SPLIT CASTING STEAM CHEST, NOZZLE CHAMBER AND CASING ASSEMBLY FOR TURBINES

摘要

In an elastic fluid turbine, an improved construction of the casing, the steam chest and the nozzle chamber which permits free expansion of parts subject to thermal transients at reduced cost and higher assurance of quality. This is accomplished by casting the nozzle chamber, the upper and lowe halves of the outer casing and at least a portion of the steam chest as separate pieces and then bolting them together. In cases where a high pressure nozzle chamber is employed, this also is cast separate from the lower casing half and fitted into an opening in that part. Forming the assembly from a number of parts in this manner considerably reduces the problems encountered in casting complex shapes which are costly and difficult to fabricate.