CROSS FIRE TUBE INSTALLATION/REMOVAL METHODS AND APPARATUS

The present application provides a cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus (100) for use with a combustor (25) of a gas turbine engine (10). The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus (100) includes a cross fire tube assembly (110) having a sleeve (120, 130) with a tube groove (170, 180) therein and a cross fire tube tool (300) having a spring (390) with a spring flange (440). The spring flange (340) is sized to engage the tube groove (170, 180).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This specification is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Polish patent application number PL P.430232 filed on Jun. 13, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to gas turbine engines and more particularly relate to improved methods and apparatus for the installation and removal of gas turbine combustor cross fire tubes in a fast, safe, and efficient manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adjacent combustors of a gas turbine engine are typically connected by a cross fire tube. Specifically, a cross fire tube may extend through the liners, the flow sleeves, and the casings of adjacent combustors to allow the combustion in one combustor to propagate to the adjacent combustor and to ensure substantially simultaneous ignition and equalized pressure in all combustor chambers of the gas turbine engine. Generally described, the cross fire tubes need to be removed prior to combustor removal and the like. The assembly and/or the location of the cross fire tubes, however, may have one or more disadvantages. For example, current installation and removal methods may be complicated and may result in damage to the cross fire tubes and related components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus for use with a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus includes a cross fire tube assembly having a sleeve with a tube groove therein and a cross fire tube tool having a spring with a spring flange. The spring flange is sized to engage the tube groove.

The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method of installing a cross fire tube assembly between a first combustor can and a second combustor can. The method includes the steps of inserting a cross fire tube tool through a first passage in the first combustor can, engaging a groove in the cross fire tube assembly with a spring flange of the cross fire tube tool, compressing the cross fire tube tool with the cross fire tube assembly engaged, positioning the cross fire tube assembly in a second passage in the second combustor can, and releasing the cross fire tube tool.

The present application and the resultant patent further provide a cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus for use with a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus includes a cross fire tube assembly having a pair of sleeves with a bias and with each sleeve having a tube groove therein and a cross fire tube tool having a tubular spring with a spring flange. The spring flange is sized to engage the tube groove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views,FIG. 1shows a schematic diagram of gas turbine engine10as may be used herein. The gas turbine engine10may include a compressor15. The compressor15compresses an incoming flow of air20. The compressor15delivers the compressed flow of air20to a number of combustor cans25. The combustor cans25mix the compressed flow of air20with a pressurized flow of fuel30and ignite the mixture to create a flow of hot combustion gases35. Although only a single combustor can25is shown, the gas turbine engine10may include any number of combustor cans25positioned in a circumferential array and the like. The flow of the hot combustion gases35is in turn delivered to a turbine40. The flow of the hot combustion gases35drives the turbine40so as to produce mechanical work. The mechanical work produced in the turbine40drives the compressor15via a shaft45and an external load50such as an electrical generator and the like.

The gas turbine engine10may use natural gas, various types of syngas, liquid fuels, and/or other types of fuels and blends thereof. The gas turbine engine10may be any one of a number of different gas turbine engines offered by General Electric Company of Schenectady, N.Y., including, but not limited to, those such as a 7 or a 9 series heavy duty gas turbine engine and the like. The gas turbine engine10may have different configurations and may use other types of components. Other types of gas turbine engines also may be used herein. Multiple gas turbine engines, other types of turbines, and other types of power generation equipment also may be used herein together.

FIG. 2shows a schematic diagram of an example of a combustor can25as may be used with the gas turbine engine10described above and elsewhere. The combustor can25may extend from an end cap52at a head end to a transition piece54at an aft end about the turbine40. A number of fuel nozzles56may be positioned about the end cap52. A liner58may extend from the fuel nozzles56towards the transition piece54and may define a combustion zone60therein. The liner58may be surrounded by a flow sleeve62. The liner58and the flow sleeve62may define a flow path64therebetween for the flow of air20from the compressor15or otherwise. The combustor can25also may include a cross fire tube assembly66. As described above, the cross fire tube assembly may extend between adjacent combustor cans25. The combustor can25described herein is for the purpose of example only. Combustor cans25with other components and other configurations may be used herein.

FIG. 3shows a cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus100with an example of a cross fire tube assembly110as may be described herein. As described above, each cross fire tube assembly110extends between two adjacent combustor cans25. Any number of cross fire tube assemblies110may be used herein.

Generally described, the cross fire tube assembly110may have a pair of telescoping sleeves, a first sleeve120and a second sleeve130. The first sleeve120and the second sleeve130may be sized for sliding engagement with one another. One or more springs140or other type of biasing elements may be in communication with the first sleeve120and the second sleeve130. The spring140may be a compression spring and the like that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the first sleeve120and the second sleeve130. The first sleeve120may have a first flange150at one end thereof and the second sleeve130may have a second flange160at the opposite end thereof. The first flange150may have a first groove170on an interior surface and the second flange150may have a similar second groove180thereon.

The cross fire tube assembly110further may include a pair of cross fire tube collars, a first cross fire tube collar190and a second cross fire tube collar200. The first cross fire tube collar190extends through a first annular passage210through the liner58and the flow sleeve62of a first combustor can215and the second cross fire tube collar200extends through a second annular passage220the liner58and the flow sleeve62of an adjacent second combustor can225. The first cross fire tube collar190may be sized for a friction fit and the like within a first liner collar230and the second cross fire tube collar200may be sized for a friction fit within a second liner collar240. The first cross fire tube collar190may have a first collar flange250and the second cross fire tube collar200may have a second collar flange260. The collar flanges250,260may be sized to accommodate the sleeve flanges150,160. The size, shape, and configuration of the overall cross fire tube assembly110may vary. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

FIGS. 3-7show an example of a cross fire tube tool300of the cross fire tube installation/removal apparatus100. The cross fire tube tool300includes a reaction arm310. The reaction arm310may be substantially tubular in shape and may be made out of steel or other types of substantially rigid materials. The reaction arm310may have a driving screw320extending therethrough. The driving screw320may be made out of steel or other types of substantially rigid materials. The driving screw320may have a number of driving screw threads330thereon. The driving screw320may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

The cross fire tube tool300also includes a holder340with a number of holder arms350positioned at one end of the reaction arm310. The holder340may be made out of stainless steel or other types of substantially rigid materials. The holder340may have an internal driving screw aperture360therein. The driving screw aperture360may have a number of holder threads370. The driving screw aperture360may be sized to accommodate the driving screw320therein in threaded engagement for movement therewith. A holder set screw380also may be used. The holder arms350may be sized and positioned to maneuver the driving screw320of the cross fire tube tool300as desired.

The cross fire tube tool300may have a tubular spring390positioned partially within and at the other end of the reaction arm310. The tubular spring390may be substantially tubular in shape and may be made out of steel or other types of substantially rigid materials. The tubular spring390may have a number of spring slots400formed therein so as to give the tubular spring390an appropriate amount of compressibility. The size, shape, and configuration of the spring slots400may vary. The tubular spring390may be maneuverable within the reaction arm310via a locking knob410positioned within a locking knob aperture420in the reaction arm310. The locking knob410may be made out of stainless steel or other types of substantially rigid materials. The locking knob aperture420may have a number of locking slots430formed therein so as to lock the locking knob410and the tubular spring390in place for insertion or removal of the cross fire tube assembly110. The tubular spring390may have a spring flange440on the opposite end thereof. The spring flange440may be sized to engage with the grooves170,180of the cross fire tube assembly110as described above.

The cross fire tube tool300may have a bearing journal450attached one the end of the driving screw310. The bearing journal450may have a number of bearing journal threads460thereon for threaded engagement with the driving screw310. A bearing journal set screw470also may be used. The bearing journal450may be made out of steel or other types of substantially rigid materials. A sleeve bearing480may surround the bearing journal450. The sleeve bearing480may be made out of brass or other types of substantially rigid materials. The bearing journal450and the sleeve bearing480may be held in place on the driving screw320via a hex nut490or a similar types of closures. A cone end500and the like may enclose the bearing journal450and the sleeve bearing480. The cone end500may be made of steel and similar types of substantially rigid materials. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

FIGS. 8-11show the cross fire tube apparatus100in operation. InFIG. 8, the cross fire tube tool300may be inserted through the first annular passage210within the liner58and the flow sleeve62of the first combustion can215. The cross flow tube assembly110then may be placed on the cross fire tube tool300between the two adjacent combustor cans215,225. InFIG. 9, the cross fire tube tool300may be compressed such that the spring flange440of the tubular spring390engages the second groove180in the second flange160of the second sleeve130of the cross fire tube assembly110. The cone end500may be configured to expand the diameter of the tubular spring390to lock the spring flange440in place. InFIG. 10, the cross fire tube tool300may be further compressed via the driving screw320and the holder340so as to compress the cross fire tube assembly110. InFIG. 11, the second collar200of the cross fire tube assembly110may be positioned within the second passage220of the second combustor can225. The compression on the cross fire tool300then may be released so as to drive the second sleeve130of the cross fire tube assembly110into the second collar200. The cross fire tube tool300then may be removed. Similarly, the cross fire tube assembly110may be removed in largely the opposite fashion. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

The cross fire tube tool300thus may lock into place within the grooves170,180of the cross fire tube assembly110for accurate placement given the use of the spring flange440and the cone end500. Likewise, the tubular spring390may be mechanically compressed via the driving screw320. The cross fire installation/removal apparatus100thus allows for the accurate and timely installation and removal of the cross fire tube assemblies110.