Apparatus for mounting, and for maintaining running clearance in, a double entry radial compressor

Apparatus for controlling the axial component of the running clearances of a high pressure ratio dual entry radial air compressor in a single shaft gas generator, the compressor having a housing with a pair of axially opposed entrances for the incoming air, a common radially disposed exit, diffuser means for converting high velocity air received from the compressor exit to higher pressure, higher temperature, and lower velocity, and a compressor rotor positioned within the housing and mounted on the shaft, the gas turbine further including a turbine rotor mounted on the shaft for driving the dual entry compressor, a gas generator frame, and a combustor for combusting the compressed air with fuel to provide combustion gases to drive the turbine rotor, the apparatus comprising:

• compressor inlet shroud means for channeling the incoming air to the compressor entrances, said inlet shroud means including operatively connected to respective compressor axial entrances for defining flow symmetric first and second inlet path to the axially opposed compressor entrances, said second flow path being defined as the flow symmetric inlet path proximate the combustor;
• a plurality of elongated, hollow rigid support members distributed around, and extending essentially parallel to, the shaft, said support members having support member segments positioned in said first and second flow paths for supportably interconnecting the dual entry compressor housing, said first and second inlet shrouds, and the gas generator frame, said support members fixing the axial position of the compressor housing relative to the gas generator frame;
• means for channeling the hot diffused or partly diffused air leaving the compressor into the interior of at least two of said support member segments;
• means for flow connecting the interior of said two support member segments to the combustor, said two support member segments comprising the primary means for delivering the high pressure, high temperature air from the dual entry compressor axially toward the combustor;
• and
• means for allowing the compressor rotor to follow the compressor housing to accommodate changes in the axial location of the compressor housing relative to the frame caused by temperature induced changes in the axial lengths of said support member segments during compressor operation.

Apparatus for controlling the running clearance and improving the stability of a dual entry radial gas compressor of the type having a housing with a pair of axially opposed entrances for the incoming gas, a common radially disposed exit, diffuser means for converting high velocity gas reoeived from the compressor exit to higher pressure, higher temperature and lower velocity, and a compressor rotor positioned within the housing and mounted on a shaft, the diffused high pressure, high temperature gas being deliverable to an axially adjacent compressed gas receiving means, the receiving means also including compressor driving means having a drive shaft for in-line connection to the compressor shaft, the apparatus comprising:

• bearing means for rotatably supporting the compressor rotor shaft, at least in part, and for axially constraining the compressor rotor shaft, relative to the compressor housing;
• a plurality of elongated, hollow rigid support members distributed around, and extending essentially parallel to, the comkpressor rotor shaft, said support members supportably interconnecting the dual entry compressor housing and the compressed air receiving means, said support members determining the axial position of the compressor housing relative to the compressed gas receiving means;
• means for channeling the hot diffused or partly diffussed gas leaving the compressor into the interior of said support members;
• means for flow connecting the interiors of said support members to the compressed air receiving means, said support members comprising the primary means for delivering the high pressure, high temperature gas from the dual entry radial gas compressor axially to the adjacent compressed gas receiving means;
• and
• means for interconnecting the compressor rotor shaft and the drive shaft, said interconnecting means providing dependent rotation and substantially independent axial movement therebetween during operation of the gas compressor, whereby the compressor rotor can follow the compressor housing to accommodate changes in the axial location of the compressor housing relative to the receiving means caused by temperature induced changed in the axial lengths of said support member during compressor operation.