Combustor assembly lift systems and methods for using the same to install and remove combustor assemblies

Abstract

A combustor assembly lift system comprises a lift arm comprising a first portion connected to a second portion, and a combustor assembly engagement frame connected to the lift arm, wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustor assembly lift system comprising:
 a lift arm comprising a first portion connected to a second portion; and,   a combustor assembly engagement frame connected to the lift arm, wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the lift arm is rotatably connected to the second portion of the lift arm. 
     
     
         3 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is rotatably connected to the lift arm. 
     
     
         4 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the lift arm is rotatably connected to the second portion of the lift arm and wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is rotatably connected to the lift arm so that the first portion of the lift arm, the second portion of the lift arm and the combustor assembly engagement frame can transition between a vertical configuration and a serpentine configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the lift arm comprises a first end connected to the first portion of the lift arm, and a second end distal the first portion of the lift arm, and wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is connected to the second end of the second portion of the lift arm. 
     
     
         6 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the lift arm is longer than the first portion of the lift arm. 
     
     
         7 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 5 , wherein the second end of the second portion of the lift arm comprises at least one lower pick point. 
     
     
         8 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift arm further comprises a third portion connected to the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 8 , wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is connected to the third portion of the lift arm. 
     
     
         10 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 8 , wherein both the second portion and the third portion are connected to the first portion. 
     
     
         11 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 10 , wherein both the second portion and the third portion are connected to a single end of the first portion. 
     
     
         12 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the lift arm comprises at least one upper pick point. 
     
     
         13 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the lift arm comprises at least one lower pick point. 
     
     
         14 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the combustor assembly comprises a unibody combustor assembly comprising a combustion can and at least one of a flow sleeve or a combustion liner connected to the combustion can. 
     
     
         15 . The combustor assembly lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the combustor assembly is a combustion can. 
     
     
         16 . A method for installing a combustor assembly on a turbomachine, the method comprising:
 disposing a combustor assembly lift system proximate the combustor assembly, the combustor assembly lift system comprising:
 a lift arm comprising a first portion connected to a second portion; 
 a combustor assembly engagement frame connected to the lift arm, wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly; 
   temporarily securing the combustor assembly engagement frame to the turbomachine;   aligning and securing the combustor assembly with the turbomachine; and,   releasing the combustor assembly from the combustor assembly engagement frame.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein disposing the combustor assembly lift system proximate the combustor assembly comprises disposing the combustor assembly lift system in vertical alignment over the combustor assembly while the combustor assembly is disposed in a shipping container. 
     
     
         18 . A method for removing a combustor assembly from a turbomachine, the method comprising:
 disposing a combustor assembly lift system proximate the combustor assembly, the combustor assembly lift system comprising:
 a lift arm comprising a first portion connected to a second portion; 
 a combustor assembly engagement frame connected to the lift arm, wherein the combustor assembly engagement frame is configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly; 
   temporarily securing the combustor assembly engagement frame to the combustor assembly;   releasing the combustor assembly from the turbomachine and moving the combustor assembly lift system away from the turbomachine via one or more connections to the lift arm.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising transitioning the combustor assembly lift system to a substantially vertical orientation while the combustor assembly is still temporarily secured to the combustor assembly engagement frame. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising lowering the combustor assembly into a shipping container and releasing the combustor assembly from the combustor assembly engagement frame.