Turbine exhaust diffuser

Abstract

A turbine exhaust diffuser includes a diffuser component disposed within the turbine exhaust diffuser and having an outer surface. Also included is a suction path extending between the outer surface and an interior compartment of the diffuser component, wherein the suction path is configured to ingest a fluid. Further included is an actuating path extending between the outer surface and the interior compartment of the diffuser component, wherein the actuating path is configured to expel the fluid. Yet further included is a flow manipulating device disposed within the interior compartment of the diffuser component.

1 . A turbine exhaust diffuser comprising:
 a diffuser component disposed within the turbine exhaust diffuser and having an outer surface;   a suction path extending between the outer surface and an interior compartment of the diffuser component, wherein the suction path is configured to ingest a fluid;   an actuating path extending between the outer surface and the interior compartment of the diffuser component, wherein the actuating path is configured to expel the fluid; and   a flow manipulating device disposed within the interior compartment of the diffuser component.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component comprises an annular inner barrel extending in a longitudinal direction of the turbine exhaust diffuser. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser component comprises a strut extending between, and operably coupled to, an inner barrel extending in a longitudinal direction of the turbine exhaust diffuser and an outer wall disposed radially outwardly of the inner barrel, wherein the strut comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge and a suction side. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 3 , wherein the suction path is disposed proximate the leading edge of the strut. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 3 , further comprising a chord length extending between, and defined by, the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the actuating path is disposed at a location along the chord length about 60% downstream of the leading edge. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the suction path is disposed upstream of the actuating path. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the suction path is disposed downstream of the actuating path. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow manipulating device comprises a rotating impeller. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow manipulating device is fully enclosed within the diffuser component. 
     
     
         10 . A turbine exhaust diffuser comprising:
 a strut extending between, and operably coupled to, an annular inner barrel extending in a longitudinal direction of the turbine exhaust diffuser and an outer wall disposed radially outwardly from the inner barrel, the strut comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge and a suction side;   a suction path extending from a first aperture in the suction side to an interior compartment of the strut;   an actuating path extending from a second aperture in the suction side to the interior compartment of the strut; and   a rotating impeller disposed within the interior compartment of the strut.   
     
     
         11 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one motor mounted proximate the outer wall. 
     
     
         12 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 10 , further comprising a chord length extending between, and defined by, the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the actuating path is disposed at a location along the chord length about 60% downstream of the leading edge. 
     
     
         13 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 10 , wherein the suction path is disposed upstream of the actuating path. 
     
     
         14 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 10 , wherein the suction path is disposed downstream of the actuating path. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine exhaust diffuser of  claim 10 , wherein the rotating impeller is fully enclosed within the strut. 
     
     
         16 . A turbine system comprising:
 a turbine casing that surrounds a portion of a turbine section of the turbine system; and   an exhaust diffuser comprising:
 an inner barrel extending from proximate a diffuser inlet to a location downstream of the diffuser inlet; 
 an outer wall disposed radially outwardly from the inner barrel; 
 a strut extending between, and operably coupled to, the inner barrel and the outer wall, the strut comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge and a suction side; 
 a suction path extending from the suction side to an interior compartment of the strut; 
 an actuating path extending from the suction side to the interior compartment of the strut; and 
 a flow manipulating device disposed within the interior compartment of the strut. 
   
     
     
         17 . The turbine system of  claim 16 , wherein the flow manipulating device comprises a rotating impeller. 
     
     
         18 . The turbine system of  claim 17 , wherein the rotating impeller is fully enclosed within the strut. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine system of  claim 16 , further comprising a chord length extending between, and defined by, the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the actuating path is disposed at a location along the chord length about 60% downstream of the leading edge. 
     
     
         20 . The turbine system of  claim 16 , wherein the suction path is disposed proximate the leading edge of the strut.