Turbine assembly, turbine inner wall assembly, and turbine assembly method

Abstract

A turbine assembly includes a rotary component rotatable about an axis of a turbine, a plurality of inner wall segments coupled to the rotary component circumferentially around the rotary component and rotatable with the rotary component, a non-rotary component circumferentially surrounding the rotary component, a plurality of outer wall segments coupled to the non-rotary component and disposed to extend toward the rotary component, and a plurality of nozzles extending from each of the outer wall segments, each nozzle having a tip distal from the outer wall segment such that the tips form a seal with the inner wall segments at an inner flow path of the turbine. An inner wall assembly and a turbine assembly method are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbine assembly comprising:
 a rotary component rotatable about an axis of a turbine;   a plurality of inner wall segments coupled to the rotary component circumferentially around the rotary component and rotatable with the rotary component;   a non-rotary component circumferentially surrounding the rotary component;   a plurality of outer wall segments coupled to the non-rotary component and disposed to extend toward the rotary component; and   a plurality of nozzles extending from each of the plurality of outer wall segments, each of the plurality of nozzles having a distal tip, the distal tips forming a seal with the plurality of inner wall segments at an inner flow path of the turbine.   
     
     
         2 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary component comprises a rotor wheel and a plurality of near flow path seal segments mounted circumferentially around the rotor wheel and rotatable with the rotor wheel, wherein the plurality of inner wall segments are coupled to the plurality of near flow path seal segments of the rotary component. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of wall pins, wherein each of the plurality of wall pins extends into one of a plurality of pin holes on each of the plurality of inner wall segments and on the rotary component to couple each of the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inner wall segments is connected by a hook to the rotary component to couple each of the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inner wall segments is connected by a dovetail to the rotary component to couple each of the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary component comprises a dedicated rotor wheel free from physical attachment to an upstream bucket wheel or a downstream bucket wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inner wall segments and the plurality of nozzles comprise a ceramic matrix composite material. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inner wall segments has a segment arc length greater than a nozzle pitch for the plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
         9 . An inner wall assembly comprising:
 a rotary component rotatable about an axis of a turbine; and   a plurality of inner wall segments coupled to the rotary component circumferentially around the rotary component and rotatable with the rotary component.   
     
     
         10 . The inner wall assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the rotary component comprises a rotor wheel and a plurality of near flow path seal segments mounted circumferentially around the rotor wheel and rotatable with the rotor wheel, wherein the plurality of inner wall segments are coupled to the plurality of near flow path seal segments of the rotary component. 
     
     
         11 . The inner wall assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of wall pins, wherein each of the plurality of wall pins extends into one of a plurality of pin holes on each of the plurality of inner wall segments and on the rotary component to couple each of the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component. 
     
     
         12 . The inner wall assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of inner wall segments is connected by a hook to the rotary component to couple each of the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component. 
     
     
         13 . The inner wall assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of inner wall segments is connected by a dovetail to the rotary component to couple each of the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component. 
     
     
         14 . The inner wall assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the rotary component comprises a dedicated rotor wheel free from physical attachment to an upstream bucket wheel or a downstream bucket wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The inner wall assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of inner wall segments comprise a ceramic matrix composite material. 
     
     
         16 . A turbine assembly method comprising:
 coupling a plurality of inner wall segments circumferentially to a rotary component; and   mounting a plurality of outer wall segments to a non-rotary component and disposed to extend toward the rotary component, wherein a plurality of nozzles extend from each of the plurality of outer wall segments toward one of the plurality of inner wall segments;   wherein the plurality of nozzles form a seal with the plurality of inner wall segments at an inner flow path of the turbine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component comprises inserting each of a plurality of wall pins into one of a plurality of pin holes on each of the plurality of inner wall segments and on the rotary component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component comprises connecting the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component by a hook. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling the plurality of inner wall segments to the rotary component comprises connecting the plurality inner wall segments to the rotary component by a dovetail. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising mounting a plurality of near flow path seal segments to a rotor wheel circumferentially around the rotor wheel to form the rotary component.