TURBOMACHINE INCLUDING HORIZONTAL JOINT HEATING AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING TIP CLEARANCE IN A GAS TURBOMACHINE

摘要

A gas turbomachine (2) includes a casing (14) having a first casing half (20) including first (34) and second (35) edge portions and a second casing half (21) including first (39) and second (40) edge sections. The first edge portion is configured and disposed to be joined to the first edge section to form a first horizontal joint (44) and the second edge portion is configured and disposed to be joined to the second edge section to form a second horizontal joint (45). At least one of the first edge portion and the first edge section including a first fluid passage (60), and at least one of the second edge portion and second edge section including a second fluid passage (62). The first and second fluid passages are configured and disposed to guide heated fluid along respective ones of the first and second horizontal joints to facilitate a substantially uniform thermal expansion of the casing to provide a desired tip clearance in the gas turbomachine.