Turbine vibration reduction system

Abstract

A turbine vibration reduction system includes a nozzle, a bucket in operable communication with the nozzle, and a structure having at least one opening configured to inject fluid into flow traveling past the nozzle and the bucket to disrupt formation of a vortex.

1 . A turbine vibration reduction system, comprising:
 a nozzle;   a bucket in operable communication with the nozzle; and   a structure near the bucket having at least one opening configured to inject fluid into flow traveling past the nozzle and the bucket to disrupt formation of a vortex.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is on a portion of the structure between the nozzle and the bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket is a last stage bucket. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is the nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is at a trailing edge of the nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is located on an inner radial half of the nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is a hole with diameter about  0 . 15  inches. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is a plurality of openings that are equally spaced on the nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of openings are oriented to inject steam in alignment with the flow. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening is configured to inject about 10 pounds per second of steam at about 1.0 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is steam. 
     
     
         12 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is a hub. 
     
     
         13 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one opening is a slot. 
     
     
         14 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one opening is a plurality of openings distributed circumferentially around the hub. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one opening is angled to inject steam at an angle of about 25-45 degrees relative to an axis of the hub. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one opening is configured to inject about 3.0 pounds of steam at about 1.0 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         17 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is a casing. 
     
     
         18 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one opening is located in a portion of the casing that is downstream of the bucket. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine vibration reduction system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one opening is a plurality of holes that are distributed circumferentially about the casing. 
     
     
         20 . A turbine vibration reduction system comprising:
 a nozzle;   a last stage bucket in operable communication with the nozzle; and   a casing surrounding the last stage bucket having an opening therein located downstream of the last stage bucket being configured to inject fluid into flow having passed the last stage bucket to disrupt formation of a vortex in the fluid during operational conditions of the turbine conducive to vortex formation.