the inner steam pipe (120) and the outer steam pipe (130) to face a welded portion of at least the outer steam pipe (130), wherein cooling steam (160) is flown between the inner steam pipe (120) and the outer steam pipe (130), respective component parts are made of a suitable heat-resisting steel having prescribed chemical composition ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeo Suga, Ryuichi Ishii, Takeo Takahashi, Masafumi Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20090324397
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a compressor with an insulated cooling circuit. The compressor comprises a compressor casing having a compression chamber and at least one stator and at least one rotor disposed in the compression chamber, the at least one stator comprising a stator body having a plurality of tubes for transporting cooling air through passages in the stator body into the compression chamber. The plurality of tubes are surrounded by an air gap for insulating the tubes from the stator body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip Caruso, Dwight Davidson, Yang Liu, William Parker, Roger Walker, Sivaraman Vedhagiri
  • Publication number: 20090282804
    Abstract: An integrated heat exchanger assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first flow path, a second flow path, and a third flow path. The first flow path is configured to be coupled to a compressor and a combustor, to receive compressed air from the compressor, and to supply the compressed air to the combustor. The second flow path is configured to be coupled to the compressor or the first flow path, or both, to receive compressed air therefrom, and to be coupled to the combustor and to supply compressed air thereto. The third flow path is disposed adjacent to the first and second flow paths, and is configured to be coupled to an exhaust section, to receive exhaust air therefrom, and to allow heat transfer from the exhaust air in the third flow path to the compressed air in the first and second flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Larry A. Smalley, Greg D. Desplanque
  • Patent number: 7614845
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in the clearances 12 between a casing and the moving blades 11 of a rotor 1 of a turbomachine, in particular a casing provided for this purpose, and also to a turbomachine fitted with such a casing. The invention applies in particular to aircraft turbojet engines. It relates more particularly to a turbomachine inner casing 21 comprising a plurality of annular shrouds 23 that are provided with flanges 24 for joining two adjacent shrouds 23 together. According to the invention, this inner casing 21 further includes: at least one circumferential heat shield 5 covering the flanges 24 in contact with two adjacent shrouds 23; and a cavity 6 filled with a first thermal insulation 8, said cavity being located between a concave internal surface 51a, 52a of the heat shield 5 and the flanges 24. The heat shield 5 is formed by a plurality of sectors 50 joined end to end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Gerard Lucien Henri Adam, Xavier Agneray, Kevin Alexandre Dos Santos, Son Le Hong
  • Publication number: 20090252603
    Abstract: A nozzle in which an airfoil includes a pressure surface and a suction surface that join at substantially opposing chordal ends of the airfoil to form a leading edge of the airfoil and a trailing edge of the airfoil. A trailing edge passage is defined through the airfoil through which coolant flows. The trailing edge passage is proximate to the trailing edge of the airfoil and has a contoured shape that conforms to that of the trailing edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Margaret Jones Schotsch, Randall Gill, Peter Stevens, David Leo, John Seymour
  • Patent number: 7597537
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine thermal control apparatus includes at least one annular spray tube having spray holes oriented to impinge thermal control air onto a fillet between an outer casing and a forward thermal control ring and, in a more particular embodiment, into a center of the fillet. The apparatus may include an annular segmented stator shroud attached to the outer casing and circumscribing radial outer blade tips of turbine blades of a turbine rotor. A thermal air distribution manifold encircling a portion of the outer casing includes an annular supply tube connected in fluid supply relationship to plenums of header assemblies. The annular spray tube is connected to at least one of the plenums and may be elongated radially inwardly and axially. Baffles attached to radially outwardly facing surfaces of the panels may be contoured to form exhaust passages having exhaust passage inlets and outlets between the baffles and the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Terry Bucaro, Rafael Jose Ruiz, Robert Joseph Albers, Scott Anthony Estridge, Roger Francis Wartner
  • Patent number: 7597533
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal used in a gas turbine engine, the BOAS including a metering plate with metering holes and an impingement plate with impingement holes, the metering plate and impingement plate forming a plurality of separate diffusion cavities forming a grid. A porous metallic plate is bonded to the underside of the impingement plate and has a plurality of cooling channels extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the BOAS. Cooling air from the blade ring carrier is metered through the metering holes and into the diffusion cavities, and then passes through a plurality of impingement holes and into a cooling channel, to be discharged out the trailing edge side of the BOAS. Inter-segment cooling holes also pass cooling air out to the sides of the BOAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Publication number: 20090238684
    Abstract: A CMC wall (22) with a front surface (21) heated (24) by a working fluid in a gas turbine. A back CMC surface (23) is coated with a layer (42) of a thermally conductive material to accelerate heat transfer in the plane of the CMC wall (22), reducing thermal gradients (32-40) on the back CMC surface (23) caused by cold spots (32) resulting from impingement cooling flows (26). The conductive material (42) may have a coefficient of thermal conductivity at least 10 times greater than that of the CMC material (22), to provide a minimal thickness conductive layer (42). This reduces thermal gradient stresses within the CMC material (22), and minimizes differential thermal expansion stresses between the CMC material (22) and the thin conductive layer (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Jay A. Morrison, Jay E. Lane
  • Patent number: 7591632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side channel compressor, comprising a housing shell and a running wheel. The running wheel is mounted to be rotatable with respect to the housing shell to provide two annular sealing areas between the housing shell and the running wheel. The housing shell between the first and the second sealing area can be made of one piece. The gap dimensions of the first and second sealing areas can be adjusted by means of a disc spring/nut system or a wobble means. A fan impeller may be fixed on the motor shaft, and the housing shell can comprise cooling ribs, wherein the cooling ribs are arranged and formed such that the air conveyed by the fan impeller sweeps through the cooling ribs. One of the annular sealing areas can include a dead volume chamber. The housing shell may be a casting or a machined extruded profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Baecke, Peter Hartung, Iugo Müller
  • Publication number: 20090226308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of gas-fired power systems that include heat exchange between at least two fluid streams comprise a vertical cold flue assembly comprising a plate fin heat exchanger and having a top and a bottom such that at least one fluid sinks through the top of the cold flue assembly, through the plate fin heat exchanger and sinks through the bottom of the cold flue assembly. An absorption chiller may be in fluid connection with the cold flue assembly and may use at least some waste heat from an exhaust stream to provide energy to produce refrigeration. The absorption chiller directs refrigerant into the cold flue assembly, the refrigerant rises within the plate fin heat exchanger and cools the at least one fluid including air as the air sinks through the plate fin heat exchanger, and the cooled air sinks through the bottom of the cold flue assembly and into the air compressor of the power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: EXPANSION ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Patent number: 7581927
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a turbine engine component having an airfoil portion with a pressure side and a suction side, a first microcircuit embedded in a wall forming the pressure side, an internal cavity containing a supply of cooling fluid, the first microcircuit having an inlet leg, an intermediate leg, and an outlet leg, and a plurality of communication holes between the internal cavity and the outlet leg. In a preferred embodiment, the outlet leg is provided with at least one set of features for locally accelerating cooling flow in the outlet leg and for increasing heat pick-up ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Francisco J. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20090169359
    Abstract: A turbine engine cooling arrangement includes a core passage for receiving a core flow for combustion, a first airflow source including a first passage adjacent the core passage for conveying a first airflow, and a second airflow source including a second passage adjacent the first passage for conveying a second airflow. A heat exchanger is thermally connected with the first passage and the second passage for transferring heat between the first airflow and the second airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Murphy, Sean P. Zamora
  • Publication number: 20090104029
    Abstract: A flow machine is described having a first space adapted to contain a hot fluid and delimited by a wall. The wall having a first wall surface facing the first space and a second wall surface turned away from the first space. Cooling is provided for a region of the wall by supplying a relatively cool fluid onto the second wall surface. The cooling means includes a supply chamber containing the second fluid, a cavity adjacent the second wall surface, at least one duct, which has an inlet opening at the supply chamber and an outlet opening at the cavity for conveying the cool fluid to the cavity, and a deflection surface facing the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: John David Maltson
  • Patent number: 7520719
    Abstract: Passive shroud cooling of rotor blades (5) is accomplished by a multitude of cooling-air flows introduced into the hot-gas flow upstream of the rotor blades on the outer circumference, these cooling-air flows, depending on the aerodynamic and geometrical conditions, being orientated at a defined radial angle and a circumferentially related tangential angle such that the cooling air primarily and essentially hits the thermally highly loaded bottom surface (11) of the outer shrouds (6) allover. In the apparatus for the performance of the method, cooling air passages (9) tangentially and radially orientated to the hot-gas flow are provided in an area of a casing section (3) which protrudes beyond the stator blades (1) in the downstream direction, this casing section (3) interrupting the transport of cooling air in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG, ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Erik Janke, Frank Haselbach, Christopher F. Whitney
  • Patent number: 7520715
    Abstract: A shroud segment of a turbine shroud of a gas turbine engine comprises a platform with front and rear legs. The platform defines a plurality of axially extending holes with individual inlets on an outer surface of the platform for transpiration cooling of the platform of the turbine shroud segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Assaf Farah
  • Publication number: 20090097972
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving heat exchange are provided. In this regard, a representative heat exchange system for a gas turbine engine includes: a heat exchanger; and a flow restrictor operative to selectively restrict a flow of gas flowing along an annular gas flow path; in an open position, the flow restrictor enabling gas to flow along the gas flow path and, in a closed position, the flow restrictor restricting the flow of gas such that at least a portion of the gas is provided to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being located radially outboard of the flow restrictor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Murphy
  • Publication number: 20090081029
    Abstract: Introducing a plurality of geometrically shaped members (27) into a cooling passage (16) of a gas turbine airfoil (10) will effectively reduce the cross-sectional flow area while simultaneously retaining a sufficiently thick external contour desired for proper gas path aerodynamic behavior. Small cooling sub-passages (18a, 18b) formed around the geometric members will create a preferentially higher coolant flow rate and heat transfer coefficient at the cooled surface (14) when compared to the interior of the cavity. The geometric shapes may be metal or ceramic spheres retained in the cooling cavity by a retaining structure such as a screen grid (30) or perforated plate (32). The openings (34) in the retaining structure may be unevenly distributed to preferentially allow more coolant to enter the cavity proximate the cooled walls. The size/shape of the geometrically shaped members may be varied to achieve a desired heat transfer coefficient along the cooled wall surface (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS POWER GENERATION, INC.
    Inventors: John P. Dalton, Tilmann Auf Dem Kampe, Frank A. Maichle, Rex A. Smith, Stuart P. Bishop, Stefan Irmisch
  • Patent number: 7507070
    Abstract: A rotor (38) for a gas turbine engine (10) has a low emissivity surface finish, or high emissivity surface finish (44), on at least a portion of its surface (42) to reduce temperature differentials between an upper portion and a lower portion of the rotor (38). This reduces bowing of the rotor (38) to allow the gas turbine engine (10) to be started without harmful vibrations of the rotor (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Alan R Jones