(19)
(11) EP 2 664 746 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
23.04.2014 Bulletin 2014/17

(43) Date of publication A2:
20.11.2013 Bulletin 2013/47

(21) Application number: 13167183.6

(22) Date of filing: 09.05.2013
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F01D 11/24(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30) Priority: 16.05.2012 US 201213473095

(71) Applicant: General Electric Company
Schenectady, New York 12345 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Chillar, Rahul J.
    Atlanta, GA Georgia 30339 (US)
  • Ansari, Adil
    Atlanta, GA Georgia 30339 (US)
  • Pena, Ezio
    90007 Franche-Comte (FR)
  • Antoine, Nicolas
    90007 Franche-Comte (FR)
  • Vignolo, Jean-Louis
    90007 Franche-Comte (FR)

(74) Representative: Cleary, Fidelma 
GPO Europe GE International Inc. The Ark 201 Talgarth Road Hammersmith
London W6 8BJ
London W6 8BJ (GB)

   


(54) Systems and methods for adjusting clearances in turbines


(57) Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for adjusting clearances (108) in a turbine (102). According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a turbine system (102). The system may include one or more turbine blades (104), a turbine casing (106) encompassing the one or more turbine blades (104), a thermoelectric element (110) disposed at least partially about the turbine casing (106), a cooling system (307) in communication with the thermoelectric element (110), and a controller (112) in communication with the cooling system (307) and the thermoelectric element (110). The controller (112) may be operable to control the expansion or contraction of the turbine casing (106) by heating or cooling at least a portion of the turbine casing (106) with the thermoelectric element (110) and by adjusting the cooling system (307) such that a clearance (108) between the one or more turbine blades (104) and the turbine casing (106) is adjusted.







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