Patent ID: 7040861

Claim:
An apparatus for reducing self-sealing flow in a combined cycle double flow steam turbine, the apparatus comprising: a turbine housing; a rotor rotatably disposed within said turbine housing; a first brush seal for reducing clearance between a packing ring and a rotor at a first location, the first location being on a first end of a low-pressure turbine; a second brush seal for reducing clearance between the packing ring and the rotor at a second location, the second location being adjacent to the first location; a third bush seal for reducing clearance between the packing ring and the rotor at a third location, the third location being on a second end of low-pressure turbine; and a fourth brush seal for reducing clearance between the packing ring and the rotor at a fourth location, the fourth location being adjacent to the third location; whereby overall efficiency of the steam turbine is improved by the combined action of the four specifically positioned seals, thereby reducing higher pressure steam source requirements for self sealing of the steam turbine.