Method for the assembly of a radial turbine and radial turbine
10968743 · 2021-04-06
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F01D9/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05D2230/60
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01D9/045
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E20/14
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F01D1/28
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01D5/041
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F01D1/28
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01D9/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F01D25/26
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A method for the assembly of a counter-rotating radial turbine includes: preparing a central case; pre-assembling a first turbine unit and a second turbine unit, each including: a half-case delimiting a housing; a rotating unit with a shaft housed and rotatably supported in the housing and that is free to rotate about an axis of rotation with respect to said housing; a rotor disc joined to and overhanging a distal end of the shaft and having a front bladed face facing the opposite side with respect to the half-case. The method includes coupling the first pre-assembled turbine unit and the second pre-assembled turbine unit to the central case so as to arrange the front bladed face of the first rotor disc in front of the front bladed face of the second rotor disc, wherein, following the coupling process, the first half-case and the second half-case laterally close the central case.
Claims
1. A method for the assembly of a counter-rotating radial turbine, comprising: preparing a central case; pre-assembling a first turbine unit comprising: a first half-case delimiting a first housing; a first rotating unit comprising a first shaft housed and rotatably supported in the first housing and that is free to rotate about a first axis of rotation with respect to said first housing; a first rotor disc joined to and overhanging a distal end of the first shaft and having a front bladed face facing the opposite side with respect to the first half-case; wherein pre-assembling the first turbine unit comprises: preparing the first half-case delimiting the first housing; preparing the first rotating unit comprising a first support sleeve and the first shaft rotatably housed in the first support sleeve; housing the first rotating unit in the first housing and fixing the first support sleeve to the first half-case; pre-assembling a second turbine unit comprising: a second half-case delimiting a second housing; a second rotating unit comprising a second shaft housed and rotatably supported in the second housing and that is free to rotate about a second axis of rotation with respect to said second housing; a second rotor disc joined to and overhanging a distal end of the second shaft and having a front bladed face facing the opposite side with respect to the second half-case; wherein pre-assembling the second turbine unit comprises: preparing the second half-case delimiting the second housing; preparing the second rotating unit comprising a second support sleeve and the second shaft rotatably housed in the second support sleeve; housing the second rotating unit in the second housing and fixing the second support sleeve to the second half-case; coupling the first pre-assembled turbine unit and the second pre-assembled turbine unit to the central case so as to arrange the front bladed face of the first rotor disc in front of the front bladed face of the second rotor disc, wherein, following the coupling process, the first half-case and the second half-case laterally close the central case; wherein pre-assembling the first turbine unit comprises: coupling first pipes to the first half-case, said first pipes being configured to set a working space delimited between the first rotor disc and the second rotor disc in fluid communication with the exterior; wherein pre-assembling the second turbine unit comprises: coupling second pipes to the second half-case, said second pipes being configured to set said working space in fluid communication with the exterior; and further comprising: pre-assembling a first set comprising the first pipes joined to each other and applying the first set of first pipes en bloc to the first half-case by means of a relative axial translational movement; pre-assembling a second set comprising the second pipes joined to each other and applying the second set of second pipes en bloc to the second half-case by means of a relative translational movement.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the central case has a tubular shape and wherein coupling the first pre-assembled turbine unit and the second pre-assembled turbine unit to the central case comprises: axially and at least partially inserting the first pre-assembled turbine unit and the second pre-assembled turbine unit in a first opening and in a second opening of the central case, respectively, the openings being axially opposite each other.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein coupling the first pipes to the first half-case comprises: axially inserting at least one first pipe through a first opening afforded in the first half-case; wherein coupling the second pipes to the second half-case comprises: axially inserting at least one second pipe through a second opening afforded in the second half-case.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein coupling the first pipes to the first half-case comprises: housing a first toroidal fitting in a first annular seat afforded in the first half-case and coaxial with the first axis of rotation; wherein coupling the second pipes to the second half-case comprises: housing a second toroidal fitting in a second annular seat afforded in the second half-case and coaxial with the second axis of rotation.
5. A method for the assembly of a counter-rotating radial turbine, comprising: preparing a central case; pre-assembling a first turbine unit comprising: a first half-case delimiting a first housing; a first rotating unit comprising a first shaft housed and rotatably supported in the first housing and that is free to rotate about a first axis of rotation with respect to said first housing; a first rotor disc joined to and overhanging a distal end of the first shaft and having a front bladed face facing the opposite side with respect to the first half-case; wherein pre-assembling the first turbine unit comprises: preparing the first half-case delimiting the first housing; preparing the first rotating unit comprising a first support sleeve and the first shaft rotatably housed in the first support sleeve; housing the first rotating unit in the first housing and fixing the first support sleeve to the first half-case; pre-assembling a second turbine unit comprising: a second half-case delimiting a second housing; a second rotating unit comprising a second shaft housed and rotatably supported in the second housing and that is free to rotate about a second axis of rotation with respect to said second housing; a second rotor disc joined to and overhanging a distal end of the second shaft and having a front bladed face facing the opposite side with respect to the second half-case; wherein pre-assembling the second turbine unit comprises: preparing the second half-case delimiting the second housing; preparing the second rotating unit comprising a second support sleeve and the second shaft rotatably housed in the second support sleeve; housing the second rotating unit in the second housing and fixing the second support sleeve to the second half-case; and coupling the first pre-assembled turbine unit and the second pre-assembled turbine unit to the central case so as to arrange the front bladed face of the first rotor disc in front of the front bladed face of the second rotor disc, wherein, following the coupling process, the first half-case and the second half-case laterally close the central case; wherein pre-assembling the first turbine unit comprises: coupling first pipes to the first half-case, said first pipes being configured to set a working space delimited between the first rotor disc and the second rotor disc in fluid communication with the exterior; wherein pre-assembling the second turbine unit comprises: coupling second pipes to the second half-case, said second pipes being configured to set said working space in fluid communication with the exterior; and wherein coupling the first pipes to the first half-case comprises: axially inserting at least one first pipe through a first opening afforded in the first half-case; wherein coupling the second pipes to the second half-case comprises: axially inserting at least one second pipe through a second opening afforded in the second half-case.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) This description is provided herein below with reference to the attached drawings, which are provided solely for purpose of providing approximate and thus non-limiting examples, and of which:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(7) With reference to the figures cited, a counter-rotating radial turbine in accordance with the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the reference number 1. The turbine illustrated in
(8) The counter-rotating turbine 1 appearing in
(9) The first rotor disc 3′ is equipped with a plurality of rotor blades 6′ arranged in series of concentric rings on a respective front face 7′ of said first rotor disc 3′. The second rotor disc 3″ is equipped with a plurality of rotor blades 6″ arranged in series of concentric rings on a respective front face 7″ of said second rotor disc 3″. The front face 7′ of the first rotor disc 3′ is located in front of the front face 7″ of the second rotor disc 3″ and the rotor blades 6′ of the first disc 3′ are radially alternated with the rotor blades 6″ of the second disc 3″. The rotor blades 6′ of the first rotor disc 3′ terminate in proximity to the front face 7″ of the second rotor disc 3″ and the rotor blades 6″ of the second rotor disc 3″ terminate in proximity to the front face 7′ of the first rotor disc 3′.
(10) The rotor blades 6′, 6″ are located in a working space interposed between the two rotor discs 3′, 3″.
(11) First and second pipes 8′, 8″, which shall be described in detail herein below, make it possible to set the working space in fluid communication with the exterior of the containment case 2 and with a suitable circuit, which is not described in detail here. In particular, the above-mentioned pipes 8′, 8″ enable admission of the working fluid into a central zone of said working space, said zone being located at the axes of rotation X1, X2. Once admitted into the central zone, the working fluid expands through the rotor blades 6′, 6″, moving radially outwards and bringing about the rotation of the two rotor discs 3′, 3″ in opposite directions.
(12) The fixed containment case 2 comprises a central case 9 that rests on the ground or on a special base (unillustrated) by means of a support frame (unillustrated). The central case 9 is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical (barrel-shaped) in shape, and coaxial to the first and the second axis of rotation X1, X2. The central case 9 is open at axially opposite ends thereof, which thus have a first opening 10′ and a second opening 10″ (
(13) The first and the second rotor disc 3, 3″ and therefore the working space as well, are contained inside the radially internal cylindrical wall 11.
(14) The radially internal cylindrical wall 11 has a bladed diffuser 15 circumferentially arranged around the working space and configured to set the cited working space in fluid communication with the annular discharge space 14. The continuity of the radially internal cylindrical wall 11 is interrupted, at a centre plane X-X, by said bladed diffuser 15. In other words, the bladed diffuser 15 divides the radially internal cylindrical wall 11 into two opposite axial portions. The bladed diffuser 15 comprises a plurality of stator blades 16 that structurally connect said opposite axial portions of the radially internal cylindrical wall 11 and said stator blades 16 delimit together a plurality of substantially radial passages for the working fluid. The two opposite axial ends of each one of the stator blades 16 are joined to respective annular dividers 17′, 17″, which, in turn, are solidly connected to the two opposite axial portions of the radially internal cylindrical wall 11.
(15) A lower portion of the radially external cylindrical wall 12 has a discharge opening 18 configured to be connected to suitable discharge conduits (not illustrated). The working fluid, which, as it expands, exits radially from the working space, flows through the bladed diffuser 15, then inside the annular discharge space 14 and then it exits from the discharge opening 18.
(16) In the first embodiment illustrated in
(17) The fixed containment case 2 further comprises a first half-case 19′ and a second half-case 19″. In the embodiments illustrated, the first half-case 19′ and the second half-case 19″ are symmetric with respect to the cited centre plane X-X and thus only the first half-case 19′ will be described in detail.
(18) The first half-case 19′ is formed by a wall shaped in accordance with a box-like structure that can be realized as a single piece or in a number of parts. The first half-case 19′ comprises a first main wall 20′ and a first tubular body 21′ that extends from one side of the first main wall 20′. The first main wall 20′, in turn, comprises a first substantially cylindrical (cylindrical or conical) wall that encloses the first tubular body 21′ and is coaxial with and radially spaced away from said first tubular body 21′, and a first connection portion 23′ that extends radially between the first tubular body 21′ and the first substantially cylindrical wall 22′, to connect them. In a section along an axial plane, as in the attached figures, the cited first connection portion 23′ has a zig-zag or undulated shape to increase rigidity and to enable differential radial movement due to the thermal gradients present during operation of the turbine. The first main wall 20′ also comprises a first radially external portion 24′ that extends from one end of the first substantially cylindrical wall 22′ axially opposite the end connected to the first connection portion 23′. The first tubular body 21′, the first connection portion 23′, the first substantially cylindrical wall 22′ and the first radially external portion 24′ are substantially S-shaped in an axial half-section. The first half-case 19′ further comprises a first auxiliary annular wall 25′ that extends as an appendage from the first substantially cylindrical wall 22′, starting from the end of this first substantially cylindrical wall 22′ axially opposite the end connected to the first connection portion 23′. This first auxiliary annular wall 25′ extends radially towards the first tubular body 21′ and has a first radially internal edge B1 located in proximity to a radially external surface of said first tubular body 21′. The first radially internal edge B1 grazes the radially external surface and, like a sliding block, it is free to translate axially, with respect to the first tubular body 21′. The first tubular body 21′ internally delimits a first cylindrical housing A′.
(19) The second half-case 19″ comprises the same elements as the first half-case 19′ and these elements are distinguished by the adjective “second” and by double apostrophes after the reference numbers for the attached figures.
(20) The turbine 1 comprises a first rotating unit 26′ and a second rotating unit 26″ associated with the first half-case 19′ and the second half-case 19″, respectively.
(21) The first rotating unit 26′ comprises the above-mentioned first shaft 4′ with the respective bearings 5. The first rotating unit 26′ further comprises a first support sleeve 27′ that delimits an internal seat within which the first shaft 4′ is housed. The first shaft 4′ is coupled to the first support sleeve 27′ with radial interpositioning of the bearings 5 so that said first shaft 4′ can rotate freely with respect to the first support sleeve 27′.
(22) The second rotating unit 26″ is similar to the first rotating unit 26′ and it comprises the same elements, distinguished by the adjective “second” and by double apostrophes after the reference numbers for the attached figures.
(23) The above-mentioned first pipes 8′ comprise a first toroidal fitting 28′ that extends about the first axis of rotation X1 and it is located at a peripheral zone of the first rotor disc 3′. The first toroidal fitting 28′ of this embodiment has a substantially circular section. The first pipes 8′ comprise a plurality of first radial conduits 29′ that extend from the first toroidal fitting 28′ and converge towards the first axis of rotation X1. In
(24) The above-mentioned second pipes 8″ are similar to the first pipes 8′ and they comprise the same elements, distinguished by the adjective “second” and by double apostrophes after the reference numbers for the attached figures.
(25) Together with the first rotating unit 26′, the first rotor disc 3′, and the first pipes 8′, the first half-case 19′ forms a first turbine unit 33′. Together with the second rotating unit 26″, the second rotor disc 3″, and the second pipes 8″, the second half-case 19″ forms a second turbine unit 33″.
(26) In accordance with the method according to the present invention, the illustrated counter-rotating radial turbine 1 is assembled as described herein below.
(27) The method first comprises pre-assembly of each one of the two turbine units 33′, 33″ and then associating them with the central case 9.
(28) Preassembly of the first turbine unit 33′ comprises preparing the first half-case 19′ and mounting the first rotating unit 26′ made up of the first sleeve 27′ with the first shaft 4′ and the respective bearings 5 (
(29) Pre-assembly of the first turbine unit 33′ further comprises preparing the first pipes 8′ as a single set that comprises the respective first toroidal fitting 28′, the respective first radial conduits 29′ and also the respective first pipe 31′ (for example welded to each other,
(30) At this point, a distal end E′ of the first shaft 4′ configured to be joined to the first rotor disc 3′ protrudes from the first housing A′ and it is accessible from the side of the first pipes 8′, given that the open ends of the first radial conduits 29′ enclose said distal end E′ without obstructing it. The first rotor disc 3′ is joined to and overhanging the distal end E′ of the first shaft 4′ by means of suitable connection devices which are not illustrated herein, for example by means of a through rod in the first shaft 4′ and a Hirth joint (
(31) At this point, the first pre-assembled turbine unit 33′ and the second pre-assembled turbine unit 33″ are coupled to the central case 9 by axially and partially inserting said first pre-assembled turbine unit 33′ and said second pre-assembled turbine unit 33″ in the first opening 10′ and the second opening 10″ of the central case 9, respectively, the openings being axially opposite each other (
(32) For this purpose and with reference to the first turbine unit 33′, the first radially external portion 24′ of the first main wall 20′ has an L-shaped peripheral edge in cross-section. This peripheral edge thus has a first cylindrical centring surface 34′ coaxial with the first axis of rotation X1 and radially facing outwards. This peripheral edge also has a first annular reference surface 35′ coaxial and perpendicular to the first axis of rotation X1 and which, during the process of coupling it with the central case 9, faces said central case 9.
(33) The second turbine unit 33″ has the same structure, in which the corresponding elements are distinguished by the adjective “second” and by double apostrophes after the reference numbers for the attached figures.
(34) The radially internal cylindrical wall 11 of the central case 9 has a first cylindrical abutment surface 36′ located at the first opening 10′ and radially facing inwards, and a second cylindrical abutment surface 36″ located at the second opening 10″ and radially facing inwards.
(35) The first lateral wall 13′ of the central case 9 has a first annular abutment surface 37′ located at the first opening 10′ and the second lateral wall 13″ of the central case 9 has a second annular abutment surface 37″ located at the second opening 10″.
(36) During the process of coupling the first pre-assembled turbine unit 33′ with the central case 9, the first cylindrical centring surface 34′ is associated with the first cylindrical abutment surface 36′ and, additionally, the first annular reference surface 35′ is applied against the first annular abutment surface 37′. Likewise, during the process of coupling the second pre-assembled turbine unit 33″ with the central case 9, the second cylindrical centring surface 34″ is associated with the second cylindrical abutment surface 36″ and, additionally, the second annular reference surface 35″ is applied against the second annular abutment surface 37″. As can be noted in the attached figures, the first and the second cylindrical abutment surface 36′, 36″ and the first and the second cylindrical centring surface 34′, 34″ have a (first and second) diameter d1, d2 equal to about 110% of a diameter ds of the outermost radial stage (that is, of the radially outermost rotor blades 6′) of the first rotor disc 3′ in this embodiment. Moreover, in this embodiment, the first and the second diameter d1, d2 are equal to each other and equal to an inner diameter d of the radially internal cylindrical wall 11.
(37) The second embodiment, which is illustrated in
(38) The first toroidal fitting 28′ has a substantially rectangular cross-section configured for partial insertion in a first annular seat 38′ afforded in the first half-case 19′ and that is coaxial with the first axis of rotation X1. Said first annular seat 38′ is delimited by the first substantially cylindrical wall 22′ and by the L-shaped peripheral edge. The first pipe 31′ extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation X1 through a first passage 39′ afforded in the central case 9. The first pipe 31′ is connected to the first toroidal fitting 28′ at a radially external portion of said first toroidal fitting 28′, projects out from the central case 9 and is connected to a suitable circuit (not illustrated). The second pipes 8″ have the same structure, which is symmetric, as the first pipes 8′ and the second pipe 31″ thereof passes through a second passage 39″ afforded in the central case 9.
(39) In this embodiment, the first pipes 8′ without the first pipe 31′ are coupled axially to the first half-case 19′ and in the same manner, the second pipes 8″ without the second pipe 31″ are axially coupled to the second half-case 19″.
(40) The first pre-assembled turbine unit 33′ and the second pre-assembled turbine unit 33″ are then coupled to the central case 9 by axially and partially inserting said first pre-assembled turbine unit 33′ and said second pre-assembled turbine unit 33″ in the first opening 10′ and the second opening 10″ of the central case 9, respectively, the openings being axially opposite each other (
(41) Lastly, the first and the second pipe 31′, 31″ are inserted in the respective first and second passage 39′, 39″ until they are joined with the respective toroidal fittings 28′, 28″.
(42) In additional embodiments (not illustrated), prior to assembly of the turbine units 33′, 33″, the central case 9 is divided into a first lower semi-cylinder resting on the ground and a second upper semi-cylinder, and for example said first and second semi-cylinders can be coupled in a horizontal plane containing the first and the second axis of rotation X1, X2.
(43) For assembly purposes, the first turbine unit 33′ and the second turbine unit 33″, pre-assembled for example according to the procedures described and illustrated for the preceding embodiments, are first coupled axially to each other so as to arrange the annular arrays of blades in a radially alternated manner. Subsequently, the set made up of the first turbine unit 33′ and by the second turbine unit 33″ is set into the first lower semi-cylinder, which is open upwards. Subsequently, the second upper semi-cylinder is applied from above onto the first lower semi-cylinder, thereby closing the case. The first and the second pipes 8′, 8″ can be realized in the same manner as in the first embodiment or as in the second embodiment, both having been described hereinabove.
(44) The turbine according to the invention in one of the embodiments illustrated or in other additional embodiments can be implemented in a power plant for generating electrical energy, such as thermal or geothermal or cogeneration power plants.
LIST OF ELEMENTS
(45) 1 counter-rotating radial turbine 2 fixed containment case 3′, 3″ first rotor disc and second rotor disc X1, X2 first axis of rotation and second axis of rotation 4′, 4″ first rotation shaft and second rotation shaft 5 bearings 6′, 6″ rotor blades of the first and the second rotor disc 7′, 7″ front face of the first and the second rotor disc 8′, 8″ first and second pipes 9 central case 10′, 10″ first opening and second opening 11 radially internal cylindrical wall 12 radially external cylindrical wall 13′, 13″ first and second annular lateral wall 14 annular discharge space 15 bladed diffuser X-X centre plane 16 stator blades 17′, 17″ annular dividers 18 discharge opening 19′, 19″ first half-case and second half-case 20′, 20″ first main wall and second main wall 21′, 21″ first tubular body and second tubular body 22′, 22″ first and second substantially cylindrical wall 23′, 23″ first connection portion and second connection portion 24′, 24″ first radially external portion and second radially external portion 25′, 25″ first auxiliary annular wall and second auxiliary annular wall B1, B2 first radially internal edge and second radially internal edge A′, A″ first cylindrical housing and second cylindrical housing 26′, 26″ first rotating unit and second rotating unit 27′, 27″ first support sleeve and second support sleeve 28′, 28″ first toroidal fitting and second toroidal fitting 29′, 29″ first radial conduits and second radial conduits 30′, 30″ first through holes and second through holes 31′, 31″ first pipe and second pipe 32′, 32″ first opening and second opening 33′, 33″ first turbine unit and second turbine unit E′, E″ distal end of the first shaft and distal end of the second shaft 34′, 34″ first cylindrical centring surface and second cylindrical centring surface 35′, 35″ first annular reference surface and second annular reference surface 36′, 36″ first cylindrical abutment surface and second cylindrical abutment surface 37′, 37″ first annular abutment surface and second annular abutment surface d1, d2 first diameter and second diameter d inner diameter ds diameter of the outermost radial stage 38′, 38″ first annular seat and second annular seat 39′, 39″ first passage and second passage