Abstract: A steam turbine having a shaft and a first (e.g., high-pressure) turbine section. A first embodiment also includes a first bearing longitudinally spaced apart from the first turbine section and further includes a first brush-seal assembly, having bristles, longitudinally positioned between the first turbine section and the first bearing and radially positioned proximate the shaft. The steam turbine is devoid of any backup seal to the bristles. In a second embodiment, a second brush seal assembly is positioned between the first and second (e.g., intermediate-pressure) turbine sections which lack any intervening bearing.

Abstract: A combined labyrinth/brush seal is provided in a seal between rotating and stationary components. The seal includes a plurality of arcuate sealing segments, each having one or more labyrinth teeth extending radially toward the surface of the rotating component. As original equipment or retrofit, a brush seal is provided among the labyrinth teeth in a slot formed in the sealing face of the seal segment. In one form, backing and/or forward plates for the brush seal have a tongue extending into an axially extending groove of the seal segments to prevent relative radial movement of the brush seal and seal ring segments. The end faces of the brush seal and seal ring segments may be bored and filled with weld material to prevent relative circumferential movement. Where a single radially extending slot is provided in the sealing ring segment, the brush seal may be stitch-welded to the seal ring segment along opposite sides of the brush seal.

Abstract: Bucket covers for the buckets of a rotating component of a turbomachine are in radial opposition to a stationary component containing a circumferentially extending brush seal having bristles extending into engagement with sealing surfaces of the covers as the covers rotate by the bristles. The leading edges of the covers for the buckets in the plane of rotation and in the plane containing the brush seal have ramps or rounded surfaces which minimize the wear on the bristles and degradation of the performance of the seal as the bucket covers are rotated past the brush seal.

Abstract: A labyrinth brush seal combination for a rotating machine comprising an arcuate segment of predetermined axial extent carrying a plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially and radially extending tapered seal teeth, and at least one circumferentially extending array of discrete bristles carried by the segment at a predetermined axial location therealong and projecting beyond the radial extent of the teeth, the bristles having an elongated, flexible carrier strip slidably and removably received within a slot in the segment.

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between the shrouded free end of steam-turbine buckets (blades) of a steam-turbine rotor and a circumferentially surrounding steam-turbine stator. In a first embodiment, the brush seal includes first and second bristle packets having, respectively, first and second bristles, wherein the second bristles are more abrasive than the first bristles. In a second embodiment, the brush seal includes a bristle packet having bristles which are more abrasive proximate their free ends than not proximate their free ends.

Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles "canted" at an approximate 45.degree. angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360.degree. about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.

Abstract: The air inlet to the compressor of a gas turbine is supplied with liquid nitrogen for cooling the ambient inlet air. The heated nitrogen converts to gaseous nitrogen and is supplied to either the combustor to lower the flame temperature and hence reduce NO.sub.x formations within the combustor or the turbine section to increase mass flow and hence increase power output, or both. Liquid nitrogen is also supplied in heat exchange relation with the cooling system of a generator driven by the turbine section. The operating temperature of the generator is thus lowered, thereby increasing its capacity and power. The nitrogen from the heat exchanger of the generator cooling system converts to gaseous nitrogen and is supplied to the combustor for lowered NO.sub.x emissions or to the turbine for improved mass flow, or both.

Abstract: A method for making a brush seal includes weaving a single-layer bristle assemblage having two spaced-apart cloth segments joined together by an unwoven section wherein the two cloth segments and the unwoven section share a common first group of warp bristles and wherein the two cloth segments have different groups of weft bristles. The method further includes the step of cutting generally across the unwoven section of the first group of bristles to create free ends. The brush seal so made is useful, for example, to generally seal a leakage gap in a gas path of a gas turbine.

Abstract: A gas-path leakage seal for generally sealing a gas-path leakage-gap between spaced-apart first and second members of a gas turbine (such as first and second segments of a gas turbine combustor casing). The seal includes a generally imperforate foil-layer assemblage which is generally impervious to gas, is located in the leakage-gap, is spaced apart from the first member, and has a first foil layer. The seal also includes a cloth-layer assemblage contacting the first member and having a first cloth layer generally enclosing and generally enclosingly-contacting the foil-layer assemblage. The first foil layer is made from a metal, ceramic, and/or polymer. The first cloth layer is made from metal, ceramic, and/or polymer fibers. The foil assemblage provides for sealing and flexibility, and the cloth assemblage provides for wear resistance and flexibility. The seal accommodates different surface shapes, assembly misalignment, vibration, and differential thermal growth of the gas turbine members.