U.S. patent application number 11/967167 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for turbine nozzle segment and assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Sanjeewa Thusitha Fonseka, Todd Stephen Heffron, Clive Andrew Morgan.
Application Number | 20090169369 11/967167 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40377633 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090169369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morgan; Clive Andrew ; et
al. |
July 2, 2009 |
TURBINE NOZZLE SEGMENT AND ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A turbine nozzle segment includes a band having a plurality of
circumferentially spaced apart tabs and a single airfoil extending
from the band.
Inventors: |
Morgan; Clive Andrew;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Heffron; Todd Stephen;
(Harrison, OH) ; Fonseka; Sanjeewa Thusitha;
(Dublin, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GE AVIATION, ONE NEUMANN WAY MD H17
CINCINNATI
OH
45215
US
|
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
|
Family ID: |
40377633 |
Appl. No.: |
11/967167 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/174.2 ;
415/209.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 50/60 20130101;
F01D 9/023 20130101; F01D 11/005 20130101; F05D 2240/57 20130101;
F01D 25/246 20130101; F01D 9/042 20130101; Y02T 50/675
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/174.2 ;
415/209.2 |
International
Class: |
F01D 11/08 20060101
F01D011/08; F01D 9/02 20060101 F01D009/02 |
Claims
1. A turbine nozzle segment, comprising: a first band having a
plurality of circumferentially spaced apart tabs; and a single
airfoil extending from said first band.
2. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 1 wherein at least one of
said plurality of tabs is adjacent a circumferential edge of said
first band.
3. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 2 wherein said plurality of
tabs are integral with said first band.
4. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 3 further comprising: a
second band; wherein said single airfoil extends between said first
band and said second band.
5. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 4 further comprising: a rail
extending from said first band and spaced from said plurality of
tabs defining a recess therebetween; and a leaf seal disposed in
said recess.
6. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 5 further comprising: a pin
extending through each of said tabs and said leaf seal; and a
biasing structure associated with each of said pins and biasing
said leaf seal in abutting contact with an adjoining component.
7. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 1 further comprising: a rail
extending from said first band and spaced from said plurality of
tabs defining a recess therebetween; and a leaf seal disposed in
said recess.
8. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 7 further comprising: a pin
extending through each of said tabs and said leaf seal; and a
biasing structure associated with each of said pins and biasing
said leaf seal in abutting contact with an adjoining component.
9. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 2 further comprising: a rail
extending from said first band and spaced from said plurality of
tabs defining a recess therebetween; and a leaf seal disposed in
said recess.
10. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 9 further comprising: a pin
extending through each of said tabs and said leaf seal; and a
biasing structure associated with each of said pins and biasing
said leaf seal in abutting contact with an adjoining component.
11. A turbine nozzle segment, comprising: a first band having three
or more circumferentially spaced apart tabs; and a plurality of
airfoils extending from said first band.
12. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 11, further comprising: a
rail extending from said first band and axially spaced from said
tabs defining a recess therebetween; and a leaf seal disposed in
said recess.
13. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 12 further comprising: a
pin extending through each of said tabs and said leaf seal; and a
biasing structure associated with each of said pins and biasing
said leaf seal in abutting contact with an adjoining component.
14. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 11 wherein one of said tabs
is adjacent a first circumferential edge of said first band and one
of said tabs is adjacent a second circumferential edge of said
first band.
15. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 14 wherein said tabs are
integral with said first band.
16. The turbine nozzle segment of claim 15 further comprising: a
second band; wherein said plurality of airfoils extend between said
first band and said second band.
17. A turbine nozzle assembly, comprising: a plurality of turbine
nozzle segments assembled together to form an annular ring, each of
said segments comprising: an outer band having a three or more
circumferentially spaced apart tabs and a rail axially spaced from
said tabs defining a recess therebetween; a leaf seal disposed in
said recess; a pin extending through each of said tabs and said
leaf seal; a biasing structure associated with each of said pins
and biasing said leaf seal in abutting contact with an adjoining
component; an inner band; and a plurality of airfoils extending
between said outer band and said inner band.
18. The turbine nozzle assembly of claim 17 wherein said inner band
further comprises: three or more circumferentially spaced apart
tabs and a rail axially spaced from said tabs defining a recess
therebetween; a leaf seal disposed in said recess; a pin extending
through each of said tabs and said leaf seal; and a biasing
structure associated with each of said pins and biasing said leaf
seal in abutting contact with an adjoining component.
19. The turbine nozzle assembly of claim 18 wherein one of said
tabs on said outer band is adjacent a first circumferential edge of
said outer band and one of said tabs on said outer band is adjacent
a second circumferential edge of said outer band.
20. The turbine nozzle assembly of claim 19 wherein one of said
tabs on said inner band is adjacent a first circumferential edge of
said inner band and one of said tabs on said inner band is adjacent
a second circumferential edge of said inner band.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The exemplary embodiments relate generally to gas turbine
engine components and more specifically to leaf seal assemblies for
turbine nozzle assemblies.
[0002] Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor, a
combustor, and at least one turbine. The compressor may compress
air, which may be mixed with fuel and channeled to the combustor.
The mixture may then be ignited for generating hot combustion
gases, and the combustion gases may be channeled to the turbine.
The turbine may extract energy from the combustion gases for
powering the compressor, as well as producing useful work to propel
an aircraft in flight or to power a load, such as an electrical
generator.
[0003] The turbine may include a stator assembly and a rotor
assembly. The stator assembly may include a stationary nozzle
assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart
airfoils extending radially between inner and outer bands, which
define a flow path for channeling combustion gases therethrough.
Typically the airfoils and bands are formed into a plurality of
segments, which may include one (typically called a singlet) or two
spaced apart airfoils radially extending between an inner and an
outer band. The segments are joined together to form the nozzle
assembly.
[0004] The rotor assembly may be downstream of the stator assembly
and may include a plurality of blades extending radially outward
from a disk. Each rotor blade may include an airfoil, which may
extend between a platform and a tip. Each rotor blade may also
include a root that may extend below the platform and be received
in a corresponding slot in the disk. Alternatively, the disk may be
a blisk or bladed disk, which may alleviate the need for a root and
the airfoil may extend directly from the disk. The rotor assembly
may be bounded radially at the tip by a stationary annular shroud.
The shrouds and platforms (or disk, in the case of a blisk) define
a flow path for channeling the combustion gases therethrough. The
nozzles and shrouds are separately manufactured and assembled into
the engine. Accordingly, gaps are necessarily provided therebetween
for both assembly purposes as well as for accommodating
differential thermal expansion and contraction during operation of
the engine.
[0005] The gaps between the stationary components are suitably
sealed for preventing leakage therethrough. In a typical turbine
nozzle, a portion of air is bled from the compressor and channeled
through the nozzles for cooling thereof. The use of bleed air
reduces the overall efficiency of the engine and, therefore, is
minimized whenever possible. The bleed air is at a relatively high
pressure, which is greater than the pressure of the combustion
gases flowing through the turbine nozzle. As such, the bleed air
would leak into the flow path if suitable seals were not provided
between the stationary components.
[0006] A typical seal used to seal these gaps is a leaf seal. A
typical leaf seal is arcuate and disposed end to end around the
circumference of the stator components. For example, the radially
outer band of the nozzle includes axially spaced apart forward and
aft rails. The rails extend radially outwardly and abut a
complementary surface of an adjoining structural component, such
as, but not limited to, a shroud, a shroud hanger, and/or a
combustor liner, for providing a primary friction seal therewith.
The leaf seal provides a seal at this junction and bridges a
portion of the rail and the adjoining structural component. Leaf
seals are typically relatively thin, compliant sections, which are
adapted to slide along a pin fixed to one of the adjoining
structural components.
[0007] Regardless of the particular shape of the structural
components to be sealed, leaf seals are movable to a closed,
sealing position in which they engage each structural component and
seal the space therebetween, and an open position in which at least
one portion of the leaf seals disengage a structural component and
allow the passage of gases in between such components. In most
applications, movement of the leaf seals along the pins to a closed
position is affected by applying a pressure differential across
seal, i.e., relatively high pressure on one side of the seal and
comparatively low pressure on the opposite side thereof forces the
seal to a closed, sealed position against surfaces of the adjoining
structural components to prevent the passage of gases
therebetween.
[0008] While leaf seals have found widespread use in turbine
engines, their effectiveness in creating a fluid tight seal is
dependent on the presence of a sufficient pressure differential
between one side of the seal and the other. During certain
operating stages of a turbine engine, the difference in fluid
pressure on opposite sides of the leaf seals is relatively low.
Under these conditions, it is possible for the leaf seals to unseat
from their engagement with the abutting structural components of
the turbo machine and allow leakage therebetween. A relatively
small pressure differential across the leaf seals also permits
movement or vibration of the leaf seals with respect to the
structural components that they contact. This vibration of the leaf
seals, which is caused by operation of the turbine engine and other
sources, creates undesirable wear both of the leaf seals and the
surfaces of the structural components against which the leaf seals
rest. Such wear not only results in leakage of gases between the
leaf seals and structural components of the turbine engine, but can
cause premature failure thereof.
[0009] To overcome this problem, other designs have included a
biasing structure, such as a spring, to bias the leaf seal toward a
certain position. For example, a band may have two
circumferentially spaced apart, radially extending tabs spaced
axially from a rail. A recess may be formed between the tabs and
the rail where the leaf seal and spring are disposed. The tabs,
leaf seals and springs may include holes for receiving a pin for
mounting to the band. At least one of the tabs is typically spaced
apart from the circumferential edges of the band. The tab, leaf
seal and spring are arranged so that the spring forces the leaf
seal against an adjoining structural component so as to maintain
the leaf seal in a closed, sealed position at all times.
[0010] In some instances, such as, but not limited to, low
emissions combustors, this configuration is not sufficient. For
example, low emissions combustors are susceptible to flame
instability, which may lead to acoustic resonance and high dynamic
pressure variation. The high frequency pressure fluctuations can
damage the leaf seals, particularly the leaf seals between the aft
edge of the combustor liner and the leading edge of the nozzle
bands, by repeatedly loading and unloading the seals against the
adjoining structural component. The seals are particularly
susceptible to damage where they are unsupported by the springs
and/or tabs. The seals may not be fully supported at their
circumferential edges and/or between the tabs on the bands.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In one exemplary embodiment, a turbine nozzle segment
includes a band having a plurality of circumferentially spaced
apart tabs and a single airfoil extending from the band. In another
exemplary embodiment, a turbine nozzle segment includes a band
having three or more circumferentially spaced apart tabs and a
plurality of airfoils extending from the band.
[0012] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a turbine nozzle
assembly includes a plurality of turbine nozzle segments assembled
together to form an annular ring, each of the segments having an
outer band having three or more circumferentially spaced apart tabs
and a rail axially spaced from the tabs defining a recess
therebetween. The segments also have a leaf seal disposed in the
recess, a pin extending through each of the tabs and the leaf seal
and a biasing structure associated with each of the pins, biasing
the leaf seal in abutting contact with an adjoining component. The
segments further include an inner band and a plurality of airfoils
extending between the outer and inner bands.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an exemplary
gas turbine engine.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an exemplary
turbine nozzle assembly.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary turbine nozzle
segment.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a close-up cross-sectional view of an exemplary
turbine nozzle leaf seal assembly.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of an exemplary turbine nozzle
segment.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an exemplary turbine nozzle
segment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic view of an
exemplary gas turbine engine 100. The gas turbine engine 100 may
include a low-pressure compressor 102, a high-pressure compressor
104, a combustor 106, a high-pressure turbine 108, and a
low-pressure turbine 110. The low-pressure compressor may be
coupled to the low-pressure turbine through a shaft 112. The
high-pressure compressor 104 may be coupled to the high-pressure
turbine 108 through a shaft 114. In operation, air flows through
the low-pressure compressor 102 and high-pressure compressor 104.
The highly compressed air is delivered to the combustor 106, where
it is mixed with a fuel and ignited to generate combustion gases.
The combustion gases are channeled from the combustor 106 to drive
the turbines 108 and 110. The turbine 110 drives the low-pressure
compressor 102 by way of shaft 112. The turbine 108 drives the
high-pressure compressor 104 by way of shaft 114.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the high-pressure turbine 108 may
include a turbine nozzle assembly 116. The turbine nozzle assembly
116 may be downstream of the combustor 106 or a row of turbine
blades. The turbine nozzle assembly 116 includes an annular array
of turbine nozzle segments 118. A plurality of arcuate turbine
nozzle segments 118 may be joined together to form an annular
turbine nozzle assembly 116. As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the nozzle
segments 118 may include one or more airfoils 120 extending between
an inner band 122 and an outer band 124. The nozzle segments 118
may be formed in a singlet or doublet configuration. The singlet
configuration may include a single airfoil 120 extending between an
inner band 122 and an outer band 124. The doublet configuration may
include two airfoils 120 extending between an inner band 122 and an
outer band 124. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in
the art that any configuration could be used, including having more
than two airfoils 120. The airfoils 120 may be hollow and have
internal cooling passages or may receive one or more cooling
inserts. The inner and outer bands 122 and 124 may have one or more
axially spaced apart rails for connecting the nozzle segment 118 to
upstream and downstream adjoining components.
[0021] The inner band 122 may include a forward rail 126 and an aft
rail 128. The inner band 122 may also have a plurality of
circumferentially spaced apart tabs 130. The tabs 130 may be
axially spaced from the forward rail 126 defining a recess 132
between the tabs 130 and the forward rail 126. A leaf seal 134 may
be disposed within the recess 132 and positioned to abut an
adjoining component. In one exemplary embodiment, the adjoining
component may be a combustor liner, such as combustor liner 136. In
another exemplary embodiment, the adjoining component may be a
turbine shroud. The leaf seal 134 may be retained in the recess 132
with a pin 138. The pin 138 may be positioned through a hole 140 in
the tab 130 and a corresponding hole 142 in the leaf seal 134. A
biasing structure 144 may be retained by the pin 138 and bias the
leaf seal 134 into abutting contact with the adjoining component.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tab 130, pin 138 and biasing structure 144,
may be adjacent a circumferential edge 146 and/or a circumferential
edge 147 of the nozzle segment 118.
[0022] The outer band 124 may include a forward rail 148 and an aft
rail 150. The outer band 124 may also have a plurality of
circumferentially spaced apart tabs 152. The tabs 152 may be
axially spaced from the forward rail 148 defining a recess 154
between the tabs 152 and the forward rail 148. A leaf seal 156 may
be disposed within the recess 154 and positioned to abut an
adjoining component. In one exemplary embodiment, the adjoining
component may be a combustor liner, such as combustor liner 158. In
another exemplary embodiment, the adjoining component may be a
turbine shroud. The leaf seal 156 may be retained in the recess 154
with a pin 160. The pin 160 may be positioned through a hole 162 in
the tab 152 and a corresponding hole 164 in the leaf seal 156. A
biasing structure 166 may be retained by the pin 160 and bias the
leaf seal 156 into abutting contact with the adjoining component.
The tab 152, pin 160 and biasing structure 166, may be adjacent a
circumferential edge 168 and/or a circumferential edge 170 of the
nozzle segment 118.
[0023] FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 illustrate a nozzle segment 118 having a
doublet configuration 174, where two nozzle segments 118 having a
singlet configuration 172 are joined together or the nozzle segment
118 having a doublet configuration 174 is cast as one piece.
Furthermore, the airfoils 120, inner band 122 and/or outer band 124
may be formed as an integrally cast piece or may be formed
separately and joined together by brazing. For example, an airfoil
120 may be integrally cast with an outer band 124 and an inner band
122 may be brazed to the airfoil. The tabs 130 and 152 may be cast
integrally with the inner and outer bands, respectively.
[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, having a singlet configuration
172, the outer band 124 may have a plurality of circumferentially
spaced apart tabs 152, at least one of which is adjacent to a
circumferential edge 168, 170 of the outer band. In another
exemplary embodiment, having a doublet configuration 174, the inner
band 122 may have three or more tabs 130, one adjacent to a
circumferential edge 146 of the inner band 122, one adjacent to
another circumferential edge 147 of the inner band 122, and one or
more therebetween. In yet another exemplary embodiment, having a
doublet configuration 174, the outer band 124 may have three or
more tabs 152, one adjacent to a circumferential edge 168 of the
outer band 124, one adjacent to another circumferential edge 170 of
the outer band 124, and one or more therebetween. In still yet
another exemplary embodiment, having a doublet configuration 174,
the inner band 122 may have three or more tabs 130, one adjacent to
a circumferential edge 146 of the inner band 122, one adjacent to
another circumferential edge 147 of the inner band 122, and one or
more therebetween. The outer band 124 may also have three or more
tabs 152, one adjacent to a circumferential edge 168 of the outer
band 124, one adjacent to another circumferential edge 170 of the
outer band 124, and one or more therebetween.
[0025] During operation, the leaf seals are biased into abutting
contact with adjoining components to provide sealing between the
turbine nozzle segment and the adjoining components. The exemplary
embodiments described provide additional support to the leaf seals
in areas susceptible to damage, such as, but not limited to, areas
adjacent to the circumferential edges of the inner and/or outer
bands and the central areas therebetween. The exemplary embodiments
may also increase the mechanical sealing load and reduce the
unsupported length of the leaf seals.
[0026] This written description discloses exemplary embodiments,
including the best mode, to enable any person skilled in the art to
make and use the exemplary embodiments. The patentable scope is
defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to
those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be
within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements
that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if
they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial
differences from the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *