Method and system for providing sealing in gas turbines

Abstract

A gas turbine system is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor assembly coupled to the compressor section, and a turbine section coupled to the compressor section. At least one of the combustor assembly and the turbine section includes a sealing sub-system for use in sealing between a first component and a second component. A first component defines a first seal member receiving region oriented between a higher-temperature gas region and a cooler-temperature gas region. A second component adjacent the first component defines a second seal member receiving region oriented adjacent the first seal member receiving region. The sealing system includes first and second end walls defined in at least one of the first and second seal member receiving regions. A seal member is oriented within the first and second seal member receiving regions, and includes at least a first layer defining at least a first resilient seal end portion that engages one of the first and second end walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a seal between components within a gas turbine, said method comprising:
 inserting a seal member into a first seal member receiving region defined within a first component of a gas turbine, wherein the first seal member receiving region is oriented between a higher-temperature gas region and a cooler-temperature gas region; and   inserting the seal member into a second recess defined within a second component of the gas turbine, wherein the second component is adjacent to the first component, and wherein at least one of the first and second seal member regions includes a first end wall and at least one of the first and second seal member regions includes a second end wall oriented substantially opposite the first end wall,   wherein the seal member includes at least a first layer defining at least a first seal end portion that engages one of the respective first and second end walls.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises defining the seal member to include a second seal end portion that engages another of the first and second end walls. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein defining the seal member to include a second seal end portion further comprises defining the seal member to include first and second seal end portions that have similar cross-sectional configurations. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein defining the seal member to include a second seal end portion further comprises defining the seal member to include first and second seal end portions that have different cross-sectional configurations. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises fabricating the seal member as a laminated seal member that includes at least a second layer coupled to the first layer. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises defining the first seal end portion as a planar member extending at an angle relative to a planar web portion of the first layer. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises defining the first seal end portion as a web extending from a planar web portion of the first layer, wherein the web includes a “W”-shaped cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises defining the first seal end portion as a web extending from a planar web portion of the first layer, wherein the web includes a curved cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises defining the seal member to include at least two layers, wherein each of the at least two layers includes at least one seal end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein defining the seal member to include at least two layers further comprises defining each of the at least two layers to include first and second seal end portions having similar cross-sectional configurations. 
     
     
         11 . A gas turbine system, said system comprising:
 a compressor section;   a combustor assembly coupled to said compressor section; and   a turbine section coupled to said compressor section, wherein at least one of said combustor assembly and said turbine section includes a sealing sub-system for use in sealing between a first component and a second component, said sealing sub-system comprises:   a first component defining a first seal member receiving region oriented between a higher-temperature gas region and a cooler-temperature gas region;   a second component adjacent said first component, said second component defining a second seal member receiving region oriented adjacent said first seal member receiving region, wherein at least one of said first and second seal member receiving regions includes a first end wall, and at least one of said first and second seal member receiving regions includes a second end wall oriented substantially opposite said first end wall; and   a seal member oriented within said first and second seal member receiving regions, wherein said seal member includes at least a first layer defining at least a first resilient seal end portion that engages one of said first and second end walls.   
     
     
         12 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said seal member includes a second seal end portion that engages another of said first and second end walls. 
     
     
         13 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said first and second portions include similar cross-sectional configurations. 
     
     
         14 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said first and second seal end portions include different cross-sectional configurations. 
     
     
         15 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said seal member is a laminated seal member that includes at least a second layer coupled to the first layer. 
     
     
         16 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said first seal end portion comprises a planar member extending at an angle relative to a planar web portion of said first layer. 
     
     
         17 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said first seal end portion comprises a web extending from a planar web portion of said first layer, wherein said web includes a “W”-shaped cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said first seal end portion comprises a web extending from a planar web portion of said first layer, wherein said web includes a curved cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said seal member comprises at least two layers, wherein each of said at least two layers includes at least one seal end portion. 
     
     
         20 . The gas turbine system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein each of said at least two layers comprises first and second seal end portions having similar cross-sectional configurations.