Multi-shell turbine casing system

Abstract

A multi-shell turbine casing system comprises at least one supporting cell joined to at least one retaining cell. The at least one supporting cell has at least one supporting cell wall and at least one truss section. The at least one retaining cell has at least one retaining cell wall. According to the invention, the at least one supporting cell wall and the at least one retaining cell wall form an outer shell and an inner shell. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one truss section is oriented to provide support for the inner shell and is a triangular truss comprising cylindrical members joined by plate-type or box-type connectors. An exemplary truss section includes a plurality of horizontally oriented stabilizers joining the vertically oriented member to the outer shell. A multi-shell casing system may include additional truss sections, which may be joined to one another and to adjacent structure.

1 . A multi-shell turbine casing system comprising:
 at least one supporting cell joined to at least one retaining cell,   the at least one supporting cell having at least one supporting cell wall,   the at least one retaining cell having at least one retaining cell wall, and   the at least one supporting cell wall and the at least one retaining cell wall forming an outer shell and an inner shell,   wherein the supporting cell comprises at least one truss section.   
     
     
         2 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one truss section is oriented and configured to resist compression under weight of turbo-machinery supported by the inner shell. 
     
     
         3 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one truss section is triangular. 
     
     
         4 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one truss section comprises at least three members. 
     
     
         5 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one truss section comprises a plurality of members joined by one or more plate-type connectors. 
     
     
         6 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one truss section comprises a plurality of members joined by one or more box-type connectors. 
     
     
         7 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one truss section comprises at least one vertically oriented member and a plurality of horizontally oriented stabilizers joining the at least one vertically oriented member to the outer shell. 
     
     
         8 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of the plurality of horizontally oriented stabilizers are joined to a base end of the at least one vertically oriented member. 
     
     
         9 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of the plurality of horizontally oriented stabilizers are joined to a distal end of the at least one vertically oriented member. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of horizontally oriented stabilizers are joined to a wall of the outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , comprising two or more vertically oriented truss sections configured to provide structural support for the inner shell. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 11 , wherein one of the vertically oriented truss sections comprises a first vertically oriented member and the other truss section comprises a second vertically oriented member, the system further comprising at least one horizontally oriented stabilizer joining the first vertically oriented member to the second vertically oriented member. 
     
     
         13 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one horizontally oriented stabilizer joining at least one vertically oriented member to a wall of the outer shell. 
     
     
         14 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 13 , wherein the horizontally oriented stabilizer is joined to a distal end of the vertically oriented member. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 13 , wherein the horizontally oriented stabilizer is joined to a base end of the vertically oriented member. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 1 , comprising three or more vertically oriented truss sections configured to provide structural support for the inner shell. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 16 , wherein one of the vertically oriented truss sections comprises a first vertically oriented member and a second of the truss sections comprises a second vertically oriented member and a third of the truss sections comprises a third vertically oriented member, the system further comprising at least one horizontally oriented stabilizer joining the first vertically oriented member to the second vertically oriented member and at least one horizontally oriented stabilizer joining the second vertically oriented member to the third vertically oriented member. 
     
     
         18 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 17 , further comprising at least one horizontally oriented stabilizer joining the vertically oriented member to a wall of the outer shell. 
     
     
         19 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 17 , wherein the supporting cell comprises at least one vertically oriented plate and at least one horizontally oriented stabilizer joining the vertically oriented member to the plate. 
     
     
         20 . A multi-shell turbine casing system as in  claim 18 , wherein the wall comprises at least one stress distribution panel for distributing load transmitted by the horizontally oriented stabilizer.