Abstract:
A seal member for effecting a seal preventing fluid flow in an axial direction through an annular space formed between two relatively moving components including a rotatable shaft and a stator structure. The seal member includes a plurality of flexible seal strips. Each seal strip includes a planar plate extending radially through the annular space and having a radially outer end supported to the stator structure and a radially inner end defining a tip portion extending widthwise in the axial direction engaged in sliding contact with a peripheral surface of the rotatable shaft. At least one of the seal strips includes a plurality of perforations extending through the seal strip and located between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the seal strip for effecting an increased flexibility of the seal strip adjacent to the tip portion.
Abstract:
A seal assembly provided between a hot gas path and a disc cavity in a turbine engine includes an annular outer wing member extending from an axially facing side of a rotor structure toward an adjacent non-rotating vane assembly, and a plurality of fins extending radially inwardly from the outer wing member and extending toward the adjacent non-rotating vane assembly. The fins are arranged such that a space having a component in a circumferential direction is defined between adjacent fins. Rotation of the fins during operation of the engine effects a pumping of purge air from the disc cavity toward the hot gas path to assist in limiting hot working gas leakage from the hot gas path to the disc cavity by forcing the hot working gas away from the seal assembly.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor for generating compressed air. The compressor includes a rotor defined by a plurality of axial disks including a first disk and a second disk. A first row of blades extends radially outwardly from the first disk, and a second row of blades extends radially outwardly from the second disk. A row of cantilevered vanes is located at an axial location between the first row of blades and the second row of blades. A bleed path extends at least partially through the second disk and includes an entrance at an axial location between the first row of blades and at least a portion of the row of cantilevered vanes. The entrance communicates with a compressed air flowpath through the compressor.
Abstract:
An outer rim seal arrangement (10), including: an annular rim (70) centered about a longitudinal axis (30) of a rotor disc (31), extending fore and having a fore-end (72), an outward-facing surface (74), and an inward-facing surface (76); a lower angel wing (62) extending aft from a base of a turbine blade (22) and having an aft end (64) disposed radially inward of the rim inward-facing surface to define a lower angel wing seal gap (80); an upper angel wing (66) extending aft from the turbine blade base and having an aft end (68) disposed radially outward of the rim outward-facing surface to define a upper angel wing seal gap (80, 82); and guide vanes (100) disposed on the rim inward-facing surface in the lower angel wing seal gap. Pumping fins (102) may be disposed on the upper angel wing seal aft end in the upper angel wing seal gap.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine including: an ambient-air cooling circuit (10) having a cooling channel (26) disposed in a turbine blade (22) and in fluid communication with a source (12) of ambient air: and an pre-swirler (18), the pre-swirler having: an inner shroud (38); an outer shroud (56); and a plurality of guide vanes (42), each spanning from the inner shroud to the outer shroud. Circumferentially adjacent guide vanes (46, 48) define respective nozzles (44) there between. Forces created by a rotation of the turbine blade motivate ambient air through the cooling circuit. The pre-swirler is configured to impart swirl to ambient air drawn through the nozzles and to direct the swirled ambient air toward a base of the turbine blade. The end walls (50, 54) of the pre-swirler may be contoured.
Abstract:
An outer rim seal arrangement (10), including: an annular rim (70) centered about a longitudinal axis (30) of a rotor disc (31), extending fore and having a fore-end (72), an outward-facing surface (74), and an inward-facing surface (76); a lower angel wing (62) extending aft from a base of a turbine blade (22) and having an aft end (64) disposed radially inward of the rim inward-facing surface to define a lower angel wing seal gap (80); an upper angel wing (66) extending aft from the turbine blade base and having an aft end (68) disposed radially outward of the rim outward-facing surface to define a upper angel wing seal gap (80, 82); and guide vanes (100) disposed on the rim inward-facing surface in the lower angel wing seal gap. Pumping fins (102) may be disposed on the upper angel wing seal aft end in the upper angel wing seal gap.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a forward rotor disk and blade assembly capable of rotating; an aft rotor disk and blade assembly capable of rotating; and a row of vanes positioned between the forward rotor disk and blade assembly and the aft rotor disk and blade assembly. The vane row and the forward rotor disk and blade assembly may define a forward cavity. The vane row may comprise at least one stator vane comprising: a main body and an inner shroud structure comprising a cover. The cover may include a first inner cavity receiving cooling air. The cover may further include at least one cooling flow passage. Cooling air flowing from the cooling flow passage has a tangential velocity component.
Abstract:
A cooling fluid air injection system for use in a gas turbine engine includes at an external cooling fluid source, at least one rotor cooling pipe, which is used to inject cooling fluid from the source into a rotor chamber, a piping system that provides fluid communication between the source and the rotor cooling pipe(s), a blower system for conveying the cooling fluid through the piping system and the rotor cooling pipe(s) into the rotor chamber, and a valve system. The valve system is closed during full load engine operation to prevent cooling fluid from the source from passing through the piping system, and open during less than full load engine operation to allow cooling fluid from the source to pass through the piping system.
Abstract:
An air injection system for use in a gas turbine engine includes at least one outlet port through which air is extracted from the engine only during less than full load operation, at least one rotor cooling pipe, which is used to inject the air extracted from the outlet port(s) into a rotor chamber, a piping system that provides fluid communication between the one outlet port(s) and the rotor cooling pipe(s), a blower system for extracting air from the engine through the outlet port(s) and for conveying the extracted air through the piping system and the rotor cooling pipe(s) into the rotor chamber, and a valve system. The valve system is closed during full load engine operation to prevent air from passing through the piping system, and open during less than full load engine operation to allow air to pass through the piping system.
Abstract:
A cooling fluid air injection system for use in a gas turbine engine includes at an external cooling fluid source, at least one rotor cooling pipe, which is used to inject cooling fluid from the source into a rotor chamber, a piping system that provides fluid communication between the source and the rotor cooling pipe(s), a blower system for conveying the cooling fluid through the piping system and the rotor cooling pipe(s) into the rotor chamber, and a valve system. The valve system is closed during full load engine operation to prevent cooling fluid from the source from passing through the piping system, and open during less than full load engine operation to allow cooling fluid from the source to pass through the piping system.