Gas turbine engine lockout reduction
First Claim
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1. A method of reducing a lockout time of a gas turbine engine which includes, in serial flow communication:
- an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a stationary casing of the engine, the method comprising;
operating the engine at a first power output level;
shutting down operation of the engine without substantially reducing the power output level prior to the shutdown, wherein thermomechanical changes attributable to cooling occur in the rotor and the casing subsequent to the shutdown that reduce a radial clearance between at least one of the blades and the casing, thereby resulting in a lockout condition wherein the rotor and casing contact each other; and
during the lockout condition, heating the casing of the engine uniformly about its circumference so as to expand the casing and increase a radial clearance between the blades of the rotor and the casing, so as to reverse at least partially the thermomechanical changes.
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Abstract
A method is provided of reducing lockout time of a gas turbine engine which includes: an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a casing of the engine. The method includes: operating the engine at a first power output; shutting down operation of the engine without substantially reducing the power output beforehand, wherein thermomechanical changes occur in the engine subsequent to shutdown that tend to reduce a radial clearance between at least one of the blades and the casing; and subsequent to shutting down the engine, (1) heating the casing and/or (2) pumping an airflow of ambient air into the inlet and through the casing, past the rotor, and out the exhaust duct, so as to reverse at least partially the thermomechanical changes.
53 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of reducing a lockout time of a gas turbine engine which includes, in serial flow communication:
- an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a stationary casing of the engine, the method comprising;
operating the engine at a first power output level; shutting down operation of the engine without substantially reducing the power output level prior to the shutdown, wherein thermomechanical changes attributable to cooling occur in the rotor and the casing subsequent to the shutdown that reduce a radial clearance between at least one of the blades and the casing, thereby resulting in a lockout condition wherein the rotor and casing contact each other; and during the lockout condition, heating the casing of the engine uniformly about its circumference so as to expand the casing and increase a radial clearance between the blades of the rotor and the casing, so as to reverse at least partially the thermomechanical changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a stationary casing of the engine, the method comprising;
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12. A method of reducing a lockout time of a gas turbine engine which includes, in serial flow communication:
- an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a stationary casing of the engine, the method comprising;
operating the engine at a selected power output level; shutting down operation of the engine without substantially reducing the power output level prior to the shutdown, wherein thermomechanical changes attributable to cooling occur in the rotor and the casing subsequent to the shutdown that reduce a radial clearance between at least one of the blades and the casing, thereby resulting in a lockout condition; and during the lockout condition, pumping an airflow of ambient air into the inlet and allowing the pumped air to flow through the casing, past the rotor, and out the exhaust duct, so as to reverse at least partially the thermomechanical changes, wherein the airflow is sufficient to rotate the rotor if the rotor is not in the lockout condition, but is insufficient to turn the rotor if the rotor is in the lockout condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- an inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and an exhaust duct, where the compressor and the turbine are carried on a turbomachinery rotor and each include an array of blades mounted for rotation inside a stationary casing of the engine, the method comprising;
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Current AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
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Original AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
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InventorsShirooni, Steve, Ali, Mohamed Ahmed, Brands, Mark, Altman, John Edward, Shamim, Abdus
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Primary Examiner(s)Sung, Gerald L
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Assistant Examiner(s)WALTHOUR, SCOTT J
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Application NumberUS13/303,338Publication NumberTime in Patent Office965 DaysField of Search607/72, 607/73, 607/76, 607/78, 607/79, 607/26, 60/390.91US Class Current60/779CPC Class CodesF01D 11/24 by selectively cooling-heat...F01D 21/00 Shutting-down of machines o...F01D 25/08 Cooling of machines or engi...F01D 25/34 Turning or inching gearY02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion techno...
