# US 12,000,311 B2 · Nozzle module, nozzle diaphragm, steam turbine, method for assembling nozzle diaphragm, method for assembling steam turbine, and method for disassembling steam turbine

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- Number: US 12,000,311 B2
- Document ID: US12000311B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/158,043
- Filed: 2023-01-23
- Published: 2023-07-27
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-25
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation
- Inventors: Katsumi Terada; Yuzo Tsurusaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000311B2

## CPC

- F01D 9/044: {permanently, e.g. by welding, brazing, casting or the like}
- F01D 25/246: {Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings}
- F01D 9/04: forming ring or sector
- F01D 9/041: {using blades (F01D5/148 takes precedence)}
- F01D 9/042: {fixing blades to stators (fixing stator-rings in the casing or to each other F01D25/246)}
- F05D 2220/31: in steam turbines
- F05D 2230/232: by welding
- F05D 2230/60: Assembly methods
- F05D 2230/70: Disassembly methods
- F05D 2240/128: Nozzles
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A nozzle module includes a nozzle body having a blade shape in a cross section and extending in a radial direction, and a platform member integrally connected to each end portion of the nozzle body in the radial direction. The platform member includes a first portion formed on a first side in an axial direction in which a central axis extends, and having a pair of first side surfaces extending in the axial direction, when viewed in the radial direction, and a second portion formed to extend to a second side in the axial direction with respect to the first portion, and having a second side surface extending obliquely with respect to the first side surface, when viewed in the radial direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nozzle ring to be disposed between an inner ring extending in a circumferential direction around a central axis and an outer ring disposed outward of the inner ring in a radial direction from the central axis and extending in the circumferential direction, the nozzle ring comprising:
an upper half nozzle ring disposed upward in a vertical direction with reference to the central axis and has a semi-annular shape formed around the central axis, and
a lower half nozzle ring disposed downward has a semi-annular shape formed around the central axis, wherein
the upper half nozzle ring and the lower half nozzle ring each comprise a plurality of nozzle modules,
each of the plurality of nozzle modules comprises:
a nozzle body having a blade shape in a cross section and extending in the radial direction; and
a platform member integrally connected to an end portion of the nozzle body in the radial direction,
the platform member comprises:
a first portion formed on a first side in an axial direction in which the central axis extends at the platform member and having a pair of first side surfaces extending in the axial direction when viewed in the radial direction; and
a second portion formed to extend to a second side in the axial direction with respect to the first portion at the platform member and having a second side surface extending obliquely with respect to the pair of first side surfaces when viewed in the radial direction,
the plurality of nozzle modules includes:
first nozzle modules;
a second nozzle module;
a third nozzle module; and
a fourth nozzle module,
the first nozzle modules, the second nozzle module, the third nozzle module, and the fourth nozzle module each have a different configuration of the platform member,
the second nozzle module and the third nozzle module are disposed in an end portion on a first side in the circumferential direction in the upper half nozzle ring and the lower half nozzle ring,
the fourth nozzle module is disposed in an end portion on a second side in the circumferential direction in the upper half nozzle ring and the lower half nozzle ring, and
the first nozzle modules are disposed between the fourth nozzle module, and the second nozzle module and the third nozzle module in the circumferential direction in the upper half nozzle ring and the lower half nozzle ring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The nozzle ring according to claim 1, wherein
the first portion overlaps the end portion of the nozzle body on the first side in the axial direction when viewed in the radial direction, and
the second portion overlaps the end portion of the nozzle body on the second side in the axial direction when viewed in the radial direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The nozzle ring according to claim 1, wherein
the second side surface comprises a pair of second side surface portions, and
an interval between the pair of first side surfaces is equal to an interval between the pair of second side surface portions when viewed in the radial direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The nozzle ring according to claim 1, wherein the platform member has a curved surface curved and connected between one of the first side surfaces and the second side surface on at least one of a first side and a second side in the circumferential direction at the platform member when viewed in the radial direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The nozzle ring according to claim 1, wherein the second portion has a third side surface parallel to the pair of first side surfaces and extending in the axial direction when viewed in the radial direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The nozzle ring according to claim 1, wherein
the platform member has:
an inner peripheral surface connected to the nozzle body, and
an outer peripheral surface facing a side opposite to the inner peripheral surface in the radial direction, and
the outer peripheral surface extends in the circumferential direction to intersect with the pair of first side surfaces and the second side surface and is parallel to the central axis when viewed in the circumferential direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The nozzle ring according to claim 1, wherein
the platform member comprises:
an inner platform member integrally connected to an inner peripheral end portion of the nozzle body disposed radially inward, and
an outer platform member integrally connected to an outer peripheral end portion of the nozzle body disposed radially outward,
in the inner platform member, the first portion is a first inner portion as the first portion, and the second portion is a second inner portion,
in the outer platform member, the first portion is a first outer portion, and the second portion is a second outer portion,
the first inner portion and the first outer portion are formed in different shapes, and the second inner portion and the second outer portion are formed in different shapes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A nozzle diaphragm comprising:
the nozzle ring according to claim 1;
an inner ring disposed inside the plurality of nozzle modules in the radial direction and extending in the circumferential direction; and
an outer ring disposed outside the plurality of nozzle modules in the radial direction and extending in the circumferential direction,
wherein the plurality of nozzle modules are aligned between the inner ring and the outer ring to form a nozzle ring.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The nozzle diaphragm according to claim 8, further comprising:
an inner welding portion between the inner ring and the platform member of each of the plurality of nozzle modules that joins the inner ring and the platform member; and
an outer welding portion between the outer ring and the platform member of each of the plurality of nozzle modules that joins the outer ring and the platform member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The nozzle diaphragm according to claim 8, the plurality of nozzle modules have a same shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A steam turbine comprising:
the nozzle diaphragm according to claim 8;
a casing disposed outside the nozzle diaphragm in the radial direction, extending in the axial direction, and having a tubular shape; and
a rotor disposed to be rotatable around the central axis with respect to the nozzle diaphragm and the casing and accommodated in the casing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

A method for assembling the nozzle diaphragm according to claim 8, the method comprising:
a step of preparing the inner ring, the outer ring, and the plurality of nozzle modules;
a step of disposing the inner ring;
a step of disposing each of the plurality of nozzle modules outside the inner ring in the radial direction;
a step of disposing the outer ring outside the plurality of nozzle modules in the radial direction;
a step of welding the inner ring and the platform member of each of the plurality of nozzle modules; and
a step of welding the outer ring and the platform member of each of the plurality of nozzle modules.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

A method for assembling a steam turbine, comprising:
a step of preparing a casing; and
a step of incorporating the nozzle diaphragm according to claim 8 into the casing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A method for disassembling a steam turbine, comprising:
a step of opening a part of a casing; and
a step of removing the nozzle diaphragm according to claim 8 from the casing.