Abstract: An apparatus for measuring turbine rotor-to-stator clearances and a method for assembling a turbomachine based on the measured clearances are disclosed. In an embodiment, at least one clearance sensor is inserted into a stator of a turbomachine. Using the sensor, tops-on clearance between a rotor blade tip and an inner surface of a stator is measured while an upper stator shell, a rotor, a lower stator shell are assembled together; and a tops-off clearance is measured while the lower stator shell and a rotor are assembled together. A tops-on/tops-off shift, i.e., a difference between the tops-on clearance and the tops-off clearance, is determined. The turbine can be assembled by adjusting a relative position of the rotor and stator to account for the tops-on/tops-off shift.

Abstract: A turbine bucket and corresponding turbines are disclosed herein. In one aspect, the turbine bucket includes: a blade member; and a base member affixed to the blade member, the base member configured to attach to a turbine rotor radially inward of the blade member, wherein the base member includes a first semi-elliptical extension spanning substantially an axial length of the base member and extending at least partially perpendicularly in relation to a primary axis of the turbine bucket.

Abstract: A rotor of a turbomachine includes a rotor drum located at a central axis and a plurality of buckets secured to the rotor drum. A rotor shell extends between axially adjacent buckets of the plurality of buckets and is secured to and supported by the plurality of buckets defining a cooling passage between the rotor drum and the rotor shell. A low pressure sink is located at an upstream end of the rotor receptive of a coolant flow through the cooling passage. A method of cooling a rotor of a steam turbine includes locating a rotor shell radially outboard of a rotor drum defining a cooling passage therebetween. A flow of steam is urged from a downstream portion of the steam turbine through the cooling passage toward a low pressure sink located at an upstream end of the steam turbine thereby cooling the rotor.

Abstract: Systems for thermally regulating portions of a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a turbine nozzle assembly includes: an outer diaphragm ring; a vane physically connected to the outer diaphragm ring; and an inner diaphragm ring physically connected to the vane, the inner diaphragm ring including a first axial tooth configured to interact and substantially form a seal with a second axial tooth disposed on a bucket shank.

Abstract: A system includes a creep indicating member on a rotating component, and a measurement device configured to measure a change in radial position of the creep indicating member. The system allows determination of, for example, rotating component life expectancy in a turbine, without exposing the rotating component.

Abstract: A turbine is provided and includes a turbine shell including shrouds at multiple stages thereof, and constraining elements, disposed at least at first through fourth substantially regularly spaced perimetrical locations around the turbine shell, which are configured to concentrically constrain the shrouds of the turbine shell.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an insert for a turbine cooling circuit includes: a radial cooling passage for receiving downstream fluid; an axial passage extending from the radial cooling passage within a lower portion of the insert; and a plurality of radial passages extending from the axial passage, each radial passage extending to a bottom of a partially circumferential dovetail slot of the insert. In another embodiment, an insert for a turbine cooling includes: a plurality of radial passages, each radial passage extending from a bottom of a partially circumferential dovetail slot of the insert; an axial passage extending from the plurality of radial passages within a lower portion of the insert; and an exhaust passage extending from the axial passage.

Abstract: A turbine is provided and includes a turbine shell including shrouds at multiple stages thereof, and constraining elements, disposed at least at first through fourth substantially regularly spaced perimetrical locations around the turbine shell, which are configured to concentrically constrain the shrouds of the turbine shell.

Abstract: A cooling circuit for a drum rotor of a multi-stage steam turbine including tangential female dovetail slots in the drum rotor for tangential entry dovetailed buckets. Axial female dovetail slots are cut into drum rotor projections between stages of the tangential entry buckets for mounting axial inserts. The axial inserts may include axial and radial cooling passages allowing cooler external steam to cool the drum rotor flow through tangential cooling spaces between the tangential female dovetail slots and the tangential entry dovetailed buckets.

Abstract: A thermally-activated flow clearance reduction for a steam turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment a gap closure component is located about a rotary component and a stationary component of the steam turbine. A temperature differential activates the gap closure component to seal or reduce the radial clearance of the steam flow path between the rotary component and the stationary component.

Abstract: A pressure activated flow path seal for a steam turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment a gap closure component is located about a rotary component and the stationary component of the steam turbine. A pressure differential activates the gap closure component to seal or reduce the radial clearance of a steam leakage path between the rotary component and the stationary component.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, and a tip region, and a winglet arranged on the pressure side of the body in the tip region extending from a point in the tip region down stream of the leading edge to the trailing edge.

Abstract: A rotor of a turbomachine includes a rotor drum located at a central axis and a plurality of buckets secured to the rotor drum. A rotor shell extends between axially adjacent buckets of the plurality of buckets and is secured to and supported by the plurality of buckets defining a cooling passage between the rotor drum and the rotor shell. A low pressure sink is located at an upstream end of the rotor receptive of a coolant flow through the cooling passage. A method of cooling a rotor of a steam turbine includes locating a rotor shell radially outboard of a rotor drum defining a cooling passage therebetween. A flow of steam is urged from a downstream portion of the steam turbine through the cooling passage toward a low pressure sink located at an upstream end of the steam turbine thereby cooling the rotor.

Abstract: A steam turbine includes a rotor having a plurality of early stages and a stator portion surrounding a portion of the rotor and arranged such that a leakage region exists between the stator portion and the rotor and having a cooling steam channel that passes cooling steam from one portion of the stator portion to the leakage region. The turbine also includes at least one cooling steam transmission channel axially displaced about the rotor that receives the cooling steam from the leakage region and provides it to at least a portion of the early stages.

Abstract: A turbine is provided and includes a turbine shell including shrouds at multiple stages thereof, and constraining elements, disposed at least at first through fourth substantially regularly spaced perimetrical locations around the turbine shell, which are configured to concentrically constrain the shrouds of the turbine shell.

Abstract: A thermally-activated flow clearance reduction for a steam turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment a gap closure component is located about a rotary component and a stationary component of the steam turbine. A temperature differential activates the gap closure component to seal or reduce the radial clearance of the steam flow path between the rotary component and the stationary component.

Abstract: A pressure activated flow path seal for a steam turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment a gap closure component is located about a rotary component and the stationary component of the steam turbine. A pressure differential activates the gap closure component to seal or reduce the radial clearance of a steam leakage path between the rotary component and the stationary component.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a digital adapter comprises at least one data input port to receive a digital signal originating from a network attached storage device coupled to the digital adapter, at least one data output port to interface with a digital rendering device communicatively coupled to the digital adapter; and digital signal converter logic to convert the digital signal originating from the network attached storage device from a first signal format to a second signal format, different from the first signal format, and transmit the digital signal in the second signal format through the at least one data output port.