NOZZLE BOX ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A nozzle box assembly includes steam inlets, through which working steam is supplied, a torus part connected to the steam inlets so as to form an annular steam path and having an opening portion, in which a part of the front surface of the annular steam path is opened, a bridge ring connected to the front surface of the torus part and having a bridge inside, and a steam path ring connected to the bridge ring so as to provide a path, which is connected to a stage, and provided with a plurality of vanes, wherein the bridge ring and the steam path ring are formed of the coupling of a plurality of divisions, which are divided in the circumferential direction thereof, and the divisions are coupled to the front surface of the torus part.

Claims

1. A nozzle box assembly, comprising: steam inlets operable to supply working steam; a torus part coupled to the steam inlets to provide an annular steam path and having an opening portion, a part of a front surface of the annular steam path being open; a bridge ring coupled to a front surface of the torus part and having a bridge portion proximal an interior portion of the bridge ring; and a steam path ring coupled to the bridge ring to provide a path with a plurality of vanes, wherein the bridge ring and the steam path ring include a plurality of divisions coupled together, the divisions being arranged along a circumferential direction of the nozzle box assembly, and the divisions are coupled to the front surface of the torus part.

2. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the divisions includes one or more of the bridges and one or more of the vanes.

3. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the divisions each include a protrusion coupling part, and the front surface of the torus part includes a plurality of recesses to which the protrusion parts are respectively coupled.

4. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion coupling parts and the recesses respectively have coupling section in a dovetail arrangement, and the protrusion coupling parts are respectively disposed in the recesses along the circumferential direction.

5. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 4, wherein the dovetail shape includes at least one or more wrinkled side portions.

6. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 1, wherein neighboring divisions are coupled to each other, the neighboring divisions respectively include a protrusion sealing part formed on a first side surface portion and a recess defined in a second side surface portion, and the protrusion sealing parts and the recesses the neighboring divisions are engaged with each other so to seal the first and second side surface portions.

7. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an annular sealing plate operable to be disposed into annular sealing grooves of joint surfaces of the divisions and the torus part, wherein the joint surfaces of the divisions are coupled to the torus part.

8. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 7, further comprising an elastic sealing member disposed between a bottom surface of the sealing plate and bottom surfaces of the sealing grooves.

9. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the divisions includes a first flange part disposed at a rear surface edge of the division and a second flange part disposed at a front surface edge of the torus part, and the divisions are coupled to the torus part by the coupling of the flanges.

10. The nozzle box assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a restraining ring that surrounds edges of the divisions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle box assembly.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle box assembly.

[0027] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a division according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of coupling of a plurality of divisions.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a coupler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a protrusion coupling part and a depression coupling part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sealing plate and an elastic sealing member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a protrusion coupling part and a depression coupling part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a protrusion sealing part and a depression sealing part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 8B is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 8A.

[0035] FIG. 8C is a cross sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 8C.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a division, which employs the protrusion sealing part and the depression sealing part, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 10 shows flange parts according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 11 shows restraining rings according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0039] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a coupler in the shape of a saw-tooth according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. In connection with adding reference signs to the elements in each of the drawings, the same elements have the same reference signs as far as possible even though they are illustrated in different figures.

[0041] In addition, the terms such as first, second, A, B, a, b and the like can be used in explaining the elements of the example embodiments of the present disclosure. These terms are simply used to distinguish corresponding elements from other elements but not intended to limit the nature of the corresponding component elements by the terms. Additionally, it should be also understood that the expression that some component is “connected”, “coupled” or “linked” to another component means that some component is directly connected to another component or is indirectly “connected”, “coupled” or “linked” to another component through a further component interposed between each of the components.

LEGEND OF REFERENCES NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0042] 12: steam path ring

[0043] 13: vanes

[0044] 14: torus part

[0045] 15: bridge

[0046] 16: bridge ring

[0047] 20: divisions

[0048] 21: protrusion sealing part

[0049] 22: recess

[0050] 30: coupler

[0051] 31, 32: protrusion coupling part

[0052] 31′, 32′: recesses

[0053] 33, 33′: saw-tooth portion

[0054] 35, 35′: flange part

[0055] 36: coupling screw

[0056] 37: outer restraining ring

[0057] 38: inner restraining ring

[0058] 40: sealing plate

[0059] 41: elastic sealing member

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the structure of a division 20 according to the present disclosure.

[0061] A nozzle box assembly according to the present disclosure includes steam inlets, through which working steam is supplied, a torus part 14, which is connected to the steam inlets so as to form an annular steam path and has an opening portion, in which a part of the front surface of the annular steam path is opened.

[0062] The torus part 14 is connected to a bridge ring 16 and a steam path ring 12, wherein the bridge ring 16 is connected to the front surface of the torus part 14 and has a bridge 15 therein. Further, the steam path ring 12 is connected to the front surface of the bridge ring 16 so as to provide a path, which is connected to a stage, and has a plurality of vanes provided therein.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows the steam path ring 12 and the bridge ring 16, which are formed of the coupling of a plurality of divisions 20, in which FIG. 3(a) shows a single one of the divisions 20 and FIG. 3(b) shows that the plurality of divisions 20, which are connected to each other in the circumferential direction. Even though FIG. 3(b) shows that totally four divisions 20 are coupled as an example, a plurality of divisions 20 are further provided throughout the remaining section displayed by a circular dotted line such that the entire plurality of divisions 20 form a ring shape. That is, the bridge ring 16 and the steam path ring 12 are formed by coupling the plurality of divided divisions 20, which are connected to each other along the circumferential direction. Each of the divisions 20 is coupled to the front surface of the torus part 14.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 3(a), it is preferable that the division 20 includes at least one or more bridges 15 and at least one or more vanes 13. As mentioned hereinabove, as the divisions 20 are connected to each other into a shape of a ring, the bridges 15 and the vanes 13 are also arranged in an annular shape as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein each of the bridges 15 and the vanes 13 serves as a support to connect the upper portions and the lower portions of the steam path ring 12 and the bridge ring 16. Therefore, it is preferable in terms of structural strength of the divisions 20 that the single division 20 includes at least one or more bridges 15 and at least one or more vanes 13.

[0065] Meanwhile, FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for showing the coupling between the divisions 20 and the torus part 14.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 4, the division 20 and the torus part 14 respectively have recessed portions at both sides thereof and couplers 30 are fitted between the recessed portions. It is also conceivable that the division 20 includes protrusion coupling parts 31, 32, which are protruded in the backward direction, and the torus part 14 includes recesses 31′, 32′, which are formed on the front surface of the torus part 14 so as to be coupled with the protrusion coupling parts 31, 32, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7.

[0067] Meanwhile, the protrusion coupling parts 31, 32 and the recesses 31′, 32′ respectively have a coupling section in a dovetail shape such that the protrusion coupling parts 31, 32 are fitted into the recesses 31′, 32′ along the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. 7. If the division 20 and the torus part 14 are coupled in the shape of a dovetail, sliding movement in the circumferential direction and coupling can be achieved while movement in the normal direction of joint surfaces is limited, such that stable coupling is maintained.

[0068] Further, in order to increase the sealing effect and the strength of the joint surfaces, it is preferable that the dovetail shape includes at least one or more wrinkled side portions, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0069] Meanwhile, the coupler 33, 33′ in the shape of a saw-tooth 33, 33′, as shown in FIG. 12. That is, a saw-tooth portion 33′ formed on the front surface of the torus part 14 is engaged with the saw-tooth portion 33 formed on the rear surface of the division 20 through mutual male-and-female engagement.

[0070] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. annular sealing grooves may be provided to the top portions of the joint surfaces of the divisions 20 and the torus part 14, which are coupled with each other, and an annular sealing plate 40 is further provided so as to be fitted into the sealing grooves.

[0071] The sealing problem of the combustion gas of high temperature and high pressure, which may occur in such a structure, may be alleviated by coupling the divisions 20 and the torus part 14 with each other through the mutual fitting in a dovetail shape, which may avoid the need for welding.

[0072] The sealing plate 40 can carry out the sealing in a direct surface contact state with respect to the sealing grooves. Meanwhile, an elastic sealing member 41, for example, a rubber plate and the like, may be further provided between the bottom surface of the sealing plate 40 and the bottom surface of the sealing groove.

[0073] In addition to such a rubber plate, materials which have elastic force, between the bottom surface of the sealing plate 40 and the bottom surface of the sealing groove, as the elastic sealing member 41, may be used to increase the sealing performance.

[0074] Meanwhile, FIGS. 8 and FIG. 9 show a protrusion sealing part 21 and a recess 22, which are provided to the side surface of the division 20.

[0075] More specifically, the divisions 20, which are connected to neighboring divisions, respectively include the protrusion sealing part 21 formed on one of side surface portions thereof and the recess 22 formed on the other side surface portion. Therefore, the protrusion sealing parts 21 and the recess 22 of the neighboring divisions are engaged with each other so as to carry out the sealing of the side surface portions.

[0076] That is, if the protrusion sealing part 21 is provided to the right side surface of the individual division 20, the recess 22 is provided to the right side surface thereof. The right side surface of one division 20 is connected to the left side surface of a neighboring division 20 thereof, wherein the protrusion sealing part 21 is fitted in the recess 22.

[0077] The protrusion sealing part 21 and the recess 22, as mentioned above, carry out the function as a seal for preventing the high temperature and high pressure combustion gas inside the divisions 20 from leaking to the outside and, simultaneously, the function as a guide in the mutual coupling of the divisions 20 so as to restrain the mutual movement of the divisions 20.

[0078] Meanwhile, FIG. 10 shows a flange coupling method of the divisions 20 and the torus part 14.

[0079] More specifically, flange parts 35, 35′ are respectively provided to the rear surface edges of the divisions 20 and the front surface edge of the torus part 14, and the divisions 20 are coupled to the torus part 14 by the coupling of the flanges 35, 35′. The flange coupling as mentioned above has an advantage that it is possible to carry out the coupling in a relatively simple structure, compared with the method of using the protrusion coupling parts 31, 32 and the recesses 31′, 32′ as mentioned hereinabove.

[0080] An additional sealing member may also be provided between the flanges so as to reinforce the sealing.

[0081] Meanwhile, since the above-mentioned coupling of the divisions 20 may be weak in terms of expansion, compared with the integral bridge ring 16 or the steam path ring 12, a restraining ring may be further provided so as to surround the edges of the divisions 20.

[0082] Such a restraining ring may be divided into an outer restraining ring 37 for surrounding the annular outer surface and an inner restraining ring 38 for surrounding the annular inner surface, as shown in FIG. 11, thereby respectively suppressing the expansion of the outer surface and the inner surface.

[0083] Hereinabove, even though all the constituent elements which form the embodiments of the present disclosure are explained to be coupled as a single body or operating as a single body in combination, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. That is, within the purpose of the present disclosure, one or more of all the constituent elements can be selectively coupled to operate. In addition, it should be understood that the terms of “include”, “form” or “have” used hereinabove mean that corresponding constituent elements can be inherent, unless otherwise defined, and thus shall be construed as that any other constituent elements are not excluded but may be further included. All the terms including all technical and scientific terms have, unless otherwise defined, the same meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art, to which the present invention belongs.

[0084] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

[0085] Moreover, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of the claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.