Abstract:
A gas turbine engine and method of controlling the gas turbine engine that may be utilized in a power grid having a plurality of additional power generation sources. The gas turbine engine is configured with a compressor having an enlarged mass flow volume. The gas turbine engine may be operated at a base load for supplying power to the power grid at a part load and optimum efficiency for the engine, and may be ramped up to a higher output to supply a peak load output to the power grid.
Abstract:
An exhaust diffuser assembly is provided, particularly for a stationary gas turbine. The exhaust diffuser assembly includes a longitudinal axis, a diffuser inlet for receiving a turbine mainflow gas, a diffuser outlet, and a diverging diffuser wall having an adjustable geometry and forming a conduit for flow of the gas therethrough from the diffuser inlet to the diffuser outlet. The diffuser wall has a divergence angle ‘α’ with respect to the longitudinal axis. The diffuser assembly also has a diffuser geometry control device for controlling a recovery of pressure from the gas between the diffuser inlet and the diffuser outlet by adjusting the divergence angle ‘α’ of the diffuser wall to cause a resultant flow field of the gas that is attached to the diffuser wall.
Abstract:
A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) anchor (20, 100) joining a metal substrate (40) and a ceramic thermal barrier (38). The CMC anchor extends into and interlocks with the ceramic barrier, and extends into and interlocks with the metal substrate. The CMC anchor may be a honeycomb (20) or other extending-into-and-interlocking geometry. A CMC honeycomb may be formed with first (22) and second (24) arrays of cells (26) with open distal ends (28) on respective opposite sides of a sheet (30). The cells may have walls (32) with transverse passages (36). A metal (40) may be deposited into the cells and passages on one side of the sheet, forming a metal substrate locked into the honeycomb. A ceramic insulation material (38) may be deposited into the cells and passages on the opposite side of the sheet, forming a layer of ceramic insulation locked into the honeycomb.
Abstract:
A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) anchor (20, 100) joining a metal substrate (40) and a ceramic thermal barrier (38). The CMC anchor extends into and interlocks with the ceramic barrier, and extends into and interlocks with the metal substrate. The CMC anchor may be a honeycomb (20) or other extending-into-and-interlocking geometry. A CMC honeycomb may be formed with first (22) and second (24) arrays of cells (26) with open distal ends (28) on respective opposite sides of a sheet (30). The cells may have walls (32) with transverse passages (36). A metal (40) may be deposited into the cells and passages on one side of the sheet, forming a metal substrate locked into the honeycomb. A ceramic insulation material (38) may be deposited into the cells and passages on the opposite side of the sheet, forming a layer of ceramic insulation locked into the honeycomb.
Abstract:
A turbine vane array (10) for a combustion assembly (8) in a combustion turbine engine. The vane array (10) includes a plurality of stationary vane assemblies (12), each vane assembly (12) including at least one airfoil (24) and inner and outer shroud segments (26, 28) attached to opposing ends of the airfoil (24). The inner and outer shroud segments (26, 28) each include an inner face (34, 36) facing toward a gas path (13) extending through the vane array (10). A removable cover structure may be provided on the inner faces (34, 36) of the inner and outer shroud segments (26, 28). The cover structure may include removably attached insert elements (72, 72′) that are positioned on the inner faces (34, 36) extending between upstream edges (44) and downstream edges (46) of the shroud segments (26, 28) and extending between adjacent airfoils (24).
Abstract:
Aspects of the invention are related to a turbine vane assembly in which at least one of the platforms is equipped with one or more removable platform inserts. The inserts can be used in those areas of the platform where failures or damage has been known to occur, among other locations. If an insert becomes damaged or is destroyed during engine operation, the insert can be easily replaced, and the platform frames and the airfoil can be reused. As a result, the overall life of the vane can be extended. Further, the inserts can be made of materials that can reduce cooling requirements compared to known turbine vanes, thereby allowing cooling air to be used for other uses in the engine.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine and method of controlling the gas turbine engine that may be utilized in a power grid having a plurality of additional power generation sources. The gas turbine engine is configured with a compressor having an enlarged mass flow volume. The gas turbine engine may be operated at a base load for supplying power to the power grid at a part load and optimum efficiency for the engine, and may be ramped up to a higher output to supply a peak load output to the power grid.
Abstract:
A turbine engine ring seal for sealing gaps between turbine engine outer seal segments and turbine blade tips. The turbine engine ring segment may have an inner radial surface that defines a portion of a gap gas flow path where the inner radial surface may be formed of an abradable ceramic coating and includes a plurality of gas flow protrusions that are oriented transverse to the gap gas flow path. The gas flow protrusions may induce vortices in the gas flow in the gap gas flow path. Additionally, the gas flow protrusions may be series of peaks and depressions between two adjacent peaks, where the depressions have an approximate semicircular shape. The distance between two adjacent peaks may be equal or greater than a width of the depression and the height of a single peak may be six percent or greater than the distance between two adjacent peaks.
Abstract:
Aspects of the invention relate to a turbine vane in which the inner and outer platforms are located substantially entirely on either the pressure side or the suction side of the airfoil. When a plurality of such vanes are installed in the turbine, a seam is formed by the circumferential end of the inner and outer platforms and a portion of the airfoil of a neighboring vane. During engine operation, a high pressure coolant is supplied to at least one of the platforms. The coolant can leak through the seam. Because the seam is located proximate the airfoil, the coolant leakage through the seam can be productively used to cool the transition region between the vane platforms and the airfoil. In addition to such cooling benefits, aspects of the invention can result in a potential increase in engine efficiency as well as component life.
Abstract:
A turbine vane with endwalls, wherein at least one endwall is formed from two or more sections configured such that the sections form releasable joints with a generally elongated airfoil of the turbine vane. The sections may be configured to both support the generally elongated airfoil and to establish cooling fluid flowpaths between the sections and the generally elongated airfoil to cool the aspects of the turbine vane proximate to the intersection of the endwalls and the generally elongated airfoil. In addition, the joints between the generally elongated airfoil and the sections may be formed from a connection system that enables forces to be transmitted from the generally elongated airfoil to the endwalls without creating stresses found in conventional turbine vane fillets at the intersection between the generally elongated airfoil and the endwalls.