An apparatus and method are provided for permitting free rotation of turbine nozzle vanes, while minimizing or eliminating leakage on the vane side-walls. The device incorporates a plurality of nozzle vanes arranged around the circumference of a radial or mixed inflow turbine. Each of the nozzles is
An apparatus and method are provided for permitting free rotation of turbine nozzle vanes, while minimizing or eliminating leakage on the vane side-walls. The device incorporates a plurality of nozzle vanes arranged around the circumference of a radial or mixed inflow turbine. Each of the nozzles is individually attached to a rod positioned perpendicular to the flow direction. The nozzle rods in the circumferential array protrude through a movable annular back-wall, and are rotated by a linkage or gear. Between discrete movements of the vane mechanism, a bellows device is used to provide pressure-actuated force in the movable back-wall, thereby clamping the nozzle between the two surfaces. Prior to rotating the nozzles, pressure within the bellows interior is decreased via venting to cause a retraction of the back wall.
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Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be: 1. A turbomachine for extracting mechanical energy from a compressed gas, comprising: a rotor portion including a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades; a nozzle portion having a plurality of rotatable nozzle va
Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be: 1. A turbomachine for extracting mechanical energy from a compressed gas, comprising: a rotor portion including a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades; a nozzle portion having a plurality of rotatable nozzle vanes, a stationary shroud, and a movable wall, said movable mall having a first, higher pressure side and a second, lower pressure side opposite the first side; one or more pneumatic bellows, each of said one or more pneumatic bellows defining an internal cavity for selectively varying a pressure exerted on the lower pressure side of the movable wall; each of said one or more bellows including an inlet for selectively increasing pressure within said internal cavity for urging the movable wall to a closed position wherein the nozzle vanes are clamped between the movable wall and the stationary shroud; and each of said one or more bellows including an outlet for selectively reducing pressure within said internal cavity for retracting the movable wall to an open position permitting rotation of the nozzle vanes. 2. The turbomachine of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. 3. The turbomachine of claim 2, wherein said apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy is a generator. 4. The turbomachine of claim 3, wherein said generator is an alternator. 5. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein said inlet is coupled to a source of pressurized gas. 6. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein said inlet is a snubber port passing through said movable wall. 7. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein the compressed gas is air. 8. The turbomachine of claim 1, wherein said one or more pneumatic bellows are configured to exert a force Fb on the stationary shroud through the back wall and nozzle vanes when the back wall is urged to said closed position, which force Fb is approximately equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to a force Fs, which is equal to an inlet pressure of said compressed gas entering the turbomachine multiplied by the projected area of the stationary shroud. 9. A nozzle vane apparatus for use with a turbine of a radial flow type or a mixed axial and radial flow type, said apparatus comprising: a multi-vane air-foil including a plurality of nozzle vanes rotatably coupled to a sliding annular back wall; a pressure-actuated bellows coupled to said sliding annular back wall for effecting sliding movement of said annular back wall; a conduit used to control an internal pressure of said bellows; said sliding back wall defining a portion of the nozzle surface and serving to clamp the nozzle vanes to a static turbine shroud wall; and each of said plurality of nozzle vanes coupled to a movable rod penetrating said annular back wall; and a linkage device coupled to said movable rods for effecting simultaneous rotation of the vanes. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a sensor for determining turbine inlet temperature; a first controller coupled to the sensor for providing closed loop control over turbine inlet temperature by commanding discrete open and closing movements of the nozzle; and a valve coupled to said conduit for selectively fluidically coupling an interior of said bellows to a source of pressurized air. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a fuel control valve for the induction of fuel into a combustion device located upstream of the turbine; and a second controller coupled to the fuel control valve for controlling the fuel valve so as to maintain a preselected power set point. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: an internal stop mounted within an interior portion of said bellows. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising; said bellows comprising an annular bellows having an internal diameter and an external diameter, wherein the internal and external diameters of the bellows are selected to produce a force through the annular sliding back wall and nozzle vanes so as to result in a force approximately equal and opposite to that created by the gas pressure on the outside of the static turbine shroud wall during operation. 14. A method for controlling the flow of gas in a turbomachine of a type having a rotor portion including a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and a nozzle portion having a plurality of rotatable nozzle vanes, a stationary shroud, and a movable wall, said movable wall having a first, higher pressure side and a second, lower pressure side opposite the first side, said method comprising: providing one or more pneumatic bellows, each of which defining an internal cavity which is in fluid communication with the lower pressure side of the movable wall; determining whether or not to change the position of said rotatable nozzle vanes; if said position of the nozzle vanes is not to be changed, increasing pressure within said internal cavity for urging the movable wall to a closed position wherein the nozzle vanes are clamped between the movable wall and the stationary shroud; and if said position of the nozzle vanes is to be changed, reducing pressure within said internal cavity for retracting the movable wall to an open position permitting rotation of the nozzle vanes. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: sensing an inlet temperature of the turbomachine; comparing the inlet temperature to a preselected temperature or temperature range; if the inlet temperature is outside the preselected temperature or temperature range: decreasing pressure within said internal cavity to cause retraction of the movable wall to an open position; rotating the nozzle vanes towards a more open nozzle position if the inlet temperature is greater than the preselected temperature or temperature range; rotating the nozzle vanes towards a more closed nozzle position if the inlet temperature is less than the preselected temperature or temperature range; and increasing the pressure within the internal cavity to clamp the nozzle vanes between the movable wall and the stationary shroud. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing a first, solar energy heat source and a second, supplemental heat source for heating said gas; sensing an inlet temperature of the turbomachine; comparing the inlet temperature to a preselected temperature or temperature range; if the inlet temperature is greater than the preselected temperature or temperature range, decreasing heat input from said second, supplemental heat source; if the inlet temperature is less than the preselected temperature or temperature range, increasing heat input from said second, supplemental heat source; sensing a power output of the turbomachine; comparing the sensed power output to a preselected power output or power output range; if the power output is outside the preselected power output or power output range: decreasing pressure within said internal cavity to cause retraction of the movable wall to an open position; rotating the nozzle vanes towards a more closed nozzle position if the power output is greater than the preselected temperature or temperature range; rotating the nozzle vanes towards a more open nozzle position if the power output is less than the preselected temperature or temperature range; and increasing the pressure within the internal cavity to clamp the nozzle vanes between the movable wall and the stationary shroud.
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