Modular drop-in transition assembly for industrial gas turbine and method for installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9255522-B2
Application number	US-201213672878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2012
Priority date	Nov 7, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A preassembled modular drop-in transition having internal components in conformity with assembly and function specifications prior to and after insertion into an industrial gas turbine access port. The transition assembly maintains conformity with those specifications after insertion into the combustor case if it does not inadvertently impact other turbine components during its installation. Inadvertent impact is avoided by having a combustor service zone proximal the combustor case, enabling slidable insertion of each transition and/or combustor assembly into its corresponding access port along its corresponding insertion path without contacting other turbine system components. A multi-axis motion transition handling tool (THT) in the combustor service zone, preferably under automatic control, is coupled to a transition and facilitates precise alignment along the insertion path. Automatic control facilitates consistent repetitive transition installation and removal by executing a sequence of stored pre-determined manipulation steps.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for installing a transition assembly in an assembled industrial gas turbine engine, comprising:
providing said assembled industrial gas turbine engine having coupled compressor, combustor, and turbine sections, the combustor section including a combustor case having a combustor access port for receipt of a transition therein that is coaxially aligned therewith along a transition insertion path;
providing a preassembled, drop-in transition assembly having a mounting flange adapted for slidable coupling with a combustor basket once the transition assembly is inserted into the combustor access port;
preparing a combustor service zone surrounding the assembled gas turbine engine, for facilitating slidable insertion of the transition assembly into the combustor access port along the transition insertion path without contacting other gas turbine engine external or internal components, the combustor service zone having axial depth at least between the combustor section combustor access port and the compressor section, as well as vertical height and lateral width at least as large as corresponding height and width of the combustor case;
providing a powered transition handling tool (THT), for slidably inserting the transition assembly into the combustor access port along the transition insertion path, the THT confined within the combustor service zone during transition assembly insertion, the THT including:
a vertical support column anchored outboard the combustor case within the combustor service zone axial depth;
a lifting platform, coupled to the vertical support column, for selectively varying vertical elevation within combustor service zone;
a transition gripper, for coupling to the transition assembly;
a transition alignment platform, coupled to the lifting platform and the transition gripper, the transition alignment platform including,

a first slider set for providing selective linear translation of the transition gripper orthogonally with respect to the vertical support column in a lateral width direction within the combustor service zone;
a second slider set for providing selective linear translation of the transition gripper orthogonally with respect to the vertical support column in an axial depth direction within the combustor service zone;
a first turret assembly for providing selective tilting inclination/declination of the transition gripper within the combustor service zone;
a second turret assembly for providing selective sweep/pan pivoting movements of the transition gripper within the combustor service zone; and
a drive system for driving the lifting platform and the transition alignment platform elevation, translation and pivoting motions during transition assembly insertion along the transition insertion path;

coupling the transition assembly to the transition gripper;
slidably inserting the transition assembly into the combustor access port and transition along the transition insertion path with the THT, without contacting other gas turbine engine external or internal turbine components within or outside of the combustor service zone, while confining the THT within the combustor service zone during the transition assembly insertion; and
coupling the inserted transition assembly to the combustor case.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising inspecting the transition assembly for conformity with assembly and function specifications prior to the inserting and maintaining said assembly specifications after the inserting and coupling.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising a controller coupled to the drive system for automatically controlling the transition handling tool, the controller having a sequence of pre-determined transition assembly insertion manipulation steps.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising installing a plurality of transition assemblies in the gas turbine with the transition handling tool, each respective transition assembly having a sequence of respective, dedicated and pre-determined transition insertion manipulation steps.

5. The method of claim 1 , the preassembled modular drop-in transition assembly having internal components in conformity with assembly and function specifications prior to and after insertion into the combustor access port so long as the transition assembly does not impact other turbine components during insertion.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising coupling the transition assembly mounting flange to the transition gripper.

7. An installation system for an industrial gas turbine engine transition assembly, comprising:
an assembled industrial gas turbine engine having coupled compressor, combustor, and turbine sections, the combustor section including a combustor case having a combustor access port for receipt of a transition therein that is coaxially aligned therewith along a transition insertion path;
a preassembled, drop-in transition assembly having a mounting flange adapted for slidable coupling with a combustor basket once the transition assembly is inserted into the combustor access port;
a combustor service zone surrounding the assembled gas turbine engine, for facilitating slidable insertion of the transition assembly into the combustor access port along the transition insertion path without contacting other gas turbine engine external or internal components, the combustor service zone having axial depth at least between the combustor section combustor access port and the compressor section, as well as vertical height and lateral width at least as large as corresponding height and width of the combustor case;
a powered transition handling tool (THT), for slidably inserting the transition assembly into the combustor access port along the transition insertion path, the THT confined within the combustor service zone during transition assembly insertion, the THT including:
a vertical support column anchored outboard the combustor case within the combustor service zone axial depth;
a lifting platform, coupled to the vertical support column, for selectively varying vertical elevation within combustor service zone;
a transition gripper, for coupling to the transition assembly;
a transition alignment platform, coupled to the lifting platform and the transition gripper, the transition alignment platform including,
a first slider set for providing selective linear translation of the transition gripper orthogonally with respect to the vertical support column in a lateral width direction within the combustor service zone;
a second slider set for providing selective linear translation of the transition gripper orthogonally with respect to the vertical support column in an axial depth direction within the combustor service zone;
a first turret assembly for providing selective tilting inclination/declination of the transition gripper within the combustor service zone;
a second turret assembly for providing selective sweep/pan pivoting movements of the transition gripper within the combustor service zone; and
a drive system for driving the lifting platform and the transition alignment platform elevation, translation and pivoting motions during transition assembly insertion along the transition insertion path.

8. The installation system of claim 7 , each transition assembly having internal components in conformity with assembly and function specifications prior to and after insertion into its corresponding combustor access port so long as the transition assembly does not impact other turbine system components during insertion.

9. The installation system of claim 7 , comprising a controller coupled to the drive system and controlling movement of the transition handling tool in a sequence of pre-determined transition assembly inser

Assignees

• Sancewich Glenn E
• Alonso Jose L
• Ford Daniel E
• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Sancewich Glenn E
• Alonso Jose L
• Ford Daniel E

Classifications

• F01D9/026 Primary

  Scrolls for radial machines or engines · CPC title

• F23R2900/00017

  Assembling combustion chamber liners or subparts · CPC title

• F01D25/285

  Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures · CPC title

• F05D2230/70

  Disassembly methods · CPC title

• F05D2230/80

  Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods · CPC title