Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling gas turbine airfoil clearance using virtual clearance measurement. The disclosure includes a gas turbine system having a stage of airfoils and a casing adjacent the stage of airfoils that define a clearance distance between them. A clearance control mechanism controllably adjusts the clearance distance based upon a clearance control signal. The clearance control signal to the clearance control mechanism is based on a virtual clearance function that generates a clearance value from at least one system measurement of the gas turbine system.

Abstract: A turbine engine assembly is provided. The assembly includes a compressor, and an air duct coupled in flow communication with the compressor. The air duct is configured to channel a flow of bleed air from the compressor therethrough. The assembly also includes a fluid supply system coupled in flow communication with the air duct, wherein the fluid supply system is configured to channel a flow of fluid towards the air duct to modify a temperature of the bleed air based on an operating condition of the turbine engine assembly.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a turbine, one or more hydrocarbon gas combustors, and a compressor. The compressor has a rotor assembly with one or more rotor blade rows extending radially outward from an inner wheel disk. The compressor also has a stator assembly with one or more stator vane rows extending radially inward from an inner casing and positioned between adjacent rotor blade rows. The inner casing extends circumferentially around the rotor assembly and is constructed from at least one low-alpha metal alloy.

Abstract: A turbine engine assembly is provided. The assembly includes a compressor, and an air duct coupled in flow communication with the compressor. The air duct is configured to channel a flow of bleed air from the compressor therethrough. The assembly also includes a fluid supply system coupled in flow communication with the air duct, wherein the fluid supply system is configured to channel a flow of fluid towards the air duct to modify a temperature of the bleed air based on an operating condition of the turbine engine assembly.

Abstract: A support assembly for externally adjusting an inner casing with respect to an outer casing for a turbomachine includes a carrier plate, a carrier block that is fixedly connected to the carrier plate, a restrictor block fixedly connected to the carrier plate, a rod coupled to the carrier plate, and a plate threadably connected to the rod. The carrier block includes an inclined side and a carrier side. The restrictor block includes a restrictor side and an inclined side. The restrictor side is generally oriented towards the carrier side. A vertical gap for receiving a support arm of an inner turbine casing is defined between the restrictor side and the carrier side. The plate may be rotated about the rod to cause simultaneous movement of the rod, the carrier plate, the carrier block and the restrictor block, thus adjusting the inner casing with respect to the outer casing.

Abstract: A support assembly for externally adjusting an inner casing with respect to an outer casing for a turbomachine includes a carrier plate, a carrier block that is fixedly connected to the carrier plate, a restrictor block fixedly connected to the carrier plate, a rod coupled to the carrier plate, and a plate threadably connected to the rod. The carrier block includes an inclined side and a carrier side. The restrictor block includes a restrictor side and an inclined side. The restrictor side is generally oriented towards the carrier side. A vertical gap for receiving a support arm of an inner turbine casing is defined between the restrictor side and the carrier side. The plate may be rotated about the rod to cause simultaneous movement of the rod, the carrier plate, the carrier block and the restrictor block, thus adjusting the inner casing with respect to the outer casing.

Abstract: A rotary turbomachine includes a rotor mounting at least one disk having an outer surface and at least one bucket extending radially from said outer surface. A stationary stator component is located adjacent the disk, and a seal plate extends from a portion of the stationary stator component. An angel wing seal extends from the bucket, thereby defining a clearance gap between the seal plate and the angel wing seal. An abradable seal element is disposed on the seal plate, and the abradable seal element and the seal plate are canted at an acute angle relative to a center axis of the rotor extending radially outwardly in a direction toward the angel wing seal.

Abstract: A system for operating a turbine includes a rotating component and a non-rotating component separated from the rotating component by a clearance. A first actuator is connected to the non-rotating component, and the first actuator comprises a shape-memory alloy. A method for operating a turbine includes sensing a parameter reflective of a clearance between a non-rotating component and a rotating component and generating a parameter signal reflective of the clearance. The method further includes generating a control signal to at least one actuator based on the parameter signal and moving at least a portion of the non-rotating component relative to the rotating component to change the clearance.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a rotary machine. The rotary machine includes a rotor having a plurality of blades and a segmented stator having a plurality of stator segments arranged circumferentially about the plurality of blades. Each adjacent pair of first and second segments of the plurality of stator segments includes a recess extending circumferentially across an intermediate joint between the first and second segments. Furthermore, each recess includes at least one eccentricity control insert configured to mitigate eccentricity of an inner circumference of the segmented stator due to thermal expansion or thermal contraction of the segmented stator.

Abstract: A rotary turbomachine includes a rotor mounting at least one disk having an outer surface and at least one bucket extending radially from said outer surface. A stationary stator component is located adjacent the disk, and a seal plate extends from a portion of the stationary stator component. An angel wing seal extends from the bucket, thereby defining a clearance gap between the seal plate and the angel wing seal. An abradable seal element is disposed on the seal plate, and the abradable seal element and the seal plate are canted at an acute angle relative to a center axis of the rotor extending radially outwardly in a direction toward the angel wing seal.

Abstract: A system for passively controlling clearance in a turbine engine comprises a static assembly arranged circumferentially about an engine rotor assembly and defining a gap between a tip end of the rotor assembly and an adjacent inner surface of the static assembly. The static assembly includes a gap control member that defines the inner surface, is exposed to the engine working fluid, and comprises a shape memory material selected and preconditioned to deform in a pre-selected manner in response to a temperature of the engine working fluid. Alternatively, airfoil blades of the rotor assembly include a gap control member. A method for passively controlling clearance in a turbine engine comprises assembling the engine so as to define an initial set of build clearances, operating the engine to observe running clearances, configuring a gap control member comprising a shape memory material and re-assembling the engine with the gap control member.

Abstract: A system for operating a turbine includes a rotating component and a non-rotating component separated from the rotating component by a clearance. A first actuator is connected to the non-rotating component, and the first actuator comprises a shape-memory alloy. A method for operating a turbine includes sensing a parameter reflective of a clearance between a non-rotating component and a rotating component and generating a parameter signal reflective of the clearance. The method further includes generating a control signal to at least one actuator based on the parameter signal and moving at least a portion of the non-rotating component relative to the rotating component to change the clearance.