Rotor containment structure

1. A containment structure for a rotor, the rotor containment structure comprising:

a shroud coaxial with and partially surrounding the rotor, the shroud comprising:

a tubular section extending axially past a first side of the rotor;

a transition section connected to the tubular section and adjacent to a curved side of the rotor; and

a flange section connected to the transition section opposite the tubular section and extending radially past a radially outer side of the rotor; and

a shroud reinforcement enclosing the transition section of the shroud, the shroud reinforcement comprising:

a support scaffold comprised of a series of geometric retaining features encircling a radially outer surface of the transition section, wherein the geometric retaining features are spaced axially along the shroud, the geometric retaining features comprising:

axial treads with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, wherein the longer dimension runs axially; and

radial risers with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, wherein the longer dimension runs radially:

wherein each of the retaining features attaches to adjacent retaining features creating a step-like geometry; and

a reinforcing material coupled to the support scaffold to restrict radial expansion of the shroud.

2. The rotor containment structure of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing material is wrapped around a radially outer side of the support scaffold.

3. The rotor containment structure of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing material is woven around a radially outer side of the support scaffold.

4. The rotor containment structure of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing material is made from materials chosen from the group consisting of para-amid fibers, carbon fibers, thermoset polymer, micro carbon fiber filled nylon, and combinations thereof.

5. The rotor containment structure of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing material comprises:

a first layer of material adjacent to the support scaffold; and

a second layer of material surrounding the first layer of material.

6. The rotor containment structure of claim 1 , wherein the shroud and the support scaffold are integral.

7. A rotary machine comprising:

a compressor section comprising:

a compressor housing with a compressor inlet, a compressor outlet, and a compressor duct between the compressor inlet and the compressor outlet;

a compressor rotor in the compressor duct;

a diffuser in the compressor duct downstream from the compressor rotor; and

a compressor shroud connected to the compressor housing near the compressor inlet and the diffuser, wherein the compressor shroud is coaxial with the compressor rotor;

a turbine section connected to the compressor section comprising:

a turbine housing with a turbine inlet, a turbine outlet, and a turbine duct between the turbine inlet and the turbine outlet;

a turbine rotor in the turbine duct;

a turbine shroud coaxial with and partially surrounding the turbine rotor, wherein the turbine shroud is connected to the turbine housing;

a turbine nozzle on a downstream portion of the turbine shroud;

a turbine shroud reinforcement encircling a section of the turbine shroud, the turbine shroud reinforcement comprising:

a first support scaffold partially enclosing the turbine shroud comprised of a series of geometric retaining features encircling a radially outer surface of the transition section, the retaining features comprising:

axial treads with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, wherein the longer dimension runs axially; and

radial risers with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, wherein the longer dimension runs radially;

wherein each of the retaining features attaches to adjacent retaining features creating a step-like geometry; and

a first reinforcing material coupled to the first support scaffold to restrict radial expansion of the turbine shroud; and

a shaft mechanically connecting the compressor rotor and the turbine rotor.

8. The rotary machine of claim 7 further comprising:

a compressor rotor containment structure on a radially outer surface of the compressor shroud, the compressor rotor containment structure comprising:

a second support scaffold partially encircling the compressor shroud; and

a second reinforcing material coupled to the second support scaffold to restrict radial expansion of the shroud.

9. The rotary machine of claim 8 , wherein the second support scaffold is a series of geometric retaining features creating a step-like geometry encircling a curved transition section of the compressor shroud, and wherein the second reinforcing material is wrapped around a radially outer side of the second support scaffold.

10. The rotary machine of claim 7 , wherein the first reinforcing material is made from a material chosen from the group consisting of para-amid fibers, carbon fibers, thermoset polymer, micro carbon fiber filled nylon, and combinations thereof.

11. The rotary machine of claim 7 , wherein the turbine shroud and the first support scaffold are integral.

12. A shroud reinforcement partially surrounding a shroud, the shroud reinforcement comprising:

a support scaffold comprised of a series of geometric retaining features, wherein the geometric retaining features encircle a section of the shroud, wherein the geometric retaining features are spaced axially along the shroud, and wherein the geometric retaining features comprise:

axial treads with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, wherein the longer dimension runs axially; and

radial risers with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, wherein the longer dimension runs radially;

wherein each of the retaining features attaches to adjacent retaining features creating a step-like geometry; and

a reinforcing material coupled to the support scaffold, wherein the reinforcing material restricts radial expansion of the shroud.

13. The shroud reinforcement of claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing material is woven around a radially outer surface of the support scaffold.

14. The shroud reinforcement of claim 13 , wherein the reinforcing material comprises:

a first layer surrounding the support scaffold, wherein the first layer is made from a material chosen from the group consisting of para-amid fibers, carbon fibers, and combinations thereof; and

a second layer surrounding the first layer, wherein the second layer is made from a material chosen from the group consisting of thermoset polymer, micro carbon fiber filled nylon, and combinations thereof.

15. The shroud reinforcement of claim 14 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are integral.