Turbine cylinder cavity heated recirculation system

Abstract

A turbine engine heating system configured to heat compressor and turbine blade assemblies to eliminate turbine and compressor blade tip rub during warm restarts of gas turbine engines is disclosed. The turbine engine heating system may include a heating air extraction system configured to withdraw air from the turbine engine and to pass that air thru a heating element configured to increase a temperature of the air supplied by the heating air extraction system. The air may then be passed to a heating air supply system via an air movement device. The heating air supply system may be in communication with a turbine cylinder cavity of the turbine engine positioned radially outward from at least one turbine assembly. The heated air may be passed into the turbine cylinder cavity to reduce the cooling rate of the turbine vane carriers after shutdown and before a warm restart to limit tip rubbing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system for controlling turbine vane carrier temperatures after engine shutdown and before a warm restart, comprising:
 a heating air extraction system configured to withdraw air from the turbine engine;   a heating element configured to increase a temperature of the air supplied by the heating air extraction system; and   a heating air supply system having an inlet in communication with the heating element and including at least one outlet in communication with a turbine cylinder cavity of the turbine engine positioned radially outward from at least one turbine assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the heating air supply system is formed from a first outlet positioned within 30 degrees of a first horizontal joint joining first and second sections of a housing forming at least a portion of the turbine cylinder cavity and wherein the first outlet is on a first side of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second outlet positioned within 30 degrees of a second horizontal joint between the first and second sections of the housing forming at least a portion of the turbine cylinder cavity and wherein the second outlet is on a second side of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 3 , further comprising a third outlet positioned on the first side of the housing within 30 degrees of the first horizontal joint and on an opposite side of the first horizontal joint from the first outlet and a fourth outlet positioned on the second side of the housing within 30 degrees of the second horizontal joint and on an opposite side of the second horizontal joint from the second outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating air extraction system is configured to withdraw air from a turbine engine combustor shell of the turbine engine. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 5 , wherein the heating air extraction system further comprises at least one inlet in communication with the turbine engine combustor shell, wherein the inlet includes a bell mouth to minimize the pressure loss. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air movement device in fluid communication with the heating element. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 7 , wherein the air movement device is a blower. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 8 , wherein the blower is positioned upstream of the heating element. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 9 , wherein the blower is configured to run at least as high as 2,500 rpm. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressor heating system extending from the turbine cylinder cavity and terminating in a compressor air feed supply. 
     
     
         12 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressor air feed supply is a compressor shell cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressor heating system further comprising a first inlet in communication with the turbine cylinder cavity within 30 degrees of top dead center. 
     
     
         14 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the compressor heating system further comprises a second inlet in communication with the turbine cylinder cavity within 30 degrees of bottom dead center. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressor heating system further comprises an inlet in communication with the turbine cylinder cavity within 30 degrees of bottom dead center. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one valve for isolating the heating air extraction system to prevent air from being exchanged with the turbine engine and at least one valve for isolating the heating air supply system from the turbine cylinder cavity of the turbine engine. 
     
     
         17 . A turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system for controlling turbine vane carrier temperatures after engine shutdown and before a warm restart, comprising:
 a heating air extraction system configured to withdraw air from the turbine engine, wherein the heating air extraction system is configured to withdraw air from a turbine engine combustor shell of the turbine engine;   a heating element configured to increase a temperature of the air supplied by the heating air extraction system;   an air movement device in fluid communication with the heating element;   a heating air supply system having an inlet in communication with the heating element and including at least one outlet in communication with a turbine cylinder cavity of the turbine engine positioned radially outward from at least one turbine assembly;   wherein the outlet of the heating air supply system is formed from a first outlet positioned within 30 degrees of a first horizontal joint joining first and second sections of a housing forming at least a portion of the turbine cylinder cavity and wherein the first outlet is on a first side of the housing;   a second outlet positioned within 30 degrees of a second horizontal joint between the first and second sections of the housing forming at least a portion of the turbine cylinder cavity and wherein the second outlet is on a second side of the housing; and   a compressor heating system extending from the turbine cylinder cavity and terminating in a compressor air feed supply.   
     
     
         18 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 17 , wherein the compressor heating system further comprising a first inlet in communication with the turbine cylinder cavity within 30 degrees of top dead center and wherein the compressor heating system further comprises a second inlet in communication with the turbine cylinder cavity within 30 degrees of bottom dead center. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one valve for isolating the heating air extraction system to prevent air from being exchanged with the turbine engine and at least one valve for isolating the heating air supply system from the turbine cylinder cavity of the turbine engine. 
     
     
         20 . The turbine engine with a turbine engine heating system of  claim 17 , further comprising a third outlet positioned on the first side of the housing within 30 degrees of the first horizontal joint and on an opposite side of the first horizontal joint from the first outlet and a fourth outlet positioned on the second side of the housing within 30 degrees of the second horizontal joint and on an opposite side of the second horizontal joint from the second outlet.