Turbine cowling system

Abstract

A steam turbine cowling system is disclosed. The steam turbine cowling system including: a lower portion configured to be disposed proximate an inner casing of a steam turbine; and an upper portion connected to at least one of the lower portion and the inner casing, the upper portion shaped to be disposed proximate the inner casing of the steam turbine, the upper portion substantially defining a flowpath about the inner casing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steam turbine cowling system comprising:
 a lower portion configured to be disposed proximate an inner casing of a steam turbine; and   an upper portion connected to at least one of the lower portion and the inner casing, the upper portion shaped to be disposed proximate the inner casing of the steam turbine and substantially defining a flowpath about the inner casing.   
     
     
         2 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion is configured as an insulator about the inner casing. 
     
     
         3 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is permanently connected to the inner casing. 
     
     
         4 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is connected to at least one of the inner casing or a steam guide in the steam turbine. 
     
     
         5 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 4 , wherein the upper portion is releasably coupled to the inner casing. 
     
     
         6 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion include a substantially smooth radially inward facing surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a steam inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is configured to guide a flow toward the lower portion. 
     
     
         9 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion substantially enclose the inner casing and define a flowpath from a top of the inner casing to a condenser. 
     
     
         10 . The steam turbine cowling system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is modular. 
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 an upper cowling portion shaped to connect to a lower cowling portion and substantially complement an inner casing of a steam turbine, the upper cowling portion configured to be disposed proximate the inner casing of the steam turbine and substantially define a flowpath about the inner casing.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the upper cowling portion is configured as an insulator about the inner casing. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , the upper cowling portion is releasably coupled to the inner casing. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the upper cowling portion substantially encloses a top segment of the inner casing and defines a flowpath from a top of the inner casing to the lower cowling portion. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the upper cowling portion includes a steam inlet and is configured to guide a flow to the lower cowling portion. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the upper cowling portion is modular and includes a substantially smooth radially inward facing surface. 
     
     
         17 . A steam turbine system comprising:
 a rotor member; and   a stator member at least partially surrounding the rotor member, the stator member including:
 an external casing; 
 an inner casing disposed within the external casing; and 
 a steam turbine cowling system disposed between the external casing and the inner casing, the steam turbine cowling system including:
 a lower portion configured to be disposed proximate the inner casing; and 
 an upper portion connected to at least one of the lower portion and the inner casing, the upper portion shaped to be disposed proximate the inner casing of the steam turbine and substantially define a flowpath about the inner casing. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The steam turbine system of  claim 17 , wherein the lower portion is permanently connected to the inner casing and the upper portion is releasably connected to the inner casing. 
     
     
         19 . The steam turbine system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion is configured as an insulator about the inner casing and include a substantially smooth radially inward facing surface. 
     
     
         20 . The steam turbine system of  claim 17 , further comprising a condenser operably connected to the stator, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion substantially enclose the inner casing and define a flowpath from a top of the inner casing to the condenser.