Turbine wheelspace temperature control

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling an amount of cooling air provided to a wheelspace of a turbine section of a gas turbine includes a sensor that senses a temperature of the wheelspace and provides a sensed temperature signal. The apparatus also includes a processor, responsive to the sensed temperature signal, that determines if the temperature of the wheelspace exceeds a desired value. If the temperature of the wheelspace exceeds the desired value, the processor activates an actuator control signal to control movement of a cooling air control valve to allow a greater amount of cooling air sourced from a compressor section of the gas turbine or from a cooling air cooler which receives air from the compressor section of the gas turbine to flow to the wheelspace, thereby cooling the temperature of the wheelspace.

1 . Apparatus for controlling an amount of cooling air provided to a wheelspace of a turbine section of a gas turbine, the apparatus comprising:
 a sensor that senses a temperature of the wheelspace and provides a sensed temperature signal;   a processor, responsive to the sensed temperature signal, that determines if the temperature of the wheelspace exceeds a desired value; and   if the temperature of the wheelspace exceeds the desired value, the processor activates an actuator control signal to control movement of a cooling air control valve to allow a greater amount of cooling air sourced from a compressor section of the gas turbine or from a cooling air cooler which receives air from the compressor section of the gas turbine to flow to the wheelspace, thereby cooling the temperature of the wheelspace.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the cooling air being provided to a plenum in which the cooling air control valve is located. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the actuator control signal provided to a first actuator that controls movement of an output shaft of the first actuator in response to the actuator control signal, the output shaft of the first actuator being connected with the cooling air control valve, the movement of the first actuator output shaft controlling the movement of the cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , the cooling air control valve being connected with a tube having one or more openings that align with one or more openings in the cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace when the temperature of the wheelspace exceeds the desired value. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , the first actuator output shaft and the cooling air control valve being rotatable. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a second actuator being connected to the actuator control signal, the second actuator having an output connected to the first actuator that controls movement of an output shaft of the second actuator in response to the actuator control signal, the output shaft of the first actuator being connected with the cooling air control valve, the movement of the first actuator output shaft controlling the movement of the cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the second actuator comprising one of a motor or hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the cooling air being provided by a pipe, duct or hole to a plenum in which the cooling air control valve is located. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a plurality of first actuators being connected to the actuator control signal, each of the plurality of first actuators having an output connected to a synch ring that simultaneously controls movement of an output shaft of each of the plurality of first actuators in response to the actuator control signal, the output shaft of each of the plurality of first actuators being connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of the cooling air control valves, the movement of each one of the first actuator output shafts controlling the movement of the corresponding cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the cooling air control valve comprising a rotating valve ring located within a diaphragm, the cooling air being provided to the diaphragm in which the rotating valve ring is located. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for controlling an amount of cooling air provided to a wheelspace of a turbine section of a gas turbine, the apparatus comprising:
 a sensor that senses a temperature of the wheelspace and provides a sensed temperature signal;   a processor, responsive to the sensed temperature signal, that determines if the temperature of the wheelspace is below a desired value; and   if the temperature of the wheelspace is below the desired value, the processor activates an actuator control signal to control movement of a cooling air control valve to allow a lesser amount of cooling air sourced from a compressor section of the gas turbine or from a cooling air cooler which receives air from a compressor section of the gas turbine to flow to the wheelspace, thereby allowing the temperature of the wheelspace to increase.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the cooling air being provided to a plenum in which the cooling air control valve is located. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the actuator control signal provided to a first actuator that controls movement of an output shaft of the first actuator in response to the actuator control signal, the output shaft of the first actuator being connected with the cooling air control valve, the movement of the first actuator output shaft controlling the movement of the cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the cooling air control valve being connected with a tube having one or more openings that align with one or more openings in the cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace when the temperature of the wheelspace is below the desired value. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the first actuator output shaft and the cooling air control valve being rotatable. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , a second actuator being connected to the actuator control signal, the second actuator having an output connected to the first actuator that controls movement of an output shaft of the second actuator in response to the actuator control signal, the output shaft of the first actuator being connected with the cooling air control valve, the movement of the first actuator output shaft controlling the movement of the cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the second actuator comprising one of a motor or hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the cooling air being provided by a pipe, duct or hole to a plenum in which the cooling air control valve is located. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , a plurality of first actuators being connected to the actuator control signal, each of the plurality of first actuators having an output connected to a synch ring that simultaneously controls movement of an output shaft of each of the plurality of first actuators in response to the actuator control signal, the output shaft of each of the plurality of first actuators being connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of the cooling air control valves, the movement of each one of the first actuator output shafts controlling the movement of the corresponding cooling air control valve to allow the cooling air to flow to the wheelspace. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the cooling air control valve comprising a rotating valve ring located within a diaphragm, the cooling air being provided to the diaphragm in which the rotating valve ring is located.