Abstract: In an axial flow gas turbine (30), a substantial reduction of the consumption of cooling air can be achieved by providing, within a turbine stage (TS), structure (39-44) to reuse the cooling air that has already been used to cool, especially the airfoils of, the vanes (33) of the turbine stage (TS), for cooling the stator heat shields (38) of that turbine stage (TS) downstream of the vanes (33).

Abstract: In an axial flow gas turbine (30), a reduction in cooling air mass flow and leakage in combination with an improved cooling and effective thermal protection of critical parts within the turbine stages of the turbine is achieved by providing, within a turbine stage (TS), devices (43-48) to direct cooling air that has already been used to cool, especially the airfoils of the vanes (31) of the turbine stage (TS), into a first cavity (41) located between the outer blade platforms (34) and the opposed stator heat shields (36) for protecting the stator heat shields (36) against the hot gas and for cooling the outer blade platforms (34).

Abstract: An axial flow gas turbine (35) has a rotor with alternating rows of air-cooled blades (40) and rotor heat shields, and a stator with alternating rows of air-cooled vanes (41) and stator heat shields (47) mounted on inner rings (46A) reduction in cooling air mass flow and an improved cooling and effective thermal protection of critical parts within the turbine stages of the turbine is achieved by adapting the stator heat shields (47) and outer vane platforms (38) within a turbine stage (TS) to one another such that air (37) leaking through the joints between the outer vane platforms (38) and the adjacent stator heat shields (47) into the hot gas path (42) is directed onto the blade crown (32) of the blades (40).

Abstract: An axial flow gas turbine (20) includes a rotor (13) and a stator, and a hot gas path through which hot gas passes. The rotor (13) includes a rotor shaft (15) with axial slots for receiving a plurality of blades (B1-B3) arranged in a series of blade rows, with rotor heat shields (R1, R2) interposed between adjacent blade rows. The rotor shaft (15) is configured to axially conduct a main flow of cooling air along the rotor heat shields (R1, R2) and the lower parts of the blades (B1-B3), and the rotor shaft (15) supplies the interior of the blades (B1-B3) with cooling air (18). Stable and predictable cooling air parameters at any blade row inlet are secured by providing air-tight cooling channels (21), which extend axially through the rotor shaft (15) separate from the main flow of cooling air (17), and supply the blades (B1-B3) with cooling air (18).

Abstract: In an axial flow gas turbine (30), a substantial reduction of the consumption of cooling air can be achieved by providing, within a turbine stage (TS), structure (39-44) to reuse the cooling air that has already been used to cool, especially the airfoils of, the vanes (33) of the turbine stage (TS), for cooling the stator heat shields (38) of that turbine stage (TS) downstream of the vanes (33).

Abstract: An axial flow gas turbine (20) includes a rotor (13) and a stator, and a hot gas path through which hot gas passes. The rotor (13) includes a rotor shaft (15) with axial slots for receiving a plurality of blades (B1-B3) arranged in a series of blade rows, with rotor heat shields (R1, R2) interposed between adjacent blade rows. The rotor shaft (15) is configured to axially conduct a main flow of cooling air along the rotor heat shields (R1, R2) and the lower parts of the blades (B1-B3), and the rotor shaft (15) supplies the interior of the blades (B1-B3) with cooling air (18). Stable and predictable cooling air parameters at any blade row inlet are secured by providing air-tight cooling channels (21), which extend axially through the rotor shaft (15) separate from the main flow of cooling air (17), and supply the blades (B1-B3) with cooling air (18).

Abstract: An axial flow gas turbine (35) has a rotor with alternating rows of air-cooled blades (40) and rotor heat shields, and a stator with alternating rows of air-cooled vanes (41) and stator heat shields (47) mounted on inner rings (46A reduction in cooling air mass flow and an improved cooling and effective thermal protection of critical parts within the turbine stages of the turbine is achieved by adapting the stator heat shields (47) and outer vane platforms (38) within a turbine stage (TS) to one another such that air (37) leaking through the joints between the outer vane platforms (38) and the adjacent stator heat shields (47) into the hot gas path (42) is directed onto the blade crown (32) of the blades (40).

Abstract: In an axial flow gas turbine (30), a reduction in cooling air mass flow and leakage in combination with an improved cooling and effective thermal protection of critical parts within the turbine stages of the turbine is achieved by providing, within a turbine stage (TS), devices (43-48) to direct cooling air that has already been used to cool, especially the airfoils of the vanes (31) of the turbine stage (TS), into a first cavity (41) located between the outer blade platforms (34) and the opposed stator heat shields (36) for protecting the stator heat shields (36) against the hot gas and for cooling the outer blade platforms (34).