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US 2012/0266601 A1Published application
System and method for removing heat from a turbomachine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorHarold Edward Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods of removing heat from internal areas of a turbomachine. Embodiments of the present invention may incorporate a suction device and a control system. Operatively, these elements may collectively discharge remnants of a heated fluid and/or gas from those internal areas.
Claims28
A system comprising:
- a casing which encloses a rotating body that is rotated by a working fluid;
- wherein the casing comprises an upper half that covers an upper portion of the rotating body, and a lower half that covers a lower portion of the rotating body;
- a heat removal system that comprises a suction device and a discharge duct, wherein a first end of the discharge duct is connected to the upper half of the casing and a second end of the discharge duct is connected to the suction device;
- a flow path located between portions of the casing and the rotating body, wherein the working fluid flows within the flow path which engages the discharge duct;
- wherein after a combustion process ends, the suction device replaces the residual working fluid in the flow path with air.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a gas turbine comprising:
- an inlet section comprising components which receive an airstream;
- a compressor section and a turbine section, which are mounted on a rotor, wherein rotating components of the compressor section and turbine section are mounted on a periphery of the rotor;
- a combustion section comprising components which combusts a fuel and the airstream to create a working fluid that rotates the rotor;
- and
- a casing that covers the rotor, wherein the casing comprises an upper half that encloses an upper portion of the rotor, and a lower half that encloses a lower portion of the rotor;
- and
- a flow path located between the casing and the rotor, wherein the working fluid flows through the flow path;
- providing a heat removal system that comprises a suction device and a discharge duct, wherein a first end of the discharge duct is connected
- to the upper half of the casing and engages the flow path, and a second end of the discharge duct is connected to the suction device;
- and
- providing a control system comprising a processor that performs the steps of:
- determining whether a combustion process is extinguished;
- determining whether a speed of the rotor is within a range;
- and
- operating the suction device to draw residual working fluid out of the flow path via the discharge duct;
- wherein the suction device operatively replaces the residual working fluid with air.
14 more elements
A system comprising:
- a casing which encloses a rotating body that is rotated by a working fluid;
- wherein the casing comprises an upper half that covers an upper portion of the rotating body, and a lower half that covers a lower portion of the rotating body;
- a heat removal system that comprises a suction device integrated with the upper half of the casing;
- a flow path located between portions of the casing and the rotating body, wherein the working fluid flows within the flow path which engages the discharge duct;
- and
- wherein after a combustion process ends, the suction device draws residual working fluid out of the casing.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.