Inventors:
Kenneth E. Robbins - Saratoga NY
Stephen G. Ruggles - Scotia NY
Dan Duncan - Schenectady NY
John C. Williams - Schenectady NY
Stephen K. Tung - Clifton Park NY
William J. Sumner - Mechanicville NY
Cuong V. Dinh - Schenectady NY
Assignee:
General Electric Company - Schenectady NY
International Classification:
F01D 522
Abstract:
A stage of an axial flow turbine includes a plurality of spaced apart buckets and a plurality of spaced apart nozzle partitions, each plurality respectively circumferentially aligned about and axially spaced from each other along a rotor of the turbine. The nozzle partitions are circumferentially spaced such that a minimum throat extends a predetermined radial distance from the root, thereby forming a converging-diverging flow passageway between nozzle partitions. The trailing edge of the nozzle partitions are disposed to include axial and tangential lean with respect to the rotor. Buckets include a plurality of covers respectively connecting the tips and having a single outward radially extending sealing rib on the radially outer surface of each cover, wherein each rib is tangentially aligned with respective adjacent ribs. Buckets are overtwisted to compensate for untwist at operational speed to achieve optimum efficiency. Buckets are circumferentially spaced to provide a converging-diverging channel therebetween and include lashing for providing mechanical coupling at operational speed.