Method and system for use in cooling a joint flange bolt of a rotary machine

Abstract

A method of cooling at least one joint flange bolt used with a rotary machine includes extracting a working fluid having a first temperature that is lower than an operating temperature at a first joint flange bolt hole. The method also includes diverting a first portion of the extracted working fluid into a first supply hole that is in flow communication with a first clearance gap defined between the first joint flange bolt hole and the joint flange bolt. The method further includes exhausting the first portion of extracted working fluid through a first exhaust hole in flow communication with the first clearance gap, such that the first portion of extracted working fluid flows around the exterior surface of the joint flange bolt. Additionally, the method includes routing the first portion of the extracted working fluid into a first conduit in flow communication with the first exhaust hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of cooling at least one joint flange bolt used with a rotary machine, said method comprising:
 extracting working fluid having a first temperature and a first pressure from a location of the rotary machine, wherein the first temperature is lower than an operating temperature at a first joint flange bolt hole defined in a casing of the rotary machine;   diverting a first portion of the extracted working fluid into a first supply hole defined in a lower section of the casing, wherein the first supply hole is in flow communication with a first clearance gap defined between an interior surface of the first joint flange bolt hole and an exterior surface of the joint flange bolt installed in the first joint flange bolt hole;   exhausting the first portion of extracted working fluid through a first exhaust hole defined in an upper section of the casing, wherein the first exhaust hole is in flow communication with the first clearance gap, such that the first portion of extracted working fluid flows around the exterior surface of the joint flange bolt; and   routing the first portion of the extracted working fluid into a first conduit in flow communication with the first exhaust hole, such that a first flow path is defined from the working fluid extraction location of the rotary machine, through the first clearance gap and first exhaust hole, to the first conduit.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising routing the exhausted working fluid to a sink coupled in flow communication with the first conduit, wherein a pressure of the sink is lower than the first pressure. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising routing the exhausted working fluid to a low pressure working fluid exhaust of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 diverting a second portion of the extracted working fluid into a second supply hole defined in the lower section of the casing, wherein the second supply hole is in flow communication with a second clearance gap defined between an interior surface of a second joint flange bolt hole and an exterior surface of a second joint flange bolt installed in the second joint flange bolt hole;   exhausting the second portion of extracted working fluid through a second exhaust hole defined in the upper section of the casing, wherein the second exhaust hole is in flow communication with the second clearance gap, such that the first portion of extracted working fluid flows around the exterior surface of the second joint flange bolt; and   routing the second portion of the extracted working fluid into the first conduit, wherein the first conduit is in flow communication with the second exhaust hole, such that a second flow path is defined from the working fluid extraction location of the rotary machine, through the second clearance gap and second exhaust hole, to the first conduit.   
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising routing the first portion of the extracted working fluid through an external exhaust conduit intermediate the first exhaust hole and the first conduit. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising routing the extracted working fluid into a second conduit in flow communication with the first supply hole. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising routing the first portion of the extracted working fluid through a first external supply conduit intermediate the second conduit and the first supply hole. 
     
     
         8 . A system for cooling at least one joint flange bolt of a rotary machine, said system comprising:
 an extraction bore defined through a casing of the rotary machine, said extraction bore is configured to be in flow communication with a working fluid having a first temperature and a first pressure when the rotary machine is in operation, wherein the first temperature is lower than an operating temperature at a first joint flange bolt hole defined in the casing;   a second conduit in flow communication with said extraction bore;   a first supply hole defined in the casing, said first supply hole is in flow communication with said second conduit, said first supply hole also is in flow communication with a first clearance gap defined between an interior surface of the first joint flange bolt hole and an exterior surface of the joint flange bolt when the joint flange bolt is installed in the first joint flange bolt hole;   a first exhaust hole defined in the casing, said first exhaust hole is in flow communication with the first clearance gap; and   a first conduit in flow communication with said first exhaust hole, wherein a first flow path is defined from said extraction bore, through said second conduit, through the first clearance gap and said first exhaust hole, to said first conduit.   
     
     
         9 . A system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said first conduit also is in flow communication with a sink, wherein a pressure of the sink is lower than the first pressure. 
     
     
         10 . A system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the sink comprises a low pressure working fluid exhaust of the rotary machine. 
     
     
         11 . A system in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second supply hole defined in the casing, said second supply hole is in flow communication with said second conduit, said second supply hole also is in flow communication with a second clearance gap defined between an interior surface of a second joint flange bolt hole and an exterior surface of a second joint flange bolt when the second joint flange bolt is installed in the second joint flange bolt hole; and   a second exhaust hole defined in the casing, said second exhaust hole is in flow communication with the second clearance gap and said first conduit, wherein a second flow path is defined from said extraction bore, through said second conduit, through the second clearance gap and said second exhaust hole, to said first conduit.   
     
     
         12 . A system in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a first external supply conduit disposed intermediate, and in flow communication with, said second conduit and said first supply hole. 
     
     
         13 . A system in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a first external exhaust conduit disposed intermediate, and in flow communication with, said first exhaust hole and said first conduit. 
     
     
         14 . A rotary machine comprising:
 a casing comprising an extraction bore and a first joint flange bolt hole, said extraction bore is configured to be in flow communication with a working fluid having a first temperature and a first pressure when said rotary machine is in operation, wherein the first temperature is lower than an operating temperature at said first joint flange bolt hole;   a second conduit in flow communication with said extraction bore;   a first supply hole defined in said casing, said first supply hole is in flow communication with said second conduit, said first supply hole also is in flow communication with a first clearance gap defined between an interior surface of said first joint flange bolt hole and an exterior surface of a first joint flange bolt when the first joint flange bolt is installed in said first joint flange bolt hole;   a first exhaust hole defined in said casing, said first exhaust hole is in flow communication with the first clearance gap; and   a first conduit in flow communication with said first exhaust hole, wherein a first flow path is defined from said extraction bore, through said second conduit, through the first clearance gap and said first exhaust hole, to said first conduit.   
     
     
         15 . A rotary machine in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said first conduit also is in flow communication with a sink, wherein a pressure of the sink is lower than the first pressure. 
     
     
         16 . A rotary machine in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the sink comprises a low pressure working fluid exhaust of said rotary machine. 
     
     
         17 . A rotary machine in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second supply hole defined in said casing, said second supply hole is in flow communication with said second conduit, said second supply hole also is in flow communication with a second clearance gap defined between an interior surface of a second joint flange bolt hole and an exterior surface of a second joint flange bolt when the second joint flange bolt is installed in said second joint flange bolt hole; and   a second exhaust hole defined in said casing, said second exhaust hole is in flow communication with the second clearance gap and said first conduit, wherein a second flow path is defined from said extraction bore, through said second conduit, through the second clearance gap and said second exhaust hole, to said first conduit.   
     
     
         18 . A rotary machine in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising a first external supply conduit disposed intermediate, and in flow communication with, said second conduit and said first supply hole. 
     
     
         19 . A rotary machine in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising a first external exhaust conduit disposed intermediate, and in flow communication with, said first exhaust hole and said first conduit. 
     
     
         20 . A rotary machine in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising an extraction conduit intermediate, and in flow communication with, said extraction bore and said second conduit.