Tuning thermal mismatch between turbine rotor parts with a thermal medium

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873560

Schmidt, Mark Christopher ^[1]

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1. Niskayuna, NY

In a turbine rotor, an aft shaft wheel and the final-stage wheel of the rotor are coupled together, including by a rabbeted joint. During shutdown and startup of the turbine, a thermal mismatch between the aft shaft wheel and final-stage wheel is avoided by respectively heating and cooling the aft shaft wheel to maintain the thermal mismatch within acceptable limits, thereby avoiding opening of the rabbeted joint and the potential for unbalancing the rotor and rotor vibration. The thermal medium may be supplied by piping in the aft bearing cavity into the cavity between the forward closure plate and the aft shaft wheel.

• Research Organization: General Electric Company (Schenectady, NY)
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-95MC31176
• Assignee: General Electric Co. (Schenectady, NY)
• Patent Number(s): US 6190127
• OSTI ID: 873560
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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