Converging flow joint insert system at an intersection between adjacent transitions extending between a combustor and a turbine assembly in a gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9771813-B2
Application number	US-201415318781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Jun 26, 2014
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A transition duct system ( 100 ) for routing a gas flow from a combustor ( 102 ) to the first stage ( 104 ) of a turbine section ( 106 ) in a combustion turbine engine ( 108 ), wherein the transition duct system ( 100 ) includes one or more converging flow joint inserts ( 120 ) forming a trailing edge ( 122 ) at an intersection ( 124 ) between adjacent transition ducts ( 126, 128 ) is disclosed. The transition duct system ( 100 ) may include a transition duct ( 126, 128 ) having an internal passage ( 130 ) extending between an inlet ( 132, 184 ) to an outlet ( 134, 186 ) and may expel gases into the first stage turbine ( 104 ) with a tangential component. The converging flow joint insert ( 120 ) may be contained within a converging flow joint insert receiver ( 136 ) and disconnected from the transition duct bodies ( 126, 128 ) by which the converging flow joint insert ( 120 ) is positioned. Being disconnected eliminates stress formation within the converging flow joint insert ( 120 ), thereby enhancing the life of the insert. The converging flow joint insert ( 120 ) may be removable such that the insert ( 120 ) can be replaced once worn beyond design limits.

First claim

I claim:

1. A transition duct system for routing gas flow in a combustion turbine subsystem that includes a first stage blade array having a plurality of blades extending in a radial direction from a rotor assembly for rotation in a circumferential direction, the circumferential direction having a tangential direction component, an axis of the rotor assembly defining a longitudinal direction, and at least one combustor located longitudinally upstream of the first stage blade array and located radially outboard of the first stage blade array, the transition duct system comprising:
a first transition duct body having an internal passage extending between an inlet of the first transition duct body and an outlet of the first transition duct body;
wherein the outlet of the first transition duct body is offset from the inlet of the first transition duct body in the longitudinal direction and the tangential direction;
wherein the outlet of the first transition duct body is formed from a radially outer side of the first transition duct body generally opposite to a radially inner side of the first transition duct body, and the radially outer and inner sides of the first transition duct body are coupled together with opposed first and second side walls of the first transition duct body;
a second transition duct body having an internal passage extending between an inlet of the second transition duct body and an outlet of the second transition duct body;
wherein the outlet of the second transition duct body is offset from the inlet of the second transition duct body in the longitudinal direction and the tangential direction;
wherein the outlet of the second transition duct body is formed from a radially outer side of the second transition duct body generally opposite to a radially inner side of the second transition duct body, and the radially outer and inner sides of the second transition duct body are coupled together with opposed first and second side walls of the second transition duct body;
wherein one of the first and second side walls of the first transition duct body intersects with a corresponding one of the first and second side walls of the second transition duct body forming a converging flow joint;
a recess positioned within the converging flow joint;
a converging flow joint insert positioned within the recess at a downstream end of the converging flow joint to form a trailing edge of the converging flow joint,
an internal cooling system within the converging flow joint insert,
wherein the internal cooling system comprises at least one internal cooling chamber in fluid communication with at least one exhaust orifice extending from at least one inlet in the internal cooling chamber through an outer wall forming the converging flow joint insert,
wherein at least a portion of the cooling system is contained within a pin forming at least a portion of an insert attachment system configured to attach the converging flow joint insert to the converging flow joint,
wherein the pin includes an inner channel having a first inlet in a first end of the pin, said first inlet in the first end of the pin positioned outside of the recess at the downstream end of the converging flow joint and includes at least one pin exhaust outlet in fluid communication with the at least one internal cooling chamber.

2. The transition duct system of claim 1 , wherein the pin extends into the converging flow joint insert and into the converging flow joint.

3. The transition duct system of claim 1 , wherein the pin extends through the converging flow joint insert and through the converging flow joint.

4. The transition duct system of claim 2 , wherein the insert attachment system further comprises at least one collar for securing the first end of the pin.

5. The transition duct system of claim 1 wherein the at least one exhaust orifice of the internal cooling system comprises a first exhaust orifice extending from a first inlet of the at least one inlet in the at least one internal cooling chamber to a first exhaust outlet at a first outer surface of the outer wall forming the converging flow joint insert, said outer surface facing a surface forming the recess in which the converging flow joint insert resides, and further comprises a second exhaust orifice extending from a second inlet of the at least one inlet in the at least one internal cooling chamber to a second exhaust outlet at a second outer surface of the outer wall forming the converging flow joint insert, said second outer surface facing downstream and away from the recess in which the converging flow joint insert resides.

6. The transition duct system of claim 1 , further including a second inlet in a second end of the pin at an opposite end of the pin from the first end of the pin.

7. The transition duct system of claim 1 , further comprising a body of the converging flow joint insert includes an outer section, an inner section and a middle section between the outer and inner sections.

8. The transition duct system of claim 1 , further comprising a body of the converging flow joint insert includes an outer section, an inner section and a middle section between the outer and inner sections, wherein the middle section has a cross-sectional area narrower in width than the outer and inner sections.

9. The transition duct system of claim 8 , wherein the inner section extends further downstream than the middle section and the outer section extends further downstream than the inner section.

10. The transition duct system of claim 8 , wherein a cross-sectional area at a distal end of the outer section is larger than a cross-sectional area at a distal end of the inner section.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Brooks Robert T

Classifications

• F05D2250/38

  angled, e.g. sweep angle · CPC title

• F05D2250/37

  circumferential · CPC title

• F05D2250/25

  helical · CPC title

• F02C3/14

  characterised by the arrangement of the combustion chamber in the plant (combustion chambers per se F23R; F02C3/205 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01D9/023 Primary

  Transition ducts between combustor cans and first stage of the turbine in gas-turbine engines; their cooling or sealings · CPC title