KR-20260065585-A - EXPANSION JOINT FOR GAS TURBINE EXHAUST SYSTEM

KR20260065585AKR 20260065585 AKR20260065585 AKR 20260065585AKR-20260065585-A

Abstract

An expansion joint (100) for a gas turbine exhaust system (102) is disclosed. The expansion joint (100) comprises arched expansion joint segments (130) including a rigid seal plate (140) having an inner radial end (144) and an outer radial end (142). A first pivot coupler (160) pivotally connects the inner radial end (144) of the rigid seal plate (140) to a turbine duct flange (120), and a second pivot coupler (162) pivotally connects the outer radial end (142) of the rigid seal plate (140) to a diffuser duct flange (124). Pivot couplers (160, 162) each comprise a mounting member (170) fixedly coupled to each duct flange (120, 124) and pivotally engaged with a first axial face of a rigid seal plate (140), a clamp member (174) pivotally engaged with a second axial face of a rigid seal plate (140) opposite to the first axial face of the rigid seal plate (140), and actuator(s) (180) configured to press each radial end of the rigid seal plate (140) between the clamp member (14) and the mounting member (170).

Inventors

모하메드, 자비드 이크발루딘
키펠, 브래들리 애런

Assignees

지이 버노바 테크놀로지 게엠베하

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20251103
Priority Date: 20241101

Claims (15)

As an expansion joint for use between the turbine duct flange and the diffuser duct flange of a gas turbine exhaust system, It includes a plurality of arched expansion joint segments configured to be arranged circumferentially to collectively form an annular expansion joint assembly, and each of the plurality of arched expansion joint segments is, Rigid seal plate having an inner radial end and an outer radial end; A first pivot coupler that pivotally connects the inner radial end to the turbine duct flange; and It includes a second pivot coupler that pivotally connects the outer radial end to the diffuser duct flange, and Each of the above first and second pivot couplers is, A mounting member fixedly connected to each duct flange and pivotally engaged with the rigid seal plate; A clamp member pivotally engaged with the above rigid seal plate; and An expansion joint comprising at least one actuator configured to press each radial end of the rigid seal plate between the clamp member and the mounting member.
In paragraph 1, the at least one actuator is, A post fixedly coupled to each duct flange at one end and extending through a first opening in the mounting member, a second opening in each radial end of the rigid seal plate, and a third opening in the clamp member; A force applicator operatively coupled to the above post; and It includes a holder coupled to the above post and engaged with the above force applicator, The force applying device is an expansion joint that presses the respective radial ends of the clamp member and the rigid seal plate against the mounting member.
An expansion joint according to paragraph 2, wherein the second opening within the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate comprises a through hole extending through the rigid seal plate, and the second opening within the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate comprises a slot extending through the rigid seal plate and open to the radial outer edge of the rigid seal plate.
An expansion joint according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising at least one post-interface seal plate engaged with the axial surface of the rigid seal plate between one of the clamp member and the mounting member adjacent to the second opening at each radial end of the rigid seal plate, wherein the at least one post-interface seal plate comprises at least one third opening through which each post extends, and the at least one third opening is smaller than the adjacent second opening within the rigid seal plate.
In paragraph 4, the above at least one post-interface seal plate is, A first pair of post-interface seal plates located at the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate—the first pair of post-interface seal plates comprises a first post-interface seal plate engaged with a first axial surface of the rigid seal plate between the rigid seal plate and the mounting member, and a second post-interface seal plate engaged with a second axial surface of the rigid seal plate between the rigid seal plate and the clamp member—; A second pair of post-interface seal plates located at the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate—the second pair of post-interface seal plates comprises a third post-interface seal plate engaged with a second axial plane of the rigid seal plate between the rigid seal plate and the mounting member, and a fourth post-interface seal plate engaged with a first axial plane of the rigid seal plate between the rigid seal plate and the clamp member—; or An expansion joint comprising both of the first pair of post-interface seal plates and the second pair of post-interface seal plates.
In claim 4 or 5, the rigid seal plate comprises opposite circumferential ends configured to align with the adjacent rigid seal plate of an adjacent arched expansion joint segment, and further comprises at least one segment end interface seal plate extending across a gap extending from the outer radial end to the inner radial end at the adjacent circumferential ends of the archedly adjacent rigid seal plates, wherein each segment end interface seal plate engages with the axial face of the archedly adjacent rigid seal plates and comprises at least one third opening—through which each post extends—wherein the third opening is smaller than the adjacent second opening within the rigid seal plate, expansion joint.
In claim 6, the circumferential ends of the at least one segment end interface seal plate and the circumferential ends of the at least one post-interface seal plate comprise male-female couplers that match each other, an expansion joint.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the force applying device comprises a compression spring selected from the group comprising coil springs and truncated cone springs.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the post is externally threaded along at least a portion thereof, and the holder is screwably and adjustablely coupled to at least a portion thereof.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, in a low-temperature operating state of the gas turbine exhaust system, the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate is axially forward of the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate, and in a high-temperature operating state of the gas turbine exhaust system, the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate is axially rear of the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein both the mounting member and the clamp member are substantially hemispherical or halves of a cylindrical pipe.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the rigid seal plate comprises a male-female coupler configured to be coupled with a circumferentially adjacent rigid seal plate on its circumferential ends.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a wire mesh seal member that fills the gap between an adjacent duct flange, the clamp member, and the mounting member.
An expansion joint according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the rigid seal plate, the clamp member, and the mounting member comprise stainless steel.
As an expansion joint for use between the turbine duct flange and the diffuser duct flange of a gas turbine exhaust system, It includes a plurality of arched expansion joint segments configured to be arranged to collectively form an annular expansion joint assembly, and each arched expansion joint segment, Rigid seal plate - The rigid seal plate has an inner radial end, an outer radial end, a through hole extending through the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate, and a slot extending through the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate and open to the radial outer edge of the rigid seal plate -; A first pivot coupler for pivotally connecting the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate to the turbine duct flange—the first pivot coupler is, A first mounting member fixedly coupled to the turbine duct flange and pivotally engaged with the first axial surface of the rigid seal plate, A first clamp member pivotally engaged with the second axial surface of the rigid seal plate opposite to the first axial surface of the rigid seal plate, and It includes at least one first actuator, and the at least one first actuator is, A first post fixedly coupled to the turbine duct flange at one end and extending through a first opening in the first mounting member, the through hole in the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate, and a second opening in the first clamp member; and Includes a first force applicant operatively coupled to the first post and configured to press the inner radial end of the first clamp member and the rigid seal plate against the first mounting member; and A second pivot coupler that pivotally connects the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate to the diffuser duct flange—the second pivot coupler is, A second mounting member fixedly coupled to the diffuser duct flange and pivotally engaged with the second axial surface of the rigid seal plate, A second clamp member pivotally engaged with the first axial surface of the rigid seal plate, and It includes at least one second actuator, and the at least one second actuator is, A second post fixedly coupled to the diffuser duct flange at one end and extending through a third opening in the second mounting member, the slot in the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate, and a fourth opening in the second clamp member; and An expansion joint comprising: a second force applicant operatively coupled to the second post and configured to press the outer radial end of the second clamp member and the rigid seal plate against the second mounting member.

Description

Expansion Joint for Gas Turbine Exhaust System The present disclosure generally relates to expansion joints. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an expansion joint for a gas turbine exhaust system. A gas turbine (GT) system used for electricity generation typically comprises a compressor section, a combustion section that generates high-temperature combustion gases from fuel and air from the compressor section, a turbine section that generates work by expanding the high-temperature combustion gases, and an exhaust section that transfers energy-depleted gases from the GT system. A diffuser duct is typically located between the turbine section and the exhaust section. The diffuser duct provides performance advantages to the GT system as a whole by expanding the exhaust gases to achieve optimal aerodynamic pressure recovery. The diffuser duct may have two sections, for example, an externally insulated front section and an internally insulated rear section. Expansion joints can be used not only to connect turbine duct flanges and diffuser duct flanges but also to join the front and rear sections of diffuser ducts. Most turbine ducts operate at high temperatures and are machined structures, whereas most diffuser ducts are lower-cost manufactured casings that are internally insulated and operate at relatively low temperatures. The thermal mismatch in these connections necessitates expansion joints to accommodate large relative displacements between these components. Expansion joints must be able to accommodate large axial, vertical, and lateral movements. One approach to providing expansion joints is to use a vertically mounted flexible element coupled between the rear flange of the turbine duct and the front flange of the diffuser duct. The vertical offset between the flanges provides a location for attaching each end of the flexible vertical element. This approach presents many problems. For example, with the increased use of hydrogen fuel, higher-temperature exhaust is becoming more common. The flexible element must be manufactured from highly flexible materials such as superalloys (e.g., INCONEL® materials) made of chromium, iron, and other metals, such as cobalt, manganese, copper, niobium, tantalum, and nickel, but these cannot withstand exhaust temperatures higher than 650°C (~1200°F). Unfortunately, conventional flexible element expansion joints may not be able to withstand the higher back pressures of current downstream emission reduction systems. The flexible element must also be carefully joined using a complex mounting system to prevent wear and ensure proper operation, which increases the complexity of assembly and maintenance. The flexible element also requires a separate collection trough to collect water from turbine wash water that can enter the expansion joint insulation or otherwise flow out to the ground. All modes, examples, and features mentioned below may be combined in any technically possible way. One aspect of the present disclosure provides an expansion joint for use between a turbine duct flange and a diffuser duct flange of a gas turbine exhaust system, wherein the expansion joint comprises a plurality of arched expansion joint segments configured to be arranged circumferentially to collectively form an annular expansion joint assembly, and each of the plurality of arched expansion joint segments comprises: a rigid seal plate having an inner radial end and an outer radial end; a first pivot coupler pivotally coupled the inner radial end to the turbine duct flange; and a second pivot coupler pivotally coupled the outer radial end to the diffuser duct flange, and each of the first and second pivot couplers comprises: a mounting member fixedly coupled to each duct flange and pivotally engaged with the rigid seal plate; a clamp member pivotally engaged with the rigid seal plate; and at least one actuator configured to press the respective radial end of the rigid seal plate between the clamp member and the mounting member. Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises any of the prior aspects, wherein the at least one actuator comprises: a post fixedly coupled to each duct flange at one end and extending through a first opening in the mounting member, a second opening in each radial end of the rigid seal plate, and a third opening in the clamp member; a force applicator operably coupled to the post; and a holder coupled to the post and engaged with the force applicator, wherein the force applicator presses each radial end of the clamp member and the rigid seal plate against the mounting member. Another aspect of the present disclosure includes any of the prior embodiments, wherein the second opening in the inner radial end of the rigid seal plate comprises a through hole extending through the rigid seal plate, and the second opening in the outer radial end of the rigid seal plate comprises a slot extending through the rigid seal plate and open to the radial outer edge