Patent ID: 10519862

Abstract:
A gas turbine engine having a rotor centering cooling system for cooling struts within an exhaust diffuser and turbine case to reduce tip rub during hot restarts is disclosed. In particular, the rotor centering cooling system may be positioned within struts in the exhaust diffuser downstream from a turbine assembly for limiting thermal gradients between top and bottom struts to prevent the exhaust bearing body from becoming off-center during steady state operation as a result of the top struts becoming hotter than the bottom struts. The rotor centering cooling system may reduce the temperature at the exhaust diffuser and turbine case, thereby reducing the thermal gradient between the top and bottom struts and top and bottom of the turbine case. As such, the exhaust bearing body remains centered, thereby preventing a tighter blade tip clearance at the top of the turbine assembly than at the bottom of the assembly.