Turbine shroud arrangement for a turbine system and method of controlling a turbine shroud arrangement

Abstract

A turbine shroud arrangement for a turbine system includes a first region of a tip shroud, the first region disposed in close proximity to an adjacent tip shroud. Also included is a second region of the tip shroud, the second region disposed in close proximity to the adjacent tip shroud, the second region comprising a temperature sensitive material configured to engage the second region and the adjacent tip shroud in contact over a first operating condition of the turbine system and configured to provide a second region gap over a second operating condition of the turbine system.

1 . A turbine shroud arrangement for a turbine system comprising:
 a first region of a tip shroud, the first region disposed in close proximity to an adjacent tip shroud; and   a second region of the tip shroud, the second region disposed in close proximity to the adjacent tip shroud, the second region comprising a temperature sensitive material configured to engage the second region and the adjacent tip shroud in contact over a first operating condition of the turbine system and configured to provide a second region gap over a second operating condition of the turbine system.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive material comprises a negative thermal expansion material. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive material comprises a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a first region gap disposed between the first region and the adjacent tip shroud during the first operating condition. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the first region and the adjacent tip shroud are in contact during the second operating condition. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjacent second region of the adjacent tip shroud, the adjacent second region comprising the temperature sensitive material. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the first operating condition comprises a turbine operating speed range from about 0% to about 50% of a maximum speed of the turbine system. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the second operating condition comprises a turbine operating speed range from about 30% to about 100% of a maximum speed of the turbine system. 
     
     
         9 . A turbine shroud arrangement for a turbine system comprising:
 a first region of a tip shroud, the first region disposed in close proximity to an adjacent first region of an adjacent tip shroud;   a second region of the tip shroud, the second region disposed in close proximity to an adjacent second region of the adjacent tip shroud; and   a temperature sensitive material disposed proximate the second region, the temperature sensitive material comprising a first volume during a first operating condition of the turbine system and a second volume during a second operating condition of the turbine system, wherein the second volume is less than the first volume.   
     
     
         10 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the second region and the adjacent second region are in contact during the first operating condition and spaced to provide a second region gap during the second operating condition. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature sensitive material comprises a negative thermal expansion material. 
     
     
         12 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature sensitive material comprises a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , further comprising a first region gap disposed between the first region and the adjacent first region during the first operating condition. 
     
     
         14 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the first region and the adjacent first region are in contact during the second operating condition. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the adjacent second region comprises the temperature sensitive material. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the first operating condition comprises a turbine operating speed range from about 0% to about 50% of a maximum speed of the turbine system. 
     
     
         17 . The turbine shroud arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the second operating condition comprises a turbine operating speed range from about 30% to about 100% of a maximum speed of the turbine system. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a turbine shroud arrangement comprising:
 disposing a first region gap between a first region of a tip shroud and an adjacent tip shroud;   reducing a second region gap disposed between a second region of the tip shroud and the adjacent tip shroud by depositing a temperature sensitive material proximate the second region;   engaging the second region with the adjacent tip shroud during a first operating condition of a turbine system and providing the second region gap during a second operating condition of the turbine system; and   providing the first region gap during the first operating condition and reducing the first region gap to engage the first region with the adjacent tip shroud during the second operating condition.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising decreasing a volume of the temperature sensitive material during increased temperature operating conditions upon contraction of the temperature sensitive material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising depositing the temperature sensitive material on an adjacent second region of the adjacent tip shroud, the adjacent second region in close proximity with the second region of the tip shroud.