Exhaust gas collector and gas turbine

Abstract

An exhaust collector for gas turbines, the exhaust collector comprises a plenum with a gas inlet wall, a gas inlet aperture provided in the gas inlet wall, and a gas discharge aperture. The exhaust collector further comprises a plurality of first connectors arranged around the gas inlet aperture and a plurality of second connectors, arranged around the gas inlet aperture. The second connectors are arranged generally opposite the first connectors. The first connectors and second connectors are paired. Pairs of one first connector and one second connector are selectively usable for mounting the exhaust collector on an exhaust diffuser of a gas turbine in a selected one of a plurality of alternative angular positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exhaust collector for gas turbines, comprising:
 a plenum with a gas inlet wall;   a gas inlet aperture in the gas inlet wall;   a gas discharge aperture;   a plurality of first connectors arranged around the gas inlet aperture; and   a plurality of second connectors, arranged around the gas inlet aperture, generally opposite the plurality of first connectors,   wherein the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors are paired, and   wherein pairs of one first connector and one second connector are selectively usable for mounting the exhaust collector on an exhaust diffuser of a gas turbine in a selected one of a plurality of alternative angular positions.   
     
     
         2 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first connectors are positioned along an arc of a circumference,   the second connectors are positioned along an arc of a circumference, and   the distance between the first connector and the second connector of each pair being constant.   
     
     
         3 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connectors are arranged at a first distance from a center of the gas inlet aperture, and the second connectors are arranged at a second distance from the center of the gas inlet aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ring constrained to the gas inlet wall and surrounding the gas inlet aperture, the plurality of first connectors being arranged along the ring. 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame constrained to the gas inlet wall, distanced from the gas inlet aperture and opposite the gas discharge aperture, the plurality of second connectors being arranged along the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 5 , wherein the frame is box-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the plenum comprises a front wall opposite the gas inlet wall,   the front wall and the gas inlet wall are inclined one with respect to the other, and   the box-shaped frame has a variable transverse dimension forming a planar surface substantially parallel to the front wall.   
     
     
         8 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connectors are designed and configured to support horizontal loads but not vertical loads. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the second connectors are designed and configured to support vertical loads. 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein each first connector comprises holes for screw-connection of a fork-shaped component. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein each second connector comprises a hole. 
     
     
         12 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connectors are distribute along an arc of at least approximately 90°, and the second connectors are distribute along an arc of at least approximately 90°. 
     
     
         13 . A gas turbine comprising:
 a base plate;   an exhaust diffuser constrained to the base plate; and   an exhaust collector comprising:
 a plenum with a gas inlet wall; 
 a gas inlet aperture in the gas inlet wall; 
 a gas discharge aperture; 
 a plurality of first connectors arranged around the gas inlet aperture; and 
 a plurality of second connectors, arranged around the gas inlet aperture, generally opposite the plurality of first connectors, 
 wherein the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors are paired, and 
 wherein pairs of one first connector and one second connector are selectively usable for mounting the exhaust collector on an exhaust diffuser of a gas turbine in a selected one of a plurality of alternative angular positions, 
   wherein the exhaust collector is connected to the gas turbine by one of the first connectors constrained to the exhaust diffuser and one of the second connectors constrained to the base plate.   
     
     
         14 . The gas turbine according to  claim 13 , wherein weight of the exhaust collector is substantially entirely supported by the base plate through the second connector. 
     
     
         15 . The gas turbine according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the exhaust diffuser comprises a first connection member configured and arranged for co-action with a selected one of the first connectors, and   the base plate comprises a second connection member configured and arranged for co-action with a selected one of the second connectors.   
     
     
         16 . The gas turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein the first connection member is arranged on the exhaust diffuser, opposite the base plate. 
     
     
         17 . The gas turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein the second connection member comprises a pin selectively engaging into a corresponding hole of a selected one of the second connectors. 
     
     
         18 . The exhaust collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connectors are distribute along an arc of at least approximately 180°, and the second connectors are distribute along an arc of at least approximately 180°.