Bolted gas turbine combustor transition coupling

• US 6,116,013 A
• Filed: 01/02/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: Moller, Michael Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ted
• Application Number:
  US09/002,545
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.02, 60/39.31, 60/39.32, 60/39.37
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/243 Flange connections; Bolting arrangements F01D25/265 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/023 Transition ducts between combustor cans and first stage of the turbine in gas-turbine engines; their cooling or sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/60 Support structures; Attaching or mounting means

Abstract

A coupling apparatus for connecting a combustor to a transition in a gas turbine is provided. The coupling apparatus comprises a transition cylinder attached to the discharge end of the combustor, a cylinder flange formed on the downstream end of the transition cylinder, a transition having an upstream end on which a transition flange is formed, and a plurality of nut and bolt combinations circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the flanges for maintaining the transition cylinder in tight engagement with the transition when the cylinder flange mates with the transition flange. In a preferred embodiment, the cylinder flange further comprises a spigot lip and the transition flange further comprises a recess for receiving the spigot lip so as to effect a tight spigot fit when the cylinder flange mates with the transition flange.

Claims

1. A coupling apparatus for connecting a combustor to a transition in a gas turbine, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a transition cylinder defining an axial centerline thereof, said cylinder attached to a discharge end of the combustor, said cylinder comprising a downstream end, a cylinder flange formed on the downstream end and projecting radially outwardly and comprising a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein, the cylinder bores being axially oriented and circumferentially spaced about the cylinder flange;

(b) a transition comprising an upstream end, a transition flange which mates with the cylinder flange, the transition flange formed on the upstream end and comprising a plurality of transition bores formed therein, the transition bores being axially oriented and circumferentially spaced about the transition flange;

(c) a plurality of locking mechanisms for maintaining said transition cylinder in tight engagement with said transition when the cylinder flange mates with the transition flange, said locking mechanisms extending through an alignment of the cylinder bores and the transition bores; and

(d) wherein the cylinder flange further comprises a spigot lip and the transition flange further comprises a recess to receive the spigot lip so as to effect a tight spigot fit when the cylinder flange mates with the transition flange in order to reduce transient thermal expansion stresses during operation.

2. The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are at least four locking mechanisms, at least four cylinder bores, and at least four transition bores, all equally spaced about the periphery of the mating of the cylinder flange and the transition flange.

3. The coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanisms are nut and bolt combinations.

4. A method of connecting a combustor to a transition in a gas turbine, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing;

i) a transition cylinder defining an axial centerline thereof, said cylinder attached to a discharge end of the combustor, said cylinder comprising a downstream end a cylinder flange formed on the downstream end of said transition cylinder and projecting radially outwardly and comprising a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein, the cylinder bores being axially oriented and circumferentially spaced about the cylinder flange;

ii) a transition comprising an upstream end, a transition flange which mates with the cylinder flange, the transition flange formed on the upstream end and comprising a plurality of transition bores formed therein, the transition bores being axially oriented and circumferentially spaced about the transition flange, and

iii) a plurality of locking mechanisms

(b) mating the cylinder flange with the transition flange;

(c) aligning the cylinder bores and the transition bores;

(d) securing said plurality of locking mechanisms about the periphery of the mating of the cylinder flange and the transition flange so as to effect a tight engagement between said transition cylinder and said transition when said locking mechanisms extending through the alignment of the cylinder bores and the transition bores; and

(e) wherein the cylinder flange further comprises a spigot lip and the transition flange further comprises a recess for receiving the spigot lip, and step (b) further comprises the step of aligning the cylinder flange with the transition flange so as to effect a spigot fit between the cylinder flange and the transition flange in order to reduce transient thermal expansion stresses during operation.