Patent Abstract:
A thermal isolation device for a gas turbine combustor assembly includes a plurality of substantially flat plates secured in spaced relationship by a plurality of columns, at least one column incorporating a bolt hole for use in securing the device between a pair of combustor components.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to land based gas turbines used for power generation and, specifically, to a device that protects liquid fuel from convective, conductive and radiation heat transfer loads. 
   It has been found that heat loading into the fuel components of the gas turbine engine are sufficient to form coke within the components, resulting in loss of turbine performance. The inventors are aware of no prior attempts to solve this problem. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a device that is designed to provide an increase in thermal resistance between the gas turbine liquid fuel system components and one of the primary heat sources, thus providing a reduction in heat transfer into the fuel component that leads to increased operational performance of those components. 
   In the exemplary embodiment, the thermal isolation device includes an assembly of three thin, flat cylindrical columns and three plates. The columns provide structural support for the isolation device and the liquid fuel system components that are attached to the isolation device. The flat plates, arranged substantially perpendicularly to the columns and spaced from each other along the axes of the columns, provide desired surface area for convective cooling. The three plates are spaced equidistantly from one another, and the number of plates may vary. The device is adapted for integration with a gas turbine combustor assembly, for example, between the combustor end cover and the liquid fuel distributor valve. 
   The height of the isolation device is sized to provide adequate increase in conductive path length for increased thermal resistance. The plates are sized to be as large as possible so as to provide maximum surface area for cooling as well as to provide the maximum shielding of radiation heat loading from the end cover to the liquid fuel distributor valve, while being limited by geometric restrictions due to adjacent componentry on the current combustion end cover assembly and the limitations of additional structural concerns due to vibration. 
   Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a thermal isolation device for a gas turbine combustor assembly comprising a plurality of substantially flat plates secured in spaced relationship by a plurality of columns, at least one column incorporating a bolt hole for use in securing the device between a pair of combustor components. 
   In another aspect, the invention relates to a thermal isolation device for a gas turbine combustor assembly comprising at least three substantially flat and substantially triangular-shaped plates secured in spaced, substantially parallel relationship to at least three columns. 
   The invention will now be described in connection with the drawings identified below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a thermal isolation device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a section taken along the line  3 – 3  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail taken from  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the thermal isolation device as shown in  FIG. 1  in combination with a liquid fuel distributor valve. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference initially to  FIGS. 1–3 , the thermal isolation device  10  is constructed of three discrete columns  12 ,  14  and  16 , each formed with respective through holes (or bolt holes)  18 ,  20  and  22 . A plurality of flat plates  24 ,  26  and  28  are secured to the columns in axially spaced relationship, i.e., axially spaced along the longitudinal axes of the columns. 
   The three cooling plates  24 ,  26  and  28  are approximately 0.100 inches in thickness, and their plan view geometry is approximately triangular, with truncated corners at  30 ,  32 . The cooling plates  24 ,  26  and  28  generate a maximum footprint or coverage on the end cover, limited only by structural vibration concerns. 
   The plates  24 ,  26  and  28  are secured, by brazing for example, to respective radial flanges  34 ,  36  and  38 , best seen in  FIG. 4 . The diameters of the flanges increase from top to bottom (in the orientation shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) facilitating brazing of the plates to the columns. 
   The length or height of the columns  12 ,  14  and  16  is determined so as to provide increased conduction length and hence less heat transfer into the liquid fuel distributor valve  40  from the combustion end cover  42 . In the exemplary embodiment, the thermal isolation device  10 , including the columns and plates, is made of stainless steel. 
   The columns  12 ,  14  and  16  are arranged so as to accommodate the mounting flange and bolt pattern of the liquid fuel component parts. In the exemplary embodiment, the component parts include a liquid fuel distributor valve  40  best seen in  FIG. 5 . In this way, the device  10  can be mounted between the mounting flange  44  of the liquid fuel distributor valve  40  and the combustion end cover  42  and secured by bolts  46 ,  48  and  50  without modification to either of the fuel component parts. With this arrangement, the large planform area of the thermal isolation device  10  provides shielding of radiation modes from the end cover  42 . At the same time, cooling air flowing between the plates  24 ,  26  and  28  at temperatures of 250–275 ° F. will provide a cooling benefit to the liquid fuel distributor valve  40  and the fuel flowing through the valve. It is expected that the fuel temperature may drop by about 50° F. 
   It will be appreciated that the triangular shape of the plates is dictated to a large extent by the shape of the mounting flange or other surface of the fuel component to which it is to be attached and its associated bolt pattern. Both the shape and number of plates may vary, depending on specific applications. For example, for a square mounting flange on a distributor valve with a four bolt pattern, the device  10  could be modified to include square plates and four columns arranged to match the four bolt pattern. 
   The main advantage of a thermal isolation device  10  is an increase in thermal resistance resulting in a sufficient reduction and operational temperatures of the liquid fuel distributor valve so as to lower the liquid fuel temperature and thus result in higher operational efficiency. The isolation device  10  is designed to be an addition to a current system, but requires only minimal changes to the existing components such as fuel tubes, etc. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5