Stationary blades for a steam turbine and method of assembling same

1. A set of stationary blades for a steam turbine, wherein at least one of said stationary blades comprises:

a suction side and an opposite pressure side;

a plurality of ejection channels defined in said at least one stationary blade, each of said plurality of ejection channels extends through an outer surface of said pressure side, each of said plurality of ejection channels is in flow communication with a blade inlet aperture;

wherein said at least one stationary blade extends radially from a first end to a second end defining a span therebetween, and further comprises:

a radially outer portion that extends radially inward from said first end to a first intermediate end; and

a radially inner portion that extends radially outward from said second end to a second intermediate end, said second intermediate end coupled to said first intermediate end, wherein said plurality of ejection channels is defined solely in said radially outer portion.

2. The set of stationary blades of claim 1 , wherein each of said ejection channels of said at least one stationary blade is oriented such that an ejection fluid is ejected from each said ejection channel along said pressure side towards a trailing edge of said at least one stationary blade.

3. The set of stationary blades of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of ejection channels is distributed radially along a part-span portion of said at least one stationary blade proximate said first end.

4. The set of stationary blades of claim 3 , wherein said plurality of ejection channels is distributed radially along about a one-half-span portion of said at least one stationary diaphragm blade from proximate said first end.

5. The set of stationary blades of claim 1 , wherein said at least one stationary blade further comprises a recess defined in said pressure side proximate a trailing edge of said at least one stationary blade, said recess is at least partially defined by a wall that extends obliquely to said pressure side, such that said wall at least partially faces said trailing edge, and wherein each said ejection channel extends through said wall.

6. The set of stationary blades of claim 1 , wherein said at least one stationary blade further comprises a blade supply passage defined therein, said blade supply passage extends radially within said at least one stationary blade and is in flow communication with said blade inlet aperture and said plurality of ejection channels.

7. A steam turbine comprising:

a casing comprising a supply passage defined therein, said supply passage configured to receive an ejection fluid;

an outer ring coupled to said casing, said outer ring comprising at least one outer ring inlet aperture defined therein and in flow communication with said supply passage;

a set of stationary blades coupled to said outer ring and extending radially inward therefrom, wherein at least one of said stationary blades comprises:

a suction side and an opposite pressure side;

a plurality of ejection channels defined in said at least one stationary blade, each of said plurality of ejection channels extends through an outer surface of said pressure side, each of said plurality of ejection channels coupled in flow communication to said at least one outer ring inlet aperture; and

wherein said at least one stationary blade extends radially from a first end to a second end and defines a span therebetween, said at least one stationary blade further comprises:

a radially outer portion that extends radially inward from said first end to a first intermediate end; and

a radially inner portion that extends radially outward from said second end to a second intermediate end, said second intermediate end coupled to said first intermediate end, wherein said plurality of ejection channels is defined solely in said radially outer portion.

8. The steam turbine of claim 7 , wherein each of said ejection channels is oriented such that the ejection fluid is ejected from each said ejection channel along said pressure side towards a trailing edge of said at least one stationary blade.

9. The steam turbine of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of ejection channels is distributed radially along a part-span portion of said at least one stationary blade proximate said first end.

10. The steam turbine of claim 9 , wherein said plurality of ejection channels is distributed radially along about a one-third-span portion of said at least one stationary blade from proximate said first end.

11. The steam turbine of claim 7 , wherein said at least one stationary blade further comprises a recess defined in said pressure side proximate a trailing edge of said at least one stationary blade, said recess is at least partially defined by a wall that extends obliquely to said pressure side, such that said wall at least partially faces said trailing edge, and wherein each said ejection channel extends through said wall.

12. The steam turbine of claim 7 , wherein said steam turbine defines a primary flow path for working steam, said set of stationary blades is disposed in said primary flow path, said supply passage is configured to supply the ejection fluid at a temperature that is higher than a temperature of the working steam in said primary flow path proximate said set of stationary blades when said steam turbine is in operation.

13. A method of making a set of stationary blades for a steam turbine, the set of stationary blades coupled to an outer ring and extending radially inward therefrom, said method comprising:

forming a suction side and an opposite pressure side of at least one of the stationary blades;

forming a plurality of ejection channels within the at least one stationary blade, each of the ejection channels extends through an outer surface of the pressure side, each of the ejection channels coupled in flow communication to a blade inlet aperture of the at least one stationary blade; and

wherein the at least one stationary blade extends radially from a first end to a second end and defines a span therebetween, and forming the plurality of ejection channels comprises distributing the plurality of ejection channels radially along a part-span portion of the diaphragm blade proximate the first end.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the plurality of ejection channels comprises orienting each of the ejection channels such that an ejection fluid is ejected from each ejection channel along the pressure side towards a trailing edge of the at least one stationary blade.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein distributing the plurality of ejection channels comprises distributing the plurality of ejection channels radially along about a one-half-span portion of the diaphragm blade from proximate the first end.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming a recess in the pressure side proximate a trailing edge of the at least one stationary blade, the recess at least partially defined by a wall that extends obliquely to the pressure side, such that the wall at least partially faces the trailing edge, and such that each ejection channel extends through the wall.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one stationary blade extends radially from a first end to a second end, wherein the stationary blade includes a radially outer portion that extends radially inward from the first end to a first intermediate end and a radially inner portion that extends radially outward from the second end to a second intermediate end, and wherein the plurality of ejection channels is defined solely in the radially outer portion, said method further comprises coupling the second intermediate end to the first intermediate end.