公开(公告)号：US09695705B2

公开(公告)日：2017-07-04

申请号：US14526827

申请日：2014-10-29

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Xiaoqing Zheng ,  Edward Arthur Dewhurst ,  Edward J. Cooper ,  Hemanth Kumar

IPC: F01D11/24 ,  F01D25/14

CPC classification number: F01D11/24 ,  F01D25/14

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a clearance between a rotor and a stator of a steam turbine during transient operations rely upon heating or cooling a shell support structure of the steam turbine that supports the stator of the steam turbine. Selectively heating or cooling the shell support structure makes it possible for thermal growth/contraction rates and magnitudes of the shell support structure to better match the thermal growth/contraction rates and magnitudes of a bearing support structure of the steam turbine during transient operations. As a result, the clearance between the rotor and the stator of the steam turbine can be maintained.