Turbine controls testing device
AssigneeILD, Inc.
InventorJack R. Little, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbine controls testing device is disclosed that can be adapted to test the control systems of most turbine rotors without the use of steam. The turbine controls testing device comprises an operator control system, a drive motive power assembly and a purge gas assembly. The novel device controllably spins, accelerates, and decelerates a turbine with a relatively high level of precision, minimizing the likelihood that, in the event an overspeed mechanism malfunction occurs, the turbine will be damaged as a result of sonic velocity or any other mechanical failure.
Claims14
A device for spinning a turbine rotor in a turbine rotor casing, comprising:
- (a) a drive motive assembly capable of providing sufficient torque and power to the turbine rotor to spin the turbine rotor at a desired angular velocity;
- (b) a purge gas source comprising a quantity of a purge gas;
- wherein the purge gas is not steam;
- and wherein the purge gas consists essentially of one or more gases having a molecular weight less than 28;
- and
- (c) a purge gas assembly adapted to supply the purge gas from the purge gas source to the rotor casing at a rate sufficient that the gas inside the rotor casing consists essentially of the purge gas;
- whereby the sonic velocity inside the rotor casing is higher than the sonic velocity of air at the same temperature and pressure;
- and whereby windage loss due to the spinning of the turbine rotor is less than the windage loss would be in air at the same temperature, pressure, and turbine rotor angular velocity within the turbine rotor casing.
A method for increasing sonic velocity and reducing windage on a turbine rotor spinning inside a turbine rotor casing, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) supplying the turbine rotor casing with a purge gas;
- wherein the purge gas is not steam;
- and wherein the purge gas consists essentially of one or more gases having a molecular weight less than 28;
- (b) purging the turbine rotor casing with the purge gas by supplying the purge gas to the turbine rotor casing at a rate sufficient that the gas inside the turbine rotor casing consists essentially of the purge gas;
- and
- (c) spinning the rotor inside the turbine rotor casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.