Patent ID: 7402024

Claim:
A steam turbine useful for high pressure applications, intermediate pressure applications, or both applications, the steam turbine comprising: a rotor which can rotate about an axis; an inner casing which concentrically surrounds the rotor at a distance to form an annular passage extending axially; an outer casing which concentrically surrounds the inner casing at a distance to form an annular intermediate space extending axially; blading comprising rotor blades and guide vanes in the annular passage; wherein the annular passage includes an outlet side in fluid communication with the annular intermediate space in order for steam to be passed from the annular passage to the annular intermediate space; a plurality of shrink rings axially arranged one behind the other and projecting into the intermediate space to form a finned structure, the plurality of shrink rings externally surrounding the inner casing; means for leveling the finned structure formed by the shrink rings on the outer side of the inner casing such that the annular intermediate space is delimited on the inner side by a continuously smooth inner surface; and wherein the means for leveling comprises a cylindrical shroud which surrounds all the shrink rings.