Turbomachine supports having thermal control system

Abstract

Supports for a first casing of a turbomachine are disclosed that each include a thermal control system to control thermal expansion thereof. The thermal control system may include: a sealed duct surrounding a support column of the turbomachine, the duct being coupled to a source of a cooling fluid flow, and/or a hollow leg supporting the inner casing on the support column with a conduit supplying operative fluid, e.g., steam, from a stage of turbomachine to the hollow leg.

1 . A turbomachine comprising:
 a plurality of supports for a first casing of the turbomachine, each support including a thermal control system to control thermal expansion thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The turbomachine of  claim 1 , wherein each support includes a support column fixedly attached to a foundation, and each thermal control system includes:
 a duct surrounding the support column, the duct coupled to a source of a cooling fluid flow; and   a seal between the support column and the duct sealing a space between the duct and the support column.   
     
     
         3 . The turbomachine of  claim 2 , wherein each support column extends through a second casing that surrounds the first casing. 
     
     
         4 . The turbomachine of  claim 2 , wherein the source of cooling fluid flow includes atmospheric air. 
     
     
         5 . The turbomachine of  claim 2 , further comprising a pump for propelling the cooling fluid flow along the support column within the duct. 
     
     
         6 . The turbomachine of  claim 2 , wherein each support further includes a hollow leg extending from the first casing and configured to slidingly couple to the support column, and each thermal control system includes a conduit configured to supply operative fluid from a stage of the turbomachine to the hollow leg. 
     
     
         7 . The turbomachine of  claim 6 , wherein the hollow leg includes a drain opening. 
     
     
         8 . The turbomachine of  claim 6 , further comprising an insulation layer about the hollow leg. 
     
     
         9 . The turbomachine of  claim 1 , wherein each support includes a hollow leg extending from the first casing, and each thermal control system includes a conduit configured to supply operative fluid from a stage of the turbomachine to the hollow leg. 
     
     
         10 . The turbomachine of  claim 9 , wherein the hollow leg includes a drain opening. 
     
     
         11 . The turbomachine of  claim 9 , further comprising an insulation layer about the hollow leg. 
     
     
         12 . The turbomachine of  claim 9 , wherein each support further includes a support column fixedly attached to a foundation, and each thermal control system further includes:
 a duct surrounding the support column, the duct coupled to a source of a cooling fluid flow; and   a seal between the support column and the duct sealing a space between the duct and the support column,   wherein each hollow leg is configured to be slidingly coupled to one of the support columns.   
     
     
         13 . The turbomachine of  claim 12 , wherein each support column extends through a second casing that surrounds the first casing, the source of cooling fluid flow including atmospheric air from outside of the second casing. 
     
     
         14 . A support for a turbomachine, the support comprising:
 a support column fixedly attached to a foundation; and   a thermal control system to control thermal expansion of the support.   
     
     
         15 . The support of  claim 14 , wherein each thermal control system includes:
 a duct surrounding the support column, the duct coupled to a source of a cooling fluid flow; and   a seal between the support column and the duct sealing a space between the duct and the support column.   
     
     
         16 . The support of  claim 14 , wherein each support includes a hollow leg extending from a first casing of the turbomachine and slidingly coupled to a respective support column, and each thermal control system includes a conduit configured to supply operative fluid from a stage of the turbomachine to the hollow leg. 
     
     
         17 . The support of  claim 14 , wherein the support further includes a hollow leg coupled to a first casing of the turbomachine and configured to be slidingly coupled to the support column, and the thermal control system includes:
 a duct surrounding the support column, the duct coupled to a source of a cooling fluid flow;   a seal between the support column and the duct sealing a space between the duct and the support column; and   a conduit supplying operative fluid from a stage of the turbomachine to the hollow leg.   
     
     
         18 . The support of  claim 17 , wherein each support column extends through a second casing that surrounds the first casing of the turbomachine. 
     
     
         19 . The support of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow leg includes a drain opening and an insulation layer about the hollow leg. 
     
     
         20 . A steam turbomachine comprising:
 a plurality of stages;   a first casing enclosing the plurality of stages, the first casing including a plurality of supports therefor, each support including a support column fixedly attached to a foundation and a hollow leg coupled to the first casing and configured to be slidingly coupled to the support column;   
       a thermal control system for each support, each thermal control system including:
 a duct surrounding the support column, the duct coupled to a source of a cooling fluid flow, 
 a seal between the support column and the duct sealing a space between the duct and the support column, and 
 a conduit configured to supply steam from a stage of the plurality of stages to the hollow leg.