PRESSURIZED SEALED CHAMBER BETWEEN MULTIPLE PRESSURIZED CASINGS OF MACHINE AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20100092287A1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hofer, Douglas Carl
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/229
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 11/04 using sealing fluid, e.g. steam
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/16 Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings bearings per se F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/24 Casings modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14; Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M ; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49297 Seal or packing making

Abstract

A standard for supporting a bearing for a rotating shaft of a machine including a plurality of casings having different gas pressures greater than atmospheric pressure includes a sealed chamber for fluidly coupling to an end packing of a first casing and a second casing of the machine, the sealed chamber having a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the sealed chamber reduces the leakage from the casing making more pressurized gas available for producing work in the machine.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a rotating shaft;

a plurality of casings, each casing including;

a part operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and an end packing for partially sealing the respective casing to the rotating shaft;

a sealed chamber fluidly coupling the first end packing and the second end packing, the sealed chamber having a third pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and

a bearing positioned within the sealed chamber between the first casing and the second casing for supporting the rotating shaft.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of casings include:

a first casing including a first turbine or compressor operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and a first end packing for partially sealing the first casing with the rotating shaft; and

a second casing including a second turbine or compressor operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a second pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and a second end packing for partially sealing the second casing with the rotating shaft.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure and the first and second pressure are greater than the third pressure.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the machine includes a steam turbine and the first pressure ranges from about 1000 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) and about 3500 psia, the second pressure ranges from about 200 psia to about 600 psia, and the third pressure ranges from about 300 psia to about 350 psia.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the sealed chamber and the bearing are contained within a standard.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the sealed chamber includes a gas that is different than that in each casing.

7. A method comprising:

providing a machine including a rotating shaft and a plurality of casings, each casing including;

a part operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and an end packing for partially sealing the respective casing with the rotating shaft;

providing a standard positioned between two casings, the standard supporting a bearing for the rotating shaft; and

sealing the standard in a sealed chamber fluidly coupling the two casings, the sealed chamber having a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of casings include:

a first casing including a first turbine or compressor operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and a first end packing for partially sealing the first casing with the rotating shaft; and

a second casing including a second turbine or compressor operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a second pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and a second end packing for partially sealing the second casing with the rotating shaft.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure and the first and second pressure are greater than the third pressure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the machine includes a steam turbine and the first pressure ranges from about 1000 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) and about 3500 psia, the second pressure ranges from about 200 psia to about 600 psia, and the third pressure ranges from about 300 psia to about 350 psia.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the sealed chamber includes a gas that is different than that in each casing.

12. A standard for supporting a bearing for a rotating shaft extending between a plurality of casings, each casing having a different pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, the standard comprising:

a sealed chamber for fluidly coupling to an end packing of a first casing and a second casing, the sealed chamber having a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

13. The standard of claim 12, wherein the plurality of casings include:

a first casing including a first turbine operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and a first end packing for partially sealing the first casing; and

a second casing including a second turbine operably coupled to the rotating shaft and operable at a second pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and a second end packing for partially sealing the second casing.

14. The standard of claim 13, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure and the first and second pressure are greater than the third pressure.

15. The standard of claim 14, wherein the first pressure ranges from about 1000 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) and about 3500 psia, the second pressure ranges from about 200 psia to about 600 psia, and the third pressure ranges from about 300 psia to about 350 psia.

16. The standard of claim 12, wherein the sealed chamber includes a gas that is different than that in each casing.