Albert F Lebreton

US Patent:

49797557, Dec 25, 1990

Filed:

Feb 18, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/157552

Inventors:

Albert F. Lebreton - Longwood FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

E21B 3300
F01D 520
F16J 1544

US Classification:

277 1

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for preventing swirl in a stem turbine having an annular-shaped stationary portion through which extends in regions of differential pressure a rotatable shaft include flow dams situated perpendicularly with respect to a plurality of spaced-apart annular teeth which extend radially inward from the stationary portion toward the shaft to within close proximity thereof, each adjacent pair of teeth forming a cavity there between. By damming the cavities, a circumferential stem flow is substantially minimized, thereby preventing the conditions necessary for the inducement of swirl.