Systems and methods for an improved stator

Abstract

In an embodiment, a system includes a rotary machine. The rotary machine includes a rotor having a plurality of blades and a segmented stator having a plurality of stator segments arranged circumferentially about the plurality of blades. Each adjacent pair of first and second segments of the plurality of stator segments includes a recess extending circumferentially across an intermediate joint between the first and second segments. Furthermore, each recess includes at least one eccentricity control insert configured to mitigate eccentricity of an inner circumference of the segmented stator due to thermal expansion or thermal contraction of the segmented stator.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a rotary machine, comprising:
 a rotor comprising a plurality of blades; and 
 a segmented stator comprising a plurality of stator segments arranged circumferentially about the plurality of blades, wherein each adjacent pair of first and second segments of the plurality of stator segments includes a recess extending circumferentially across an intermediate joint between the first and second segments, and each recess includes at least one eccentricity control insert configured to mitigate eccentricity of an inner circumference of the segmented stator due to thermal expansion or thermal contraction of the segmented stator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one eccentricity control insert comprises an abradable portion disposed over a base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the abradable portion comprises alumina or a chrome carbine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the abradable portion has a first non-uniform thickness in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotor, the base portion has a second non-uniform thickness in the circumferential direction, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one eccentricity control insert comprises an arcuate shaped body having the abradable portion disposed over the base portion, wherein an arc length of the at least one eccentricity control insert extends less than approximately 60 degrees in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recess of each adjacent pair of first and second segments comprises a first recess portion disposed in the first segment and a second recess portion disposed in the second segment, and the at least one eccentricity control insert comprises a first insert portion disposed in the first recess portion and a second insert portion disposed in the second recess portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a radial depth of the first and second recess portions gradually decreases circumferentially away from the intermediate joint. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a radial thickness of the first and second insert portions gradually decreases circumferentially away from the intermediate joint. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a T-shaped slot and the at least one eccentricity control insert comprises at least one T-shaped insert configured to mount into the T-shaped slot in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary machine comprises a compressor or a turbine. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 an eccentricity control insert configured to mount in a recess at an intermediate joint between an adjacent pair of first and second segments of a segmented stator of a rotary machine, wherein the eccentricity control insert is configured to mitigate eccentricity of an inner circumference of the segmented stator due to thermal expansion or thermal contraction of the segmented stator.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an arc length of the eccentricity control insert extends less than approximately 60 degrees in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotary machine, the eccentricity control insert comprises an arcuate shaped body having an abradable portion disposed over a base portion, and at least one of the abradable portion or the base portion has a non-uniform thickness in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the eccentricity control insert comprises an abradable material configured to abrade away to protect a plurality of rotary blades of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an arc length of the eccentricity control insert extends less than approximately 60 degrees in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a radial thickness of the eccentricity control insert progressively increases from a first end portion to a second end portion in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the eccentricity control insert comprises a neck portion and a mounting base portion that extend in a lengthwise direction along the eccentricity control insert, and the mounting base portion is wider than the neck portion in a crosswise direction relative to the lengthwise direction. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising the rotary machine having a compressor or a turbine. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 a segmented stator comprising a plurality of stator segments arranged circumferentially about a rotational axis of a rotary machine, wherein each adjacent pair of first and second segments of the plurality of stator segments includes a recess extending circumferentially across an intermediate joint between the first and second segments, and each recess includes at least one eccentricity control insert configured to mitigate eccentricity of an inner circumference of the segmented stator due to thermal expansion or thermal contraction of the segmented stator.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein an arc length of the eccentricity control insert extends less than approximately 60 degrees in a circumferential direction about the rotational axis, and the eccentricity control insert comprises an abradable material configured to abrade away to protect a rotating component of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising the rotary machine having a compressor or a turbine.