SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM A TURBOMACHINE

• US 20120266601A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Miller, Harold Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,151,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/00 Shutting-down of machines or engines, e.g. in emergency; Regulating, controlling, or safety means not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/12 responsive to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/08 Cooling of machines or engines in general F01P; Heating; Heat-insulation of blade-carrying members, of blades F01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/12 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/14 Casings modified therefor double casings F01D25/26
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/26 Double casings; Measures against temperature strain in casings
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/12 Cooling of plants of component parts, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. F01D; cooling of engines in general F01P
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/221 Improvement of heat transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods of removing heat from internal areas of a turbomachine. Embodiments of the present invention may incorporate a suction device and a control system. Operatively, these elements may collectively discharge remnants of a heated fluid and/or gas from those internal areas.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a casing which encloses a rotating body that is rotated by a working fluid;

wherein the casing comprises an upper half that covers an upper portion of the rotating body, and a lower half that covers a lower portion of the rotating body;

a heat removal system that comprises a suction device and a discharge duct, wherein a first end of the discharge duct is connected to the upper half of the casing and a second end of the discharge duct is connected to the suction device;

a flow path located between portions of the casing and the rotating body, wherein the working fluid flows within the flow path which engages the discharge duct;

wherein after a combustion process ends, the suction device replaces the residual working fluid in the flow path with air.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the suction device comprises at least one of:

a blower, a fan, or a vacuum.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge system comprises a discharge port located on an outer surface of the casing, wherein the discharge duct is connected to the discharge port.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an extraction port located on the casing, wherein the discharge duct is connected to the extraction port.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the flow path engages the extraction port, allowing the residual working fluid to discharge through the extraction port.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a multi-way valve serially connected in the discharge duct between the extraction port and the suction device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the multi-way valve directs flow, exiting the extraction port, towards either the suction device or to a vent.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an airstream restrictor comprising a surface that is connected near an upstream end of a compressor, wherein the airstream restrictor reduces a quantity of an airstream ingested by a compressor.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature detector connected to the casing, wherein the temperature detector measures a temperature of the casing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotating body comprises a compressor section and a turbine section, wherein both sections comprise rotating components mounted on a periphery of the rotating body.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a combustion section comprising components that combust a mixture of a compressed airstream and a fuel to create the working fluid.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the casing encloses the compressor section, the turbine section, and the combustion section.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the suction device removes combustibles from internal areas of the casing.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust flow restrictor comprising a surface that is connected near an exhaust duct, wherein the exhaust flow restrictor reduces a quantity of an airstream flowing upstream, through the exhaust duct, to the flow path.

15. A method comprising:

providing a gas turbine comprising;

an inlet section comprising components which receive an airstream;

a compressor section and a turbine section, which are mounted on a rotor, wherein rotating components of the compressor section and turbine section are mounted on a periphery of the rotor;

a combustion section comprising components which combusts a fuel and the airstream to create a working fluid that rotates the rotor; and

a casing that covers the rotor, wherein the casing comprises an upper half that encloses an upper portion of the rotor, and a lower half that encloses a lower portion of the rotor; and

a flow path located between the casing and the rotor, wherein the working fluid flows through the flow path;

providing a heat removal system that comprises a suction device and a discharge duct, wherein a first end of the discharge duct is connected

to the upper half of the casing and engages the flow path, and a second end of the discharge duct is connected to the suction device; and

providing a control system comprising a processor that performs the steps of;

determining whether a combustion process is extinguished;

determining whether a speed of the rotor is within a range; and

operating the suction device to draw residual working fluid out of the flow path via the discharge duct;

wherein the suction device operatively replaces the residual working fluid with air.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of modulating an airstream restrictor to reduce the flowrate of the airstream entering the inlet.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of monitoring an associated parameter which is related to a temperature of the residual working fluid.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of stopping the heat removal system if the associated parameter is within a range.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the associated parameter comprises at least one of:

a wheelspace temperature;

a temperature measured on a surface of the casing;

a temperature of the residual working fluid discharged from the flow path;

or chemical properties of the residual working fluid.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the casing comprises an extraction port which connects to the discharge port.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the heat removal system comprises a multi-port valve serially connected in the discharge duct between the extraction port and the suction device.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of operating the multi-port valve to direct the flow in the discharge duct towards either the suction device or towards a vent.

23. A system comprising:

a casing which encloses a rotating body that is rotated by a working fluid;

wherein the casing comprises an upper half that covers an upper portion of the rotating body, and a lower half that covers a lower portion of the rotating body;

a heat removal system that comprises a suction device integrated with the upper half of the casing;

a flow path located between portions of the casing and the rotating body, wherein the working fluid flows within the flow path which engages the discharge duct; and

wherein after a combustion process ends, the suction device draws residual working fluid out of the casing.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the suction device is mounted directly on the casing.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising an extraction port located on the casing, wherein the suction device is connected to a downstream side of the extraction port.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the flow path engages the extraction port, allowing the residual working fluid to discharge through the extraction port.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising a multi-way valve serially connected between the extraction port and the suction device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the multi-way valve directs flow, exiting the extraction port, towards either the suction device or to a vent.