Shroud assembly with discourager

A shroud assembly for use in a turbine, the shroud assembly comprising:

• an outer shroud having a first side configured to interface with an outer casing of the turbine, and a second side proximate to a flow of an operative fluid of the turbine;
• at least two hollow inner shrouds adjacent to each other, positioned to create an expansion space therebetween, the at least two hollow inner shrouds positioned between the second side of the outer shroud and the operative fluid flow of the turbine, wherein each hollow inner shroud has a channel therethrough;
• and
• at least two solid discouragers adjacent to each other, each solid discourager shaped to substantially correspond to a circumferential and axial shape and size of the channel in a corresponding hollow inner shroud, wherein the at least two discouragers are within the hollow inner shrouds and are positioned offset from the at least two hollow inner shrouds so as to cover the expansion space.

A turbine comprising:

• an outer casing;
• at least one rotating blade;
• and
• a shroud assembly positioned between the outer casing of the turbine and the at least one rotating blade, the shroud assembly comprising:
• an outer shroud having a first side configured to interface with the outer casing, and a second side configured to interface with the at least one rotating blade proximate to a flow of an operative fluid of the turbine;
• at least one hollow inner shroud positioned between the second side of the outer shroud and the operative fluid flow of the turbine, wherein the at least one hollow inner shroud has a channel therethrough;
• and
• at least one solid discourager shaped to substantially correspond to a circumferential and axial shape and size of the channel in the hollow inner shroud, wherein the discourager is within the at least one hollow inner shroud and is positioned offset from the at least one hollow inner shroud.