Transition piece support structure, gas turbine combustor including same, and method of installing same

A gas turbine combustor provided with a transition piece support structure, the gas turbine combustor comprising:

• a transition piece;
• a liner having one end connected to the transition piece;
• and
• a flow sleeve configured to surround outer surfaces of the transition piece and the liner,
• wherein the transition piece support structure comprises:
• a flange provided at a rear end of the transition piece and configured to be coupled to the end of the turbine, the flange having a shape to fit a periphery of an inlet of the turbine;
• a support bracket integrated with an upper surface of a flow sleeve surrounding an outer surface of the transition piece and configured to face the end of the turbine coupled to the flange;
• a connection piece coupled to the end of the turbine and configured to be coupled to the support bracket in a hinged manner allowing the flange to pivotally approach the inlet of the turbine;
• and
• a rotation control member provided at a contact between the support bracket and the connection piece, the rotation control member protruding from a first surface of the support bracket and from a second surface of the connection piece, the first and second surfaces facing each other.

A method of installing a transition piece support structure to fix a transition piece for a gas turbine combustor to a turbine end, the method comprising:

• bringing a support bracket integrated with an upper surface of a flow sleeve surrounding an outer surface of the transition piece close to a connection piece fixed with respect to the turbine end;
• coupling the connection piece and the support bracket in a hinged manner using a rotation control member provided at a contact between the support bracket and the connection piece, the rotation control member protruding from a first surface of the support bracket and from a second surface of the connection piece, the first and second surfaces facing each other;
• rotating the transition piece together with the support bracket with respect to the connection piece so that a flange provided at a rear end of the transition piece pivotally approaches a turbine inlet;
• fitting the flange to a periphery of the turbine inlet;
• and
• fixing the flange to the turbine end.