Gas turbine exhaust diffuser
A gas turbine including an exhaust diffuser with a flow splitter located between the inner wall and outer wall defining the exhaust gas flow path. In one aspect the flow splitter being moveable independent of the walls defining the exhaust gas flow path to allow for differing thermal movement between the components. In one form a structural member extends from a wall and is coupled to the flow splitter. The wall can have an opening for the through which the structural member is allowed to pass. In some forms a plurality of structural members can be coupled to the flow splitter. In other forms the flow splitter can be independently movable relative to the wall.
1. A gas turbine exhaust diffuser, comprising:
a support member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a portion fixed to a support structure;
an inner wall;
an outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining a fluid flow path therebetween for the passage of an exhaust gas; and
a splitter located within the exhaust diffuser and coupled to said support member said splitter being moveable independent of said support member,
wherein the support member extends through one of the inner and the outer wall.
2. The exhaust diffuser of claim 1 , which further includes a plurality of members coupled between said support member and said splitter for supporting said splitter.
3. The exhaust diffuser of claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of members includes a first end coupled to said support member and a second end coupled to said splitter; and
wherein each of said plurality of members has a narrowing cross section along their length between said first end and said second end.
4. The exhaust diffuser of claim 2 , wherein one of said inner wall and said outer wall includes a plurality of spaced apertures;
wherein said plurality of members are spaced corresponding to said plurality of spaced apertures; and
wherein one of said plurality of members passing through each of said apertures.
5. The exhaust diffuser of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of members are pivotally coupled at said splitter and fixedly coupled at said support member.
6. The exhaust diffuser of claim 4 , wherein said inner wall includes said plurality of spaced apertures.
7. The exhaust diffuser of claim 4 , which further includes means for sealing each of said plurality of apertures.
8. The exhaust diffuser of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser includes a centerline;
wherein each of said inner wall, said outer wall and said splitter are symmetric about the centerline;
wherein the fluid flow path is an annular flow path including a conical section and a curved section; and
wherein said splitter is located substantially within said curved section.
9. The exhaust diffuser of claim 1 , which further includes a plurality of members coupled between said support member and said splitter for supporting said splitter;
wherein said inner wall includes a plurality of spaced apertures;
wherein said plurality of members are spaced corresponding to said plurality of spaced apertures;
wherein one of said plurality of members passing through each of said apertures; and
which further includes a seal for sealing each of said plurality of apertures.
10. The exhaust diffuser of claim 9 , wherein said seal is defined by means for sealing each of said plurality of apertures from exhaust gas leakage.
11. The exhaust diffuser of claim 9 , wherein the diffuser includes a centerline;
wherein each of said inner wall, said outer wall and said splitter are symmetric about the centerline;
wherein the fluid flow path is an annular flow path including a conical section and a curved section; and
wherein said splitter is located within said curved section.
12. An apparatus comprising: a gas turbine; and
an exhaust diffuser in fluid flow communication with said gas turbine, said exhaust diffuser comprising:
a support structure;
an outer wall;
an inner wall spaced from said outer wall and defining an annular fluid flow path therebetween, said inner wall including a plurality of holes;
a flow divider located within said annular fluid flow path for dividing at least a portion of said fluid flow path into multiple flow paths; and
a plurality of columns partially extending across the exhaust diffuser and terminating prior to engaging the outer wall, the plurality of columns coupled between said support structure and said flow divider, each of said plurality of columns pass through one of said plurality of holes and has a first end coupled to said flow divider and a second end fixed to said support structure.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a joint is defined where said first end is coupled to said flow divider, said joint allows rotation of said first end relative to said flow divider.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the gas turbine is a land based gas turbine.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the exhaust diffuser includes a centerline;
wherein each of said inner wall, said outer wall and said flow divider are symmetric about the centerline;
wherein the fluid flow path includes a conical portion and a curved portion; and
wherein said flow divider is located within said curved section.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said curved portion has a substantially radial discharge.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said inner wall and said flow divider are moveable independent of one another.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 , which further includes a seal disposed at each of said plurality of holes;
wherein said seal comprising:
a seal plate disposed within said annular flow path and against said inner wall;
a tube connected to said seal plate;
a stop disposed on said tube;
a biasing plate moveable along said tube; and
a spring for biasing said biasing plate away from said stop.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 , which further includes a seal disposed at each of said plurality of holes, said seal includes a seal plate disposed within said annular flow path and spring biased against said inner wall.