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US 11,441,487 B2Granted
Turbomachine with internal bearing and rotor-spline interface cooling and systems incorporating the same
AssigneeConcepts NREC, LLC
InventorKevin D. Fairman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure include turbomachines designed and configured for high temperature and pressure operation and increased power level output that minimize pressure vessel design requirements, and increase dry gas seal reliability. In some examples, a first radial bearing is located in a high temperature and/or pressure region of the turbomachine between a rotor of the machine and a dry gas seal while other bearings are located outside of the high pressure region.
Claims14
A turbomachine, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a rotor for compressing or expanding a working fluid, a first bearing, at least one second bearing, and a dry gas seal, each of the rotor, first bearing, at least one second bearing and dry gas seal being operably coupled to the shaft;
- wherein the dry gas seal defines a pressure boundary between a high pressure region and a low pressure region of the turbomachine, the first bearing located between the rotor and the dry gas seal in the high pressure region and the at least one second bearing located in the low pressure region;
- wherein the turbomachine includes a coolant flow path configured to route a portion of the working fluid to the dry gas seal for use as at least one of a sealing gas or to cool the dry gas seal;
- wherein the rotor is coupled to the shaft at an interface, the rotor and shaft defining a plurality of elongate gaps therebetween, wherein the coolant flow path is further configured to direct the working fluid through the plurality of elongate gaps to cool the shaft and
- wherein the dry gas seal is located at a location along the coolant flow path that is upstream of the interface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.