Patent Publication Number: US-11041406-B2

Title: Inlet guide vane assembly of gas turbine and gas turbine

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
     This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2018/060142, which has an International filing date of Apr. 20, 2018, which designated the United States of America, and which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201720478719.5 filed May 2, 2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments of invention generally relate to an inlet guide vane assembly, in particular to an inlet guide vane assembly of a gas turbine, and a gas turbine having the above-mentioned inlet guide vane assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In existing gas turbines, inlet guide vanes are usually installed on an inlet cover of a compressor of the gas turbine to facilitate installation and maintenance. When the inlet guide vanes are to be installed, it is required to insert the inlet guide vanes into an outer casing of the inlet cover of the compressor in a radial direction, so it is necessary to cut an inner casing of the inlet cover to provide installation space. After the inlet guide vanes are installed, there is no support from the inlet casing, so that the part of the inlet guide vanes which is inserted into the outer inlet casing of the compressor is easily deformed and damaged due to bearing all the support force. 
     SUMMARY 
     At least one embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing an inlet guide vane assembly of a gas turbine, which can support the inlet guide vanes at an inlet cover to prevent the inlet guide vanes from being deformed and damaged. 
     At least one embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a gas turbine capable of supporting inlet guide vanes at an inlet cover to prevent the inlet guide vanes from being deformed and damaged. 
     According to the inlet guide vane assembly of a gas turbine of at least one embodiment of the present invention, the gas turbine comprises an inner inlet casing and an outer inlet casing, the outer inlet casing is sheathed outside the inner inlet casing, the outer inlet casing comprises a cylindrical fixing part, and the inlet guide vane assembly comprises a plurality of inlet guide vanes and a fixing assembly. One end of each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatably connected to a first fixing part, each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatable in a radial direction of the fixing part, and each of the inlet guide vanes comprises a fixing shaft which is disposed at the end away from fixing part. The fixing assembly comprises a support ring, a fixing ring and an abutting member. The support ring can be coaxially fixed to the inner inlet casing with the fixing part, wherein the support ring comprises a support part formed by radially extending from an outer surface of the support ring, and the support part comprises a support wall facing towards the inner inlet casing. The fixing ring is sheathed on the outer surface of the support ring and located between the inner inlet casing and the support part, wherein the fixing ring comprises a fixing wall facing towards the support part, the fixing wall can form, in cooperation with the support wall, a plurality of accommodating cavities corresponding to the plurality of inlet guide vanes after making contact with the support wall, and the fixing shafts are rotatably inserted into the accommodating cavities. The abutting member is disposed between the inner inlet casing and the fixing ring in an axial direction of the support ring, and the abutting member is in interference fit with the inner inlet casing and the fixing ring. 
     At least one embodiment of the present invention further provides a gas turbine, comprising an inner inlet casing, an outer inlet casing and an inlet guide vane assembly as described above. The outer inlet casing is sheathed outside the inner inlet casing and comprises a cylindrical fixing part. One end of each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatably connected to the first fixing part, each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatable in a radial direction of fixing part, and the support ring is fixed to the inner inlet casing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings are only to schematically describe and explain the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram for illustrating an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged schematic diagram for illustrating an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded structural schematic diagram for illustrating an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembly schematic diagram for illustrating an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is an assembly schematic diagram for illustrating another state of an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is an assembly schematic diagram for illustrating another state of an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  Inlet guide vane 
           12  Fixing shaft 
           20  Fixing assembly 
           21  Accommodating cavity 
           22  Support ring 
           24  Support part 
           25  Support wall 
           252  First groove 
           26  Fixing ring 
           27  Fixing wall 
           272  Second groove 
           28  Abutting member 
           29  Raised edge 
           30  Inner inlet casing 
           40  Outer inlet casing 
           42  Fixing part 
           50  Bolt 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     According to the inlet guide vane assembly of a gas turbine of at least one embodiment of the present invention, the gas turbine comprises an inner inlet casing and an outer inlet casing, the outer inlet casing is sheathed outside the inner inlet casing, the outer inlet casing comprises a cylindrical fixing part, and the inlet guide vane assembly comprises a plurality of inlet guide vanes and a fixing assembly. One end of each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatably connected to a first fixing part, each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatable in a radial direction of the fixing part, and each of the inlet guide vanes comprises a fixing shaft which is disposed at the end away from fixing part. The fixing assembly comprises a support ring, a fixing ring and an abutting member. The support ring can be coaxially fixed to the inner inlet casing with the fixing part, wherein the support ring comprises a support part formed by radially extending from an outer surface of the support ring, and the support part comprises a support wall facing towards the inner inlet casing. The fixing ring is sheathed on the outer surface of the support ring and located between the inner inlet casing and the support part, wherein the fixing ring comprises a fixing wall facing towards the support part, the fixing wall can form, in cooperation with the support wall, a plurality of accommodating cavities corresponding to the plurality of inlet guide vanes after making contact with the support wall, and the fixing shafts are rotatably inserted into the accommodating cavities. The abutting member is disposed between the inner inlet casing and the fixing ring in an axial direction of the support ring, and the abutting member is in interference fit with the inner inlet casing and the fixing ring. 
     The inlet guide vane assembly provided by at least one embodiment of the present invention has a detachable fixing assembly, implements support for two ends of each inlet guide vane by cooperating with the fixing shafts of the inlet guide vanes without affecting installation of the inlet guide vanes, and prevents the inlet guide vanes from deformation and damage. 
     In a further example embodiment of the inlet guide vane assembly, the support ring and the fixing ring are respectively assembled by two semi-rings. 
     In another example embodiment of the inlet guide vane assembly, the abutting member is a metal strip wound around the support ring. 
     In another example embodiment of the inlet guide vane assembly, a raised edge extending towards the inner inlet casing is formed on the abutting member, and the raised edge can be embedded into the inner inlet casing, so as to further fix the abutting member and prevent the abutting member from being disengaged from a support member. In another example embodiment of the inlet guide vane assembly, the support wall comprises a plurality of first grooves, and the fixing wall comprises a plurality of second grooves corresponding to the plurality of first grooves, the first grooves and the second grooves cooperating to form the accommodating cavities. 
     In another example embodiment of the inlet guide vane assembly, a sleeve is disposed within the accommodating cavity, and the fixing shaft extends through the sleeve, so as to facilitate the rotation of the fixing shaft inside the accommodating cavity. 
     In another example embodiment of the inlet guide vane assembly, the support ring is fixed to the inner inlet casing via a bolt. 
     At least one embodiment of the present invention further provides a gas turbine, comprising an inner inlet casing, an outer inlet casing and an inlet guide vane assembly as described above. The outer inlet casing is sheathed outside the inner inlet casing and comprises a cylindrical fixing part. One end of each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatably connected to the first fixing part, each of the inlet guide vanes is rotatable in a radial direction of fixing part, and the support ring is fixed to the inner inlet casing. 
     In the following, preferred embodiments will be described in a clear and understandable manner with reference to the accompanying drawings, which further describe the above characteristics, technical features, advantages and implementations of the inlet guide vane assembly and the gas turbine. 
     In order to facilitate clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives and effects of the present invention, particular embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the drawings. The same reference signs in the drawings denote components having the same structure, or similar structure but having the same function. Herein, “example” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration”, and any illustration or embodiment described herein as “example” should not be interpreted as a more preferred or more advantageous technical solution. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram for illustrating an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. With reference to  FIG. 1 , a gas turbine comprises an inner inlet casing  30  and an outer inlet casing  40 , the outer inlet casing  40  is sheathed outside the inner inlet casing  30 , and the outer inlet casing  40  comprises a cylindrical fixing part  42 . The inlet guide vane assembly comprises a plurality of inlet guide vanes  10  and a fixing assembly  20 . 
       FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged diagram of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded structural schematic diagram for illustrating an example embodiment of an inlet guide vane assembly. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  and in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , one end of each of the inlet guide vanes  10  is rotatably connected to a first fixing part, each of the inlet guide vanes  10  is rotatable in a radial direction of the fixing part  42 , each of the inlet guide vanes  10  comprises a fixing shaft  12  which is disposed at the end away from fixing part  42 . The fixing assembly  20  comprises a support ring  22 , a fixing ring  26  and an abutting member  28 . The support ring  22  can be coaxially fixed to the inner inlet casing  30  with the fixing part  42 , wherein the support ring  22  comprises a support part  24  formed by radially extending from an outer surface of the support ring  22 , and the support part  24  comprises a support wall  25  facing towards the inner inlet casing  30 . The fixing ring  26  is sheathed on the outer surface of the support ring  22  and located between the inner inlet casing  30  and the support part  24 , wherein the fixing ring  26  comprises a fixing wall  27  facing towards the support part  24 , the fixing wall  27  can form, in cooperation with the support wall  25 , a plurality of accommodating cavities  21  corresponding to the plurality of inlet guide vanes  10  after making contact with the support wall  25 , and the fixing shafts  12  are rotatably inserted into the accommodating cavities  21 . The abutting member  28  is disposed between the inner inlet casing  30  and the fixing ring  26  in an axial direction of the support ring, and the abutting member  28  is in interference fit with the inner inlet casing  30  and the fixing ring  26 . 
       FIGS. 3 to 5  are assembly schematic diagrams of the inlet guide vane assembly. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , when the inlet guide vane assembly is to be mounted, the inlet guide vanes  10  (only one of which is shown in the figure) are firstly installed in a radial direction of the fixing part  42 , as indicated by the arrow in the figure. Then, the support ring  22  is installed, with reference to  FIG. 5 . After the support ring  22  is installed in place, the fixing ring  24  is installed on the surface of the support ring. In an example embodiment, the support ring  22  and the fixing ring  26  are assembled by two semi-rings. Firstly, the two semi-rings forming the support ring  22  are fixed to the inner inlet casing  40  by a bolt  50  as shown in the figure. Then, the two semi-rings forming the fixing ring  26  are installed in the surface of the support ring  22 . After the fixing ring  26  is installed, the fixing ring  26  is pushed along the arrow in  FIG. 5 , such that the fixing wall  27  of the fixing ring  26  abuts against the support wall  25  of the support ring  22 . At this time, the fixing shafts  12  of the inlet guide vanes  10  are rotatably fixed in the accommodating cavities  21  under cooperation between the support wall  25  and the fixing wall  27 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the abutting member  28  is installed after the fixing shafts of the inlet guide vanes  10  are fixed. In an example embodiment, The abutting member  28  is a metal strip which is inserted between the inner inlet casing  30  and the fixing ring in the direction shown by the arrow in  FIG. 6  after contraction caused by cold treatment, surrounds the outer surface of the support ring  22 , and is in interference fit with the inner inlet casing  30  and the fixing ring  26 , so as to fix the fixing ring  26 . 
     In an example embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 6 , a raised edge  29  extending towards the inner inlet casing  40  is formed on the abutting member  28 , and the raised edge  29  is embedded into the inner inlet casing  40 . The raised edge further fixes the abutting member and prevents the abutting member from being disengaged from the support member. 
     In an example embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the support wall  24  comprises a plurality of first grooves  252  (only one of which is shown in the figure), the fixing wall  27  comprises a plurality of second grooves  272  (only one of which is shown in the figure) corresponding to the plurality of first grooves  252 , the first grooves  252  and the second grooves  272  cooperating to form the accommodating cavities  21 . In an example embodiment, the first groove  252  and the second groove  272  are semi-cylindrical grooves, respectively, and are aligned to form a cylindrical accommodating cavity  21 , but not limited thereto. In other example embodiments, the first groove  252  and the second groove  272  may also be other shapes that facilitate the insertion of the fixing shaft  12 . 
     In an example embodiment, a sleeve is disposed within the accommodating cavity  21 , and the fixing shaft  12  extends through the sleeve. The sleeve facilitates the rotation of the fixing shaft inside the accommodating cavity. 
     In an example embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the support ring  22  is fixed to the inner inlet casing  30  via a bolt  50 . 
     An example embodiment of the present invention further provides a gas turbine, comprising an inner inlet casing  30 , an outer inlet casing  40  and an inlet guide vane assembly as described above. The outer inlet casing  40  is sheathed outside the inner inlet casing  30 , and the outer inlet casing  40  comprises a cylindrical fixing part  42 . One end of each of the inlet guide vanes  10  is rotatably connected to the first fixing part, each of the inlet guide vanes  10  is rotatable in a radial direction of the fixing part  42 , and the support ring  22  is fixed to the inner inlet casing  30 . 
     It should be understood that, although the description is given according to the embodiments, each embodiment does not merely comprise one independent technical solution, and this narrative manner of the description is merely for clarity. A person skilled in the art should take the description as a whole, and technical solutions in the embodiments can also be appropriately combined to form other implementations that can be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     The detailed descriptions set forth above are merely specific descriptions directed to the feasible embodiments of the present invention, and they are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation or change, such as combination, division or repetition of features, made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.