# US 2014/0360193 A1 · Support frame and method for assembly of a combustion module of a gas turbine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360193 A1 - Document ID: US20140360193A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/845,661 - Filed: 2013-03-18 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-18 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Lucas John Stoia; Richard Martin DiCintio; William Michael Poschel; Patrick Benedict Melton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360193A1 ## CPC - F23R 3/00: Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel - B25B 11/02: Assembly jigs - F23R 3/60: Support structures; Attaching or mounting means - F23R 2900/00017: Assembling combustion chamber liners or subparts - F23R 2900/00019: Repairing or maintaining combustion chamber liners or subparts - Y10T 29/4932: Turbomachine making - Y10T 29/53961: with work-holder for assembly - F23R: GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS (fluidised bed combustion apparatus specially adapted for operation at superatmospheric pressures F23C10/16) - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A support frame for assembling a combustion module for a gas turbine includes a base plate disposed at a bottom end of the support frame and a support plate that is vertically separated from the base plate by one or more vertical support members. The support plate defines an opening that is sized to allow a portion of the combustion module to pass therethrough. A support block extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate where the support block defines one or more fastener holes for connecting an aft end of a combustion liner of the combustion module to the support block. A central support column extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate. A horizontal support extends radially outward from the central support column to align the combustion liner with the opening in the support plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support frame for assembling a combustion module for a gas turbine, the support frame comprising: a. a base plate disposed at a bottom end of the support frame; b. a support plate vertically separated from the base plate by one or more vertical support members, the support plate defining an opening sized to allow a portion of the combustion module to pass therethrough; c. a support block that extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate, the support block defining one or more fastener holes for connecting an aft end of a combustion liner of the combustion module to the support block; d. a central support column that extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate; and e. a horizontal support that extends radially outward from the central support column to align the combustion liner with the opening in the support plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support frame as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fastener holes that extend through the support plate, the fastener holes being arranged in an annular array around the opening so as to secure a fuel distribution manifold of the combustion module to the support plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The support frame as in claim 1, wherein the horizontal support comprises a hub and spoke assembly, wherein the hub is mounted to the central support column and the spokes extend radially outward from the hub. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The support frame as in claim 3, wherein the spokes are configured to rotate between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The support frame as in claim 1, wherein the central support column is coaxially aligned with the opening of the support plate. ### Claim 6 A combustion module for a gas turbine, comprising: a. an annular fuel distribution manifold having a forward end axially separated from an aft end and a radially extending mounting flange that circumferentially surrounds the forward end; b. a fuel injection assembly that extends downstream from the fuel distribution manifold, the fuel injection assembly having a forward end axially separated from an aft end, an combustion liner that extends between the forward end and the aft end, a flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds a portion of the combustion liner, a fuel injector that extends radially through the flow sleeve and the combustion liner, a fluid conduit that extends between the fuel injector and the fuel distribution manifold and an aft frame disposed at the aft end of the fuel injection assembly; c. a support frame having a base plate, a support plate, a vertical support member that extends between the base plate and the support plate and a support block that extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate, the support plate having an opening that extends vertically through the support plate; and d. wherein the fuel distribution manifold extends through the opening of the support plate, the mounting flange being in contact with the support plate and the aft frame being connected to the support block. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The combustion module as in claim 6, wherein the support frame further comprises a central support column that extends from the base plate towards the support plate, the central support column extending at least partially through the combustion liner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The combustion module as in claim 7, wherein the support frame further comprises a horizontal support disposed adjacent to a top end of the central support column, the horizontal support assembly extending radially outward from the central support column towards an inner surface of the combustion liner so as to coaxially align the combustion liner with the opening in the support plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The combustion module as in claim 8, wherein the horizontal support comprises a hub and spoke assembly, the spokes being configured to rotate between a fully extended position for aligning the combustion liner with the opening in the support plate and a fully retracted position to allow for extraction of the combustion module from the support frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The combustion module as in claim 6, further comprising a module support plate that extends radially and circumferentially within the combustion module, wherein the module support plate is rigidly connected to the combustion liner and the fuel distribution manifold. ### Claim 11 A method for assembling a combustion module within a support frame, the method comprising: a. positioning an combustion liner of the combustion module over a central support column of the support frame and fastening an aft end of the combustion liner to a support block of the support frame; b. installing an annular flow sleeve around a portion of the combustion liner; c. inserting a plurality of fasteners through a plurality of anchor passages disposed proximate to a forward end of the combustion liner; d. inserting an annular fuel distribution manifold through an opening in a support plate of the support frame such that an aft end of the fuel distribution manifold circumferentially surrounds a forward portion of the flow sleeve assembly; e. connecting a mounting flange of the fuel distribution manifold to the support plate; and f. connecting a module support plate to the combustion liner and to the fuel distribution manifold using the plurality of fasteners to connect the combustion liner to the module support plate and a plurality of fasteners to connect the fuel distribution manifold to the module coupling plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, further comprising coaxially aligning the combustion liner to the opening in the support plate using a horizontal support, wherein the horizontal support is attached to the central support column. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, wherein installing an annular flow sleeve around a portion of the combustion liner comprises coupling two or more semi-annular flow sleeve sections together around the combustion liner and coupling the two or more semi-annular flow sleeve sections to an annular support sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, further comprising installing an annular impingement sleeve around a portion of the combustion liner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as in claim 14, wherein said step of installing an annular impingement sleeve comprises coupling two or more semi-annular impingement sleeve sections together around the combustion liner and coupling the two or more semi-annular impingement sleeve sections to the aft frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, further comprising inserting a fuel injector through a corresponding fuel injector passage and connecting the fuel injector to at least one of the flow sleeve or the combustion liner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as in claim 16, further comprising fluidly connecting the fuel injector to the fuel distribution manifold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as in claim 17, further comprising charging the fuel distribution manifold with a gas or air and testing for fluid leaks between the fuel distribution manifold and the fuel injector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, further comprising installing an annular outer sleeve around a portion of the flow sleeve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method as in claim 11, further comprising coupling a lifting device to the module support plate and extracting the combustion module from the support frame.