Diffuser

Abstract

An improved diffuser apparatus for use in connection with gas turbines that will markedly increase the fuel efficiency of the turbine. The improved diffuser apparatus improves the performance of the diffuser apparatus by insuring that the gas flow supplied by the turbine is free from unnecessary energy losses due to improperly located mechanical structures. More particularly, the prior art turbine is modified in a manner to incorporate into the diffuser itself certain of the mechanical structures that previously formed a part of the structure of the turbine.

1 . A diffuser apparatus for use in connection with a gas turbine of the character having a rotatable power shaft and a plurality of rotating turbine blades, a high velocity gas stream exiting the turbine blades, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a central hub for supporting said rotatable power shaft of said turbine;   (b) a shroud circumscribing said hub, said shroud having inner and outer walls defining an enclosure having a first open end disposed proximate the turbine blades to receive the high velocity gas stream, and a second discharge end for exhausting gases of said high velocity gas stream, said inner wall of said shroud having first injector slots provided therein and said outer wall of said shroud having second injector slots provided therein;   (c) capture means disposed proximate said second discharge end of said enclosure for capturing a portion of the gases of said high velocity gas stream;   (d) first combination conduit and structural support member for providing rigidity to the diffuser and for directing a portion of the high velocity gas stream captured by said capture means toward said first injector slots provided in said inner wall of said shroud; and   (e) a second combination conduit and structural support member for providing rigidity to the diffuser and for directing a portion of the high velocity gas stream captured by said capture means toward said second injector slots provided in said outer wall of said shroud.   
   
   
       2 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which said capture means comprises a generally toroidal-shaped capture scoop. 
   
   
       3 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 2  further including collector means circumscribing said discharge end of said shroud for collecting gases flowing therefrom, said generally toroidal-shaped scoop being disposed interiorly of said collector means. 
   
   
       4 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 3  in which said collector means further includes:
 (a) a first combination plenum and structural support member circumscribing at least a portion of said inner wall of said shroud for providing rigidity to the diffuser, said first combination plenum and structural support member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said first injector slots; and   (b) a second combination plenum and structural support member circumscribing at least a portion of said outer wall of said shroud for providing rigidity to the diffuser, said second combination plenum and structural support member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said second injector slots.   
   
   
       5 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 4  in which said collector means further includes an inner structural ring connected to said central hub and to said first combination plenum and structural support member. 
   
   
       6 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 4  which said collector means further includes an outer structural ring connected to said central hub and to said second combination plenum and structural support member. 
   
   
       7 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 6  further including:
 (a) a first reinforcement plate or built-up structure connected to said first combination conduit and structural support member; and   (b) a ground plate or built-up structure connected to said first reinforcement plate or build-up structure.   
   
   
       8 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , further including a second reinforcement plate connected to said second combination conduit and structural support member. 
   
   
       9 . A diffuser apparatus for use in connection with a gas turbine of the character having a rotatable power shaft and a plurality of rotating turbine blades, a high velocity gas stream exiting the turbine blades, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a central hub for supporting said rotatable power shaft of said turbine;   (b) a shroud circumscribing said hub, said shroud having inner and outer walls defining an enclosure having a first open end disposed proximate the turbine blades to receive the high velocity gas stream, and a second discharge end for exhausting gases of said high velocity gas stream, said inner wall of said shroud having first injector slots provided therein and said outer wall of said shroud having second injector slots provided therein;   (c) capture means disposed proximate said second discharge end of said enclosure for capturing a portion of the gases of said high velocity gas stream, said capture means comprising a generally toroidal-shaped capture scoop;   (d) collector means circumscribing said discharge end of said shroud for collecting gases flowing therefrom, said generally toroidal-shaped scoop being disposed interiorly of said collector means;   (e) first combination conduit and structural support member for providing rigidity to the diffuser, for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation and for directing a portion of the high velocity gas stream captured by said capture means toward said first injector slots provided in said inner wall of said shroud; and   (f) a second combination conduit and structural support member for providing rigidity to the diffuser, for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation and for directing a portion of the high velocity gas stream captured by said capture means toward said second injector slots provided in said outer wall of said shroud.   
   
   
       10 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 9  in which said collector means further includes:
 (a) a first combination plenum and structural support member circumscribing at least a portion of said inner wall of said shroud for providing rigidity to the diffuser and for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation, said first combination plenum and structural support member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said first injector slots; and   (b) a second combination plenum and structural support member circumscribing at least a portion of said outer wall of said shroud for providing rigidity to the diffuser and for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation, said second combination plenum and structural support member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said second injector slots.   
   
   
       11 . A diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 9  in which said collector means further includes an inner structural ring connected to said central hub and to said first combination plenum and structural support member. 
   
   
       12 . A diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 9  in which said collector means further includes an outer structural ring connected to said central hub and to said second combination plenum and structural support member. 
   
   
       13 . A diffuser apparatus for use in connection with a gas turbine of the character having a rotatable power shaft and a plurality of rotating turbine blades, a high velocity gas stream exiting the turbine blades, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a central hub for rotatably supporting the power shaft of the turbine;   (b) a shroud circumscribing said hub, said shroud having inner and outer walls defining an enclosure having a first open end disposed proximate the turbine blades to receive the high velocity gas stream, and a second discharge end for exhausting gases of said high velocity gas stream, said inner wall of said shroud having first injector slots provided therein and said outer wall of said shroud having second injector slots provided therein;   (c) capture means disposed proximate said second discharge end of said enclosure for capturing a portion of the gases of said high velocity gas stream, said capture means comprising a generally toroidal-shaped capture scoop;   (d) collector means circumscribing said discharge end of said shroud for collecting gases flowing therefrom, said generally toroidal-shaped scoop being disposed interiorly of said collector means, said collector means further comprising:
 (i) a first combination plenum and structural support member circumscribing at least a portion of said inner wall of said shroud for providing rigidity to the diffuser and for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation, said first combination plenum and structural support member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said first injector slots; and 
 (ii) a second combination plenum and structural support member circumscribing at least a portion of said outer wall of said shroud for providing rigidity to the diffuser and for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation, said second combination plenum and structural support member having a gas inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said second injector slots; and 
   (e) first combination conduit and structural support member for providing rigidity to the diffuser, for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation and for directing a portion of the high velocity gas stream captured by said capture means toward said first injector slots provided in said inner wall of said shroud; and   (f) a second combination conduit and structural support member for providing rigidity to the diffuser, for maintaining concentricity between said hub and said shroud during operation and for directing a portion of the high velocity gas stream captured by said capture means toward said second injector slots provided in said outer wall of said shroud.   
   
   
       14 . A diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 13  in which said collector means further includes an inner structural ring connected to said central hub and to said first combination plenum and structural support member. 
   
   
       15 . A diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 14  which said collector means further includes an outer structural ring connected to said central hub and to said second combination plenum and structural support member. 
   
   
       16 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 15  further including a reinforcing structure connected to said first combination conduit. 
   
   
       17 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 16  in which said reinforcing structure comprises:
 (a) a first generally vertically extending reinforcement plate or built-up structure connected to said first combination conduit and structural support member; and   (b) a ground-engaging plate or build-up structure connected to said first reinforcement structure and operably associated with said first generally vertically extending reinforcement structure.   
   
   
       18 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 17  in which said reinforcing structure further includes a second reinforcement plate or built-up structure connected to said second combination conduit and structural support member. 
   
   
       19 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 18  in which the diffuser has a vertical plane of symmetry and in which said first reinforcement plate or built-up structure is located in the vertical plane of symmetry of the diffuser. 
   
   
       20 . The diffuser apparatus as defined in  claim 19  in which said first and second reinforcement plates or built-up structures are located symmetrically around said first and second conduits.