Turbine bucket assembly and turbine system

Abstract

A turbine bucket assembly and turbine system are disclosed. The turbine bucket assembly includes a single-lobe joint having an integral platform, the joint having a first axial length; a non-segmented airfoil having a root section and a tip section integral with the root section, the tip section having a tip end with a second axial length, the second axial length being less than the first axial length; and a turbine wheel having a receptacle with a geometry corresponding to the single-lobe joint and being coupled to the single-lobe joint. The turbine wheel includes a turbine wheel material and the single-lobe joint and the non-segmented airfoil include a turbine bucket material, the turbine bucket material having a higher heat resistance and a lower thermal expansion than the turbine wheel material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to turbine components and turbine systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to turbine bucket assemblies and turbine systems having one or more turbine bucket assemblies.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]At least some known gas turbine engines include a combustor, a compressor, and / or turbines that include a rotor disk that includes a plurality of rotor blades, or buckets, that extend radially outward therefrom. The plurality of rotating turbine blades or buckets channel high-temperature fluids, such as combustion gases or steam, through either a gas turbine engine or a steam turbine engine. The roots of at least some known buckets are coupled to the disk with dovetails that are inserted within corresponding dovetail slots formed in the rotor disk to form a bladed disk, or “blisk.” Because such turbine engines operate at relatively high temperatures and may be relatively large, the operating capacity of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a turbine bucket assembly that includes a single-lobe joint and a non-segmented airfoil extending from the joint. The non-segmented airfoil has a tip end with a second axial length that is less than the first axial length. The turbine wheel that receives the air from the assembly has a geometry corresponding to the single-lobe joint and is made of a turbine wheel material and the non-segmented airfoil is made of a turbine bucket material with higher heat resistance and lower thermal expansion than the turbine wheel material. This design helps improve the overall performance and durability of the turbine system.

Problems solved by technology

The roots of at least some known buckets are coupled to the disk with dovetails that are inserted within corresponding dovetail slots formed in the rotor disk to form a bladed disk, or “blisk.” Because such turbine engines operate at relatively high temperatures and may be relatively large, the operating capacity of such an engine may be at least partially limited by the materials used in fabricating the buckets and / or the length of the airfoil portions of the buckets.

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