# US 9,039,346 B2 · Rotor support thermal control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,346 B2 - Document ID: US9039346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/275,197 - Filed: 2011-10-17 - Published: 2013-04-18 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-17 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Vasanth Muralidharan; Sulficker Ali; Amarnath Kakarla; Hemanth Gudibande Sathyakumar Kumar - Inventors: Vasanth Muralidharan; Sulficker Ali; Amarnath Kakarla; Hemanth Gudibande Sathyakumar Kumar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039346B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/14: Casings modified therefor (double casings F01D25/26) - F01D 25/162: {Bearing supports} - F01K 7/165: {Controlling means specially adapted therefor} - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) ## Abstract Systems for thermally regulating portions of a steam turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a thermal control system for a rotor bearing support includes: a housing fluidly connected to an inlet and adapted to substantially enclose the rotor bearing support, the housing defining a first annular cavity adapted to receive a fluid from the inlet; and an outlet fluidly connected to the housing, the outlet adapted to receive the fluid from the annular cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal control system for rotor bearing supports, the thermal control system comprising: a housing fluidly connected to an inlet and adapted to substantially enclose a first rotor bearing support, the housing defining a first annular cavity adapted to receive a fluid from the inlet; an outlet fluidly connected to the housing, the outlet adapted to receive the fluid from the annular cavity; a second rotor bearing support positioned axially upstream of the first rotor bearing support; a sensor connected to the second rotor bearing support, the sensor adapted to monitor a condition of the second rotor bearing support; and a fluid system connected to the sensor and adapted to supply the fluid to the inlet, the fluid system adapted to adjust a temperature of the fluid based upon the condition of the second rotor bearing support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the fluid system is fluidly connected to the inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a second annular cavity fluidly connected to the first annular cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to enclose the rotor bearing support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from a group consisting of: condensate, lube oil, steam, or water. ### Claim 6 A steam turbine comprising: a stator; a rotor enclosed within the stator; a set of rotor bearings connected to the rotor; a first rotor bearing support connected to a first portion of the set of rotor bearings; a second rotor bearing support positioned axially upstream of the first rotor bearing support and connected to a second portion of the set of rotor bearings; and a thermal control system connected to the set of rotor bearing supports, the thermal control system comprising: an inlet; a housing fluidly connected to the inlet and adapted to substantially enclose the first rotor bearing support, the housing defining a first annular cavity adapted to receive a fluid from the inlet; an outlet fluidly connected to the housing, the outlet adapted to receive the fluid from the annular cavity; a sensor connected to the second rotor bearing support, the sensor adapted to monitor a condition of the second rotor bearing support; and a fluid system connected to the sensor and adapted to supply the fluid to the inlet, the fluid system adapted to adjust a temperature of the fluid based upon the condition of the second rotor bearing support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The steam turbine of claim 6, wherein the fluid system is fluidly connected to the inlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The steam turbine of claim 6, wherein the housing further defines a second annular cavity fluidly connected to the first annular cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The steam turbine of claim 6, wherein the fluid is selected from a group consisting of: condensate, lube oil, steam, or water. ### Claim 10 A power generation system comprising: a generator; a steam turbine operatively connected to the generator; a rotor disposed within the steam turbine; a set of rotor bearings connected to the rotor; a first rotor bearing support connected to a first portion of the set of rotor bearings; a second rotor bearing support positioned axially upstream of the first rotor bearing support and connected to a second portion of the set of rotor bearings; and a thermal control system connected to the set of rotor bearing supports, the thermal control system comprising: an inlet; a housing fluidly connected to the inlet and adapted to substantially enclose the first rotor bearing support, the housing defining a first annular cavity adapted to receive a fluid from the inlet; an outlet fluidly connected to the housing, the outlet adapted to receive the fluid from the annular cavity; a sensor connected to the second rotor bearing support, the sensor adapted to monitor a condition of the second rotor bearing support; and a fluid system connected to the sensor and adapted to supply the fluid to the inlet, the fluid system adapted to adjust a temperature of the fluid based upon the condition of the second rotor bearing support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power generation system of claim 10, wherein the fluid system is fluidly connected to the inlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The power generation system of claim 10, wherein the housing further defines a second annular cavity fluidly connected to the first annular cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The power generation system of claim 10, wherein the fluid is selected from a group consisting of: condensate, lube oil, steam, or water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the fluid control system adjusts the temperature of the fluid such that a growth of the first rotor bearing support is substantially equal to a growth of the second rotor bearing support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The steam turbine of claim 6, wherein the fluid control system adjusts the temperature of the fluid such that a growth of the first rotor bearing support is substantially equal to a growth of the second rotor bearing support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The power generation system of claim 10, wherein the fluid control system adjusts the temperature of the fluid such that a growth of the first rotor bearing support is substantially equal to a growth of the second rotor bearing support.