Patent Abstract:
In one aspect, a method for assembling a filtration system is provided. The method includes providing a filter including a retainer formed therewith. The method also includes coupling a gasket about the retainer such that the gasket circumscribes the retainer, such that the gasket is integrally formed with a clamp and such that the clamp is coupled to the retainer in a friction fit.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention relates generally to a filter assembly for use in a turbine system, and more particularly, to a filter assembly for use in a gas turbine engine. 
         [0002]    Fabric filtration is a common technique for use in removing particulate matter from an air stream in a turbine engine. Such filters are often used in known baghouses. Known baghouses may include a housing that includes an inlet that receives dirty, particulate-containing air and an outlet through which clean air is discharged from the baghouse. In such baghouses, often the interior of the housing is divided by a tube sheet, into a dirty air or upstream plenum, and a clean air or downstream plenum. Air flows through the inlet located in the dirty air plenum, through the filters and into the clean air plenum before being leaving through the outlet of the clean air plenum. Known tube sheets are formed with a number of apertures, and support a plurality of filter elements that each extend about one of the apertures. 
         [0003]    At least some known filter elements include a hollow support structure and a fabric filter media. In some of such filter elements, the support structure, which is also called a core, typically has a cylindrical shape that is defined by walls that include perforations that enable a fluid to pass therethrough. At least one end of the support structure is open and is coupled to the tube sheet such that the support structure extends about an aperture defined in the tube sheet into the dirty air plenum. Gaskets or filter seals are used to prevent air from flowing between the upstream and downstream side of the filter media in such a manner that the flow by-passes the filter element. 
         [0004]    Generally, known filter seals are rigidly coupled to the filter with an adhesive. However, during installation, if the filter is inadvertently bumped, the rigid connection between the filter and filter seal may become weakened. Moreover, continued exposure to high temperature fluid flows over time, may weaken the effectiveness of and/or degrade the adhesive. Continued operation with a weakened bond between the filter and filter seal, may enable air to by-pass the filter elements and thus lessen the effectiveness of the baghouse. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a method for assembling a filtration system is provided. The method includes providing a filter including a retainer formed therewith. The method also includes coupling a gasket about the retainer such that the gasket circumscribes the retainer, such that the gasket is integrally formed with a clamp and such that the clamp is coupled to the retainer in a friction fit. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a filtration system including a filter assembly is provided. The filter assembly includes a filter including a retainer and a gasket circumscribing the retainer. The gasket includes a clamp formed integrally within the gasket, such that the clamp is configured to couple to the retainer in a friction fit. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a filter assembly for use with a filtration system is provided. The filter assembly includes a filter for filtering particulate in a gas turbine system including a retainer and a gasket circumscribing the retainer. The gasket includes a clamp formed integrally within the gasket, such that the clamp is configured to couple to the retainer in a friction fit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary turbine engine assembly. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary filtration system that may be used with the turbine engine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic illustration of a filter assembly used with the filtration system shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary filter assembly that may be used with the filter assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary filter seal that may be used with the filter assembly shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative filter seal that may be used with the filter assembly shown in  FIG. 4   
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative filter seal that may be used with the filter assembly shown in  FIG. 4   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary turbine engine assembly  10  that includes a turbine engine  12  positioned in a housing  14 . Turbine engine  12  includes an inlet portion  16 , an engine portion  18 , and an exhaust portion  20 . In the exemplary embodiment, turbine engine  12  is a gas turbine engine. Engine portion  18  includes at least one compressor  22 , a combustor  24 , a high pressure turbine  26 , and a low pressure turbine  28  serially coupled together in flow communication. Inlet portion  16  includes an inlet  30 , and exhaust portion  20  includes an exhaust nozzle  32 . Turbine engine  12  may be any known turbine engine. In the exemplary embodiment, compressor  22  and high pressure turbine  26  are coupled together by a first shaft  34 , and low pressure turbine  28  and a driven load  36 , for example, an electric generator, are coupled together by a second shaft  38 . Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, an inlet air plenum or baghouse  40  is coupled in flow communication to air inlet  30 . 
         [0016]    In operation, air flows from baghouse  40  into engine inlet  30  through compressor  22  and is compressed. Compressed air is then channeled to combustor  24  where it is mixed with fuel and ignited. Airflow from combustor  24  drives rotating turbines  26  and  28  and exits gas turbine engine  12  through exhaust nozzle  32 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary filtration system  41  that is positioned in air plenum or baghouse  40  (shown in  FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic illustration of a filter assembly  46  that may be used with filtration system  41  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In the exemplary embodiment, filtration system  41  is contained in baghouse  40 . Baghouse  40  is defined by a housing  42  that includes an inlet  44  and an outlet  48  and divided into a dirty air plenum  50  and a clean air plenum  52  by a tube sheet  54 . As used herein, the term dirty air/gas is defined as particulate-containing air/gas, and the term clean air/gas is defined as air/gas that has had substantially all particulate matter removed from the air/gas. Tube sheet  54  is fabricated from a heat-resistive material, such as sheet metal and includes at least a portion that is substantially planar and that is formed with openings  56  extending therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, openings  56  are spaced substantially evenly across tube sheet  54 . 
         [0018]    Each filter assembly  46  is coupled within a respective opening  56 . More specifically, each filter assembly  46  is coupled against tube sheet  54  such that each assembly  46  extends through a respective opening  56  defined in tube sheet  54 . More specifically, when assemblies  46  are each coupled to tube sheet  54 , each assembly  46  is positioned against a dirty air side  57  of tube sheet  54 . Moreover, when assembled, dirty gas plenum  50  is substantially isolated and is substantially sealed from clean gas plenum  52  other than through openings  56 . Although, filter assemblies  46  are illustrated as being vertically-oriented, it should be noted that filter assemblies  46  could be mounted in any orientation that enables baghouse  40  to function as described herein. 
         [0019]    In the exemplary embodiment, each filter assembly  46  includes a pleated filter media  61 . Filter media  61  is formed into a tubular configuration that has a substantially circular cross-section profile. Alternatively, filter assemblies  46  may include any filter media that enables filter assembly  41  to function as described herein, including but not limited to, a pulse cartridge filter, a bag filter, and a minipleat v-cell filter. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, filter media  61  may be formed in any shape or configuration that enables assemblies  46  to function as described herein. For example, filter assemblies  46  may be formed with any desired length L that enables the filtering requirements of baghouse  40  to be satisfied. In the exemplary embodiment, each filter assembly  46  includes a first filter  70  and a second filter  72  that are coupled substantially concentrically together in a serial flow arrangement such that first filter  70  is downstream from second filter  72 . 
         [0021]    In the exemplary embodiment, pleated filter media  61  circumscribes a support member  63  of filter assembly  46 . More specifically, pleated filter media  61  circumscribes an outer periphery  64  of support member  63  and includes accordion folds that are formed along its inner and outer peripheries  64  and  65 , respectively. Pleated filter media  61  may be constructed of any material that enables desired filtering to be satisfied based on the designed operating conditions of baghouse  40 . For example, media  61  may be fabricated from materials that include, but not limited to only including, polyester, acrylic and/or polypropylene. 
         [0022]    A first filter seal or gasket  110  is coupled to first filter  70  such that gasket  110  circumscribes a flange  66  of support member  63 . A second filter seal or gasket  120  is coupled to second filter  72  such that gasket  120  circumscribes flange  66  of support member  63 . Filter seals  110  and  120  may be fabricated from any material that substantially prevents the ingress or egress of air or water including, but not limited to, cellulose and rubber, such as neoprene. 
         [0023]    During operation, particulate-laden gas flow D enters inlet  44 , and clean gas flow C is discharged through outlet  48  towards turbine engine inlet  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). More specifically, particulate-laden flow D is filtered by assemblies  46  positioned within baghouse  40  and clean flow C exits through an outlet  48  of baghouse  40 . Dirty gas plenum  50  is substantially sealed from clean gas plenum  52  with filter assembly  46  such that flow communication therebetween is substantially prevented between dirty gas plenum  50  and clean gas plenum  52  except through assemblies  46 . Support member  63  supports pleated filter media  61  as flow moves through filter assembly  46  during operation of baghouse  40 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary filter assembly  46 . In the exemplary embodiment, filter assembly  46  includes a first filter  70  that circumscribes second filter  72 , and pleated filter media  61  that circumscribes filters  70  and  72 . In the exemplary embodiment, first filter seal  110  is coupled to flange  66  of support member  63  of first filter  70 , and second filter seal  120  is coupled to flange  66  of support member  63  of second filter  72  and circumscribes support member  63 . 
         [0025]    When filter assembly  46  is inserted in baghouse tube sheet  54 , a tripod  80  is used to retain filter assembly  46  against tube sheet  54 . In the exemplary embodiment, tripod  80  compresses first filter  70  against second filter  72 , and similarly, compresses filter assembly  46  against tube sheet  54 . Moreover, tripod  80 , compresses filter assembly  46  to substantially prevent ingress and egress of water and air in between adjacent support members  63 , and between support members  63  and tube sheet  54 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7  are cross-sectional views of different exemplary filter seals  110 ,  120 , and  130  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). In the exemplary embodiment, first filter seal  110  is manufactured in a  FIG. 8  configuration that includes a first seal member  114  that is coupled to a second seal member  116 . First seal member  114  is substantially circular and includes an aperture  118  defined therein that is sized to receive a flange  66  of support member  63 . In the exemplary embodiment, second seal member  116  is hollow and is larger than first seal member  114 , and is sized and oriented to be inserted between support member  63  and tube sheet  54 . Insert  112  is embedded in first seal member  114  in a U-shaped manner that enables a friction fit between support member  63  and flange  66 . Insert  112  may be fabricated from any suitable material that enables the filter seals  110 ,  120 , and  130  to be retained against support member  63  including, but not limited to, steel and stainless steel. Alternatively, seal members  114  and  116  may be fabricated in a solid configuration and have any cross-sectional shape that enables first filter seal  110  to function as described herein. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative filter seal  120  that may be used with filter assembly  46  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). In the exemplary embodiment, second filter seal  120  is fabricated with a substantially circular body that includes an aperture  124  extending therethrough. Aperture  124  is sized to receive flange  66  of therein. Insert  112  is embedded in second seal member  120  in a U-shaped manner that enables a friction fit between support member  63  and flange  66 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another alternative filter seal  130  that may be used with filter assembly  46  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). In the exemplary embodiment, filter seal  130  is a solid seal. Alternatively, at least a portion of filter seal  130  may be hollow. In the exemplary embodiment, filter seal  130  includes a rounded edge  134  that is sized and shaped to receive support member  63 . Insert  132  is embedded in filter seal  130  in a U-shaped orientation that enables a friction fit between support member  63  and flange  66 . In the exemplary embodiment, filter seal  130  also includes a substantially planar edge  136  opposite rounded edge  134 . Alternatively, edges  134  and  136  of filter seal  130  can have any shape that enables filter seal  110  to function as described herein including, but not limited to, straight, concave, and convex. 
         [0029]    An exemplary benefit of fabricating a filter assembly using a tripod and seals, such as seals  110 ,  120 , and/or  130 , and as detailed herein, is that no additional materials are needed to couple a filter seal to the filter. In contrast, at least some known filter seals use either an adhesive or a mechanical fitting to couple the filter seal to the filter. In contrast, the seals described herein provide a cost-effective and highly reliable device for use within a filter assembly. 
         [0030]    Exemplary embodiments of filter assembly for a turbine system are described above in detail. The methods and systems are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of systems and/or steps of the methods may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. For example, the methods may also be used in combination with other filtration systems and methods, and are not limited to practice with only the turbine systems and methods as described herein. Rather, the exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection with many other filtration or sealing applications. 
         [0031]    Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1