Turbine assembly and method for reducing fluid flow between turbine components

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a stator and a rotor adjacent to the stator. The turbine assembly also includes a passage formed in a member coupled to the rotor to form a fluid curtain between the rotor and stator, wherein the fluid curtain reduces a flow between the stator and rotor.

1 . A turbine assembly comprising:
 a stator,   a rotor adjacent to the stator; and   a passage formed in a member coupled to the rotor to receive a flow of fluid to form a fluid curtain between the rotor and stator, wherein the fluid curtain reduces a fluid flow between the stator and rotor.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a cover plate. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid curtain is directed from a projection in the cover plate. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the passage is supplied the flow of fluid from a fluid source, wherein the fluid source provides fluid for controlling a temperature of portions of the turbine assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a narrowing passage to cause an increased fluid flow velocity within the passage to form the fluid curtain. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the passage directs the fluid curtain at an angle with respect to a turbine axis. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced fluid flow comprises a reduced cooling air flow that flows through radially inner portions of the stator and rotor. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid curtain is formed from the cooling air flow. 
     
     
         9 . A method for reducing fluid flow between turbine components comprising:
 flowing a hot gas across a stator;   flowing the hot gas across a rotor adjacent to the stator;   flowing a cooling air flow through radially inner portions of the stator and rotor; and   flowing a fluid from a member on the rotor to the stator to reduce leaking of the flow of cooling air and the flow of hot gas between the stator and rotor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein flowing the fluid from the member comprises forming a fluid curtain. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid curtain is formed from the cooling air flow. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein flowing the fluid comprises flowing the fluid through a passage in a projection of the member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the passage comprises a narrowing passage to cause increased fluid flow velocity within the passage to form a fluid curtain between the rotor and stator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the passage is supplied the fluid from a fluid source, wherein the fluid source provides fluid for controlling a temperature of portions of the turbine assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the member comprises a cover plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein flowing the fluid comprises directing the flow of fluid at an angle with respect to a turbine axis.