USO05653474A

United States Patent [19]

[11]
[45]

Ninacs et a].
[54] HIGH TEMPERATURE RECTANGULAR

2927639

[75] Inventors: Michel D. Ninacs, 190 Meloche St.,

Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada, J7V 8P2;

Germany ............................. .. 285/229

Assistant ExaminerHeather Shackelford

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Swabey Ogilvy Renault; Guy J.

Houle

[73] Assignee: Michel D. Ninacs, Vaudreuil. Canada

ABSTRACT
[57]
A high temperature rectangular exhaust duct expansion joint

[21] Appl. No.: 544,889

Oct. 18, 1995
[22] Filed:
.......................... .. F16L 11/12
[5 1] Int. 01.6 .
Us.
01.
..........................
..
285/47; 285/229; 285/301;
[52]
285/224
Field of Search ................................... .. 285/229, 424,

285/414, 47, 299, 301, 226

radial web is connected to an outer surface of the connecting

?ange. The radial web has a vertical wall component and a

of the vertical wall component and is connectable to a

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Kazmierski, Jr. et a1. ........... .. 285/229
Pintard ...................... ..

structure for securement to a high temperature gas stream

and particularly, but not exclusively, a turbine engine

exhaust duct. The support ?ange structure incorporated in
the duct has a connecting ?ange which de?nes opposed side
walls of the rectangular support ?ange structure. A T-shape

transverse end component extending beyond opposed sides

References Cited

3,730,566 5/1973
3,811,714 5/1974
4,140,338 2/1979
4,848,803 7/1989
5,209,503 5/1993
5,358,284 10/1994
5,378,026 1/1995

l/1981

Primary Examiner-Terry Lee Melius

Rodney P. Bell, Campbellville, Canada

[56]

Aug. 5, 1997

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

EXHAUST DUCT EXPANSION JOINT

[58]

5,653,474

Patent Number:
Date of Patent:

285/229

?exible membrane of the joint structure. The support ?ange

has reinforced corner sections wherein the connecting ?ange
and the vertical wall component of the T-shape radial web
are of increased thickness to reduce thermal stress in the
corner sections and to effectively redistribute the stress in the

support ?ange.
Broyles

.... ..

..

Ninacs et al. ........................... .. 285/47

2/

22

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets

11)

23

26

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25

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US. Patent

Aug. 5, 1997

Sheet 1 of 5

5,653,474

FIG.Z

FIG.3

US. Patent

Aug. 5, 1997

Sheet 2 of 5

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US. Patent

Aug. 5, 1997

Sheet 3 of 5

5,653,474

53
18

US. Patent

Aug. 5, 1997

Sheet 4 of 5

5,653,474

US. Patent

Aug. 5, 1997

Sheet 5 of 5

5,653,474

a."I

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49 .4
5

5,653,474
2

This stress is less than the same stress for a circular joint,

HIGH TEMPERATURE RECTANGULAR

EXHAUST DUCT EXPANSION JOINT

but it only applies away from the corners. At the corners the
stress level in the web increases signi?cantly. This is
because at the corner, the direct (hoop) stress that is in the
duct and outer ?ange cannot be transmitted around the
corner, and this force is transferred to the web at that point.
The bending moment that was carried by the whole cross
section is now carried by the web only, and the duct and
?ange direct stress drop to a low value. The stress increase
can therefor be approximated by the ratio of the e?ective
moment of inertia of the full joint cross section to that of the
web only. For a typical section, this ratio would be about 4.5,

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a rectangular support
?ange structure for use in a high temperature rectangular
exhaust duct expansion joint for connection to an outlet
structure of a high temperature gas stream and particularly,
but not exclusively, to the exhaust duct of a gas turbine

engine.
BACKGROUND ART
Gas turbine exhaust ducts must be connected to a ducting

system through an expansion joint which is designed to

provide stress relief caused by sudden thermal changes.

so now the direct stress at the corners would be (6 being the

direct stress):
15

These expansion joints also act as vibration isolators and

compensate for minor misalignment of interconnecting

0:2.25ErxAT

ducts. They are constructed from a variety of metal parts and

non-metallic materials including synthetic elastomers,

fabrics, insulation materials and plastics, depending on their
designs. Such exhaust duct expansion joints also have many

20

This stress is now larger than the simple model used for
the circular joint. In fact a better representation of the
rectangular joint would produce an even higher stress due to

applications such as for use in smelters, incineration plants,

twisting of the corners caused by the non-symmetrical shape

power generation plants, gas turbine plants and many more.

Because these joints are subjected to very rapid increase
in internal exhaust gas temperatures, they are subjected to
large temperature differentials within the joint structures,

of the cross section.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
25

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide

and these thermal gradients can cause stress levels in excess

a metallic circumferential rectangular support ?ange struc

of yield. When a turbine is cycled frequently, such as dming

commissioning or as in peaking power units, the net result
is deformation, crack propagation and gas leakage in some

ture for securing an expansion joint to an outlet structure of

a high temperature gas stream and which substantially

30

overcomes the above-mentioned stress concentration e?ects

of the joint component parts.

of conventional rectangular ducts.

A typical expansion joint uses a ?exible composite mem

brane made from insulating and elastomeric materials to
give the joint ?exibility and sealing and it is attached to a
steel structural support frame. There is generally a tempera

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a

metallic circumferential rectangular support ?ange structure having reinforced comer sections whereby to reduce thermal
stress in the corner sections and to redistribute the stress in

35

ture limit for the materials that is considerably below the gas

the support ?ange.

turbine exhaust temperature. Hence the material is normally

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a

attached to the duct via a radial web about 5" to 6" (12 cm

to 15 cm) deep. This web allows the temperature to reduce

radially outwards so that the temperature at the material
attachment point is about 400 to 500 F. (220 to 280 C.)
below the gas temperature. The joint also acts as a transition
piece between parts of the exhaust duct that is insulated on
the inside to where the duct is insulated on the outside. The
main area of high stress is the down stream structure that is
insulated on the outside only. At this point the web of the

metallic circumferential rectangular support ?ange structure

wherein the support ?ange thereof is provided with a
T-shape radial web and wherein the ?ange and the vertical
component of the T-shape radial web are of increased
thickness in the corner sections to provide the above

mentioned advantages of relieving stress.

45

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a

rectangular steel support ?ange structure and wherein a heat
shield assembly is connected over an inner surface of the

fabric support ?ange restricts the radial growth of the duct

connecting ?ange to retard heat transfer to the support

The stresses in the other half of the joint where non

?ange.
continuous insulated ?oating boxes are used to protect the
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
50
duct from high temperatures, are much less.
rectangular
support steel ?ange structure in combination
In my US. Pat No. 5,378,026 issued on Jan. 3, 1995, I
with an expansion joint and wherein the expansion joint has
discuss the construction of a circular expansion joint. A
an insulated rectangular frame structure at the downstream
circular joint behaves very di?erently than a rectangular
end which is also provided with a heat shield assembly to
duct joint. Unlike a circular joint with the same radial
retard
heat transfer to the insulated rectangular frame struc
temperature gradient, each side of the rectangular joint acts 55
as a beam with a temperature gradient across it. Each side

ture.

tries to bow inwards due to the thermal gradient. This

bowing movement is restricted by the restraint at each
corner. If the corners fully restrain the sides from bending,
the maximum bending stress would be

rectangular support steel ?ange structure in combination

with an expansion joint for connection to the outlet duct of

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a

a gas turbine and wherein the life expectancy of the expan

sion joint is greatly improved over prior art rectangular

structures.

01, = i Eon A2-T

where 6,, is the bending sn'ess. E is the modulus of elasticity,

or is the expansion coe?icient, and T is the temperature
di?erence.

According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the

present invention provides a metallic circumferential rect
65

angular support ?ange structure for securing an expansion

joint to an outlet structure of a high temperature gas stream.

Said support ?ange structure having a connecting ?ange

5 ,653,474
3

de?ning opposed side walls of the rectangular support ?ange

As can be seen. the connecting ?ange 13 has an inturned

structure. A T-shape radial web is connected to an outer

connecting ?ange 19 for connecting the expansion joint to a

surface of the connecting ?ange. The T-shape radial web has

high temperature outlet structure 12, as shown in FIG. 4. and

through which exhaust gas temperatures in the vicinity of
about l100 F. ?ow.
As shown more clearly in FIG. 3. the support ?ange
structure is provided with reinforced corner sections 20 and

a vertical wall component and a transverse end component

extending beyond opposed sides of the vertical wall com

ponent and connectable to a composite ?exible joint struc
ture. The support ?ange has reinforced comer sections
wherein the connecting ?ange and the vertical wall compo

this is provided by making the connecting ?ange 13 as well

nent are of increased thickness to reduce thermal stress in the

as the vertical wall component 17 of the T-shape radial web

15 of thicker steel as identi?ed at 13' and 17" respectively.
By reinforcing these corner sections 20 thermal stress in
these areas is reduced and this also has the effect of

corner sections and redistribute the stress in the support

?ange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

redistributing the thermal stress in the connecting ?ange 13.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now

The T-shape radial web 15 with its transverse end compo

be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 15 nent 18 balances this stress within the connecting ?ange and
in which:
the vertical wall component and prevents excess distortion
due to thermal stress.
As can be seen from comparing FIGS. 1 and 2. the

FIG. 1 is a fragmented simpli?ed perspective view of the

metallic circumferential rectangular support ?ange structure
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a simpli?ed schematic cross-section view show

ing the construction of the rectangular support ?ange;

FIG. 3 is a partly fragmented corner section of the

rectangular support ?ange structure illustrating the rein

forced corner sections of the structure;

FIG. 4 is a simpli?ed transverse section view showing the

rectangular support ?ange structure secured in an expansion
joint particularly constructed for securement to the outlet
duct of a gas turbine engine;
FIG. 5A is an exploded view showing certain component
parts of a heat shield assembly;
FIG. 5B is an exploded view showing the construction of

25

30

the intermediate heat absorbing plate;

FIG. 5C shows the intermediate heat absorbing plate
secured to the metal liner;
FIG. 5D is a side section view showing the interconnec
tion of two sections of the heat shield assembly;
FIG. SE is a perspective view showing the interconnec
tion of a corner section of the heat shield assembly; and

35

and a duct connecting ?ange 26 to connect to an outlet duct

(not shown). An extension ?ange 27 projects inwardly from

the insulated rectangular frame structure 24 to overlap at an
end section 27' thereof with the free end section 13' of the
40

FIG. 6 is a perspective fragmented section view showing

an expansion joint constructed in accordance with the
present invention and wherein a T-shape radial web is also
incorporated into the insulated rectangular frame structure at

the downstream end of the expansion joint.

opposed side walls 14 of the support ?ange structure 10 are

parallel side walls and the vertical wall component 17 of the
T-shape radial web 15 extends transverse to the ?at metal
connecting plate or ?ange 13. In the embodiment as shown
in FIGS. 4 and 6, the vertical wall component 17 is spaced
closer to the inturned connecting ?ange 19 than to an
opposed free end section 13' of the ?at metal plate 13 but this
spacing may vary depending on the application of the joint.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6. there is shown the
support ?ange structure 10 as incorporated into an expansion
joint structure 11. As hereinshown the expansion joint struc
ture comprises essentially a ?exible membrane 21 which is
secured along an edge 22 to the forward ?ange section 18'
of the transverse end component 18. An opposed edge 23 of
the ?exible membrane is secured to an insulated rectangular
frame structure 24 provided with an insulated housing 25

45

support ?ange 13. The extension ?ange 27 is displaceably

retained by the rectangular frame structure within a retention
slot 28 de?ned between an inner side wall 25 of the
insulated housing 25 and a spaced guide wall 29. A suitable

insulating material 30 is disposed within the insulated hous

ing 25.
Aheat insulating bolster 31 (see FIG. 6). as is well known
in the art. is disposed within the space 32 and retained

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS

captive between the connecting ?ange 13 and the projecting

?ange 27. at a lower end, and the ?exible membrane 21 at
an upper end. The bolster also spans between the T-shape
radial web 15 and the inner face of the insulated rectangular

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to

FIGS. 1 to 3. there is shown generally at 10 the metallic

circumferential rectangular support ?ange structure of the

present invention for securing an expansion joint. as more
clearly illustrated at 11 in FIGS. 4 and 6 to an outlet structure

frame structure 24.

12 of a high temperature gas stream generated by various

structure 24 is constructed slightly diiferent from that as

means such as a gas turbine engine (not shown). The support

As shown in FIG. 6. the insulator rectangular frame

55

shown in FIG. 4 and is provided by a U-shaped connecting

?ange structure 10 has a connecting ?ange 13 which de?nes

channel 33 de?ning a ?at base wall 34 and opposed trans

the opposed side walls 14 of the rectangular support ?ange

verse side walls 35 and 36. The inner one of the transverse

structure 10. The structure 10 is a steel structure.

side walls. namely side wall 35 faces the insulating bolster

As more clearly illustrated in the simpli?ed view in FIG.

2. a T-shape radial web 15 is connected to an outer surface

31 and is herein structured as a further T-shape web having

a transverse ?ange 37 secured to a top end of the side wall

16 of the connecting ?ange 14. The T-shape radial web has

35 and projecting on opposite sides thereof. The opposed

a vertical wall component 17 and a transverse end compo

edge 23 of the ?exible membrane 21 is connected to the

outer projecting side 37' of the transverse ?ange. Again. the
transverse ?ange is herein provided to balance stress in the

nent 18 extending beyond opposed sides of the vertical wall

component. In fact. the vertical wall component 17 is
welded centrally along the transverse end component. The
transverse end component 18 thereby de?nes a forward
?ange section 18' and a rearward ?ange section 18".

65

U-shaped connecting channel 33. In this particular

embodiment. the outer side wall 36 constitutes a duct

connecting ?ange similar to the ?ange 26 of FIG. 4.

5,653,474
5

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5Ato 5E, there is shown the

construction of a heat shield assembly 40 connected over the
inner surface 13" of the connecting ?ange 13 to retard heat
transfer to the support ?ange assembly resulting in a further
reduction in thermal stress in the support ?ange assembly.
The heat shield assembly, as shown in FIG. 4, comprises
essentially a metallic liner 41 herein formed of a plurality of

as shown in FIG. 3. the twisting moment in the web is

substantially removed. This reduces the maximum stress to

150.000 psi from about 200,000 psi. By increasing the

thickness of the corner sections of the support ?ange struc
ture the maximum stress appeared away from the corners.
For the basic design chosen, the corner thickness of the steel

plates was increased from 0.25" to 0.75". The maximum

stress then occurred in the material support ?ange and it had
a value of about 65,000 psi. Increasing the thickness of the

steel plates, and each plate having inturned end ?anges 42.
The shield is connected to overlie the inner surface 13" of

the connecting ?ange 13 with the inturned end ?anges

disposed over the inner surface 13" and de?ning an insu
lating air gap 43 between the side walls 14 or connecting
?anges 13 and the steel plates or metal liner 41. The metal
liner is retained by spacer cylinder 44 retained over proj ect
ing connectors 45. as better shown in FIG. 5A. The con
nectors have a threaded end 46 to receive securing nuts 47

10

vertical wall component 17 of the T-shape radial web 15 as

the effect of increasing the thermally induced restraining

moment at the corners and the stress level at this point is
increased. To further reduce stresses, a heat shield 40 was

15

connected to the inner surface of the connecting ?ange 13.

A further heat shield 40' was also connected to the base wall
34 of the insulated rectangular frame structure 24. Such heat

shield assembly 40, using for example 1" thick insulation in

thereto.
As also shown in FIG. 4, an intermediate heat absorbing
plate 48 is secured in the air gap 43 between the spacer

the insulating air gaps 43 can be calculated to reduce the

maximum stress to about 48,000 psi and the time of occur
rence would now be 2,000 seconds after the gas turbine
started, rather than 400 seconds for the conventional
designs. The design as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 results in

cylinders 44 and disposed substantially parallel between the

?at steel plates or metal liner 41 and the inner surface 13"

of the connecting ?anges 13.

an effective method of reducing the thermal stresses in a

FIGS. 5A to SE illustrate how the heat shield assembly 40

is constructed. As shown in FIG. 5A. a plurality of connec

rectangular expansion joint to reasonable levels.

connecting ?ange 13 to connect along each of the opposite

described herein, provided such modi?cations fall within the

scope of the appended claims.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any

tors or spacer bolts 45 extend from the inner face of the 25 obvious modi?cations of the preferred embodiment

side walls 14 a plurality of metal liners 41. The intermediate

We claim:

heat absorbing plates 48 are further provided with extension

1. A metallic circumferential rectangular support ?ange

ends 48' which are otfset at end 48" to overlap with

intermediate plates of the adjacent liner 41 in a manner as

structure for securing an expansion joint to an outlet struc

better illustrated in FIG. 5D. A bridge cover plate 49

ture of a high temperature gas stream. said support ?ange

structure having a connecting ?ange de?ning opposed side

walls of said rectangular support ?ange structure, a T-shape

connects over the end gaps 50 between opposed metal liners

41. It is provided with holes 51 centrally thereof to receive

the connecting bolts 45 which extends through the U-shaped
slots 52 provided in the opposed edges 53 of each of the

radial web having a vertical wall component connected

along an edge to an outer radial surface of said connecting

?ange spaced from opposed longitudinal edges thereof and

intermediate plates 48. These slots 52 as well as the holes 54

free of contact with said high temperature gas stream, said

T-shape radial web also having a transverse end component
connected to an opposed edge of said vertical wall compo
nent and connectable to a composite ?exible joint structure,
said transverse end component projecting from opposed

provided in the intermediate plates are sufficiently long to

permit expansion of the plates. This is also the case with the
holes 55 provided in the metallic liners 41. Accordingly. this
heat shield assembly is constructed in such a way as it can

permit displacement of the component parts due to thermal

expansion and contraction of the metal when subjected to
rapid heat increase and decrease.
FIG. 5B shows that the heat shield assembly also includes
right angle corner sections 55 also provided with interme
diate plates 48 with extension ?anges 48', 48.

sides of said vertical wall component to de?ne a forward and

a rearward ?ange section, said expansion joint being secured

to said vertical wall component and isolated from said high
temperature gas stream, said support ?ange structure having
45

thickened reinforced corner sections to reduce thermal stress

in said corner sections and to redistribute the stress in said

support ?ange.

Simulated heat conditions were subjected to a circumfer

ential rectangular support ?ange structure constructed as

2. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 1

shown in FIG. 2 but without reinforced corner sections and

wherein said vertical wall component of said T-shape radial

web is secured substantially at mid-width of said transverse
end component.
3. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 2
wherein there is further provided a heat shield assembly

with the top ?ange of the web extending only on the

upstream side of the inturned connecting ?ange. A simulated
exhaust gas temperature transient of 700 F. Was reached in
10 seconds and 1000 F. was reached in 2 minutes with a
steady state ?ow of gas at a temperature of 1050 F. The

50

connected over a radial inner surface of said connecting

maximum stress intensity at the corner of a non-reinforced 55 ?ange to retard heat transfer to said support ?ange structure,

joint was calculated to be 243,315 psi. This is a stress

concentration due in part to the duct wall and the material

support ?ange having greatly reduced direct stress a the

corner. The restraining bending moment was taken by the
web 15 alone. A secondary cause of additional bending
stress in the web 15 was due to the non-symmetrical
structure that causes the corner section to roll inwards. Away
from the corner the stress in the support ?ange was calcu

lated to be about 60,000 psi. In practice. such stress would

obviously cause buckling and plastic deformation of the
elements of the support ?ange structure. With the improved
design of the web 15. constructing it as a T-shape radial web,

said heat shield assembly resulting in a reduction in thermal

stress in said support ?ange structure.
4. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 2
wherein said connecting ?ange is a straight ?at steel plate
having a forward end with an outturned connecting ?ange

for securing said expansion joint to said outlet structure, said

T-shape radial web being constructed of steel material.
5. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 4 in
combination with an outlet duct of a gas turbine generating
65 for exhausting an exhaust gas at a temperature in the vicinity

of ~1100 F.. said outlet duct constituting said outlet struc

ture.

5,653,474
8

end thereof, said downstream edge of said ?exible mem

brane being connected to the rearward ?ange section of said
transverse ?ange, said transverse ?ange and said forward
one of said transverse side wall balancing stress in said

6. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 4

wherein said opposed side walls of said support ?ange

structure are parallel side walls, said vertical wall compo
nent of said T-shape radial web being disposed transverse to
said ?at steel plate and spaced closer to said inturned
connecting ?ange than to an opposed free end section of said
?at steel plate.
7. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 6
wherein said forward ?ange section of said transverse end
component extends towards said outturned connecting
?ange and constitutes a ?exible web connecting ?ange
section.

U-shaped connecting channel.

10. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 9
wherein a rearward one of said transverse side wall consti
tutes said duct connecting means.
10

11. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 9

wherein there is further provided a heat shield assembly
connected over said radial inner surface of said connecting
?ange to retard heat transfer to said U-shaped connecting
channel resulting in a reduction in thermal stress in said

8. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 2 in

combination with said expansion joint, said expansion joint

U-shaped connecting channel.

comprising a ?exible membrane having an upstream and

12. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 3

wherein said heat shield assembly comprises a metallic liner
formed by a plurality of interconnected ?at steel plates
having outturned end ?anges and connected to overlie a
radial inner surface of said opposed side walls of said

downstream edge, said upstream edge being secured to said

forward ?ange section of said transverse end component,
said downstream edge of said ?exible membrane being
secured to an insulated rectangular frame structure having an
insulated housing and a duct connecting means, an extension

rectangular support ?ange structure with said outturned end

?anges abutting said radial inner surface of said side walls

?ange attached to said rectangular frame extending in the

forward direction having an end section, said connecting
?ange having a free end section, said end section of said

to de?ne an insulating air gap between said side walls and

said steel plates.

extension ?ange projecting inwardly to overlap with said

free end section of said connecting ?ange wherein said
extension ?ange is retained by said rectangular frame

25

13. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 12

wherein there is further provided an intermediate heat

absorbing plate secured in said air gap, said intermediate

structure, a heat insulating bolster having a radial inner and

heat absorbing plate being spaced substantially parallel

outer ends and retained captive between said connecting

?ange and said extension ?ange at said radial inner end and

between said ?at steel plates and said radial inner surface of

said ?exible membrane at said radial outer end, said bolster

opposed transverse side walls, a forward one of said trans

14. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 13

wherein a plurality of said ?at steel pates and intermediate
heat absorbing plates are constructed in sections, wherein
said ?at steel plates are interconnected end-to-end and the
intermediate heat absorbing plates are interconnected end
to-end over each said opposed side walls of said rectangular
support ?ange structure, there being right-angle corner sec

verse side walls facing said insulating bolster having a

tions secured over said reinforced corner sections of said

transverse ?ange extending radially outwardly and project

support ?ange structure.

said connecting ?ange.

spanning between said T-shape radial web and said insulated

rectangular frame structure.
9. A support ?ange structure as claimed in claim 8
wherein said insulated rectangular frame structure has a

U-shaped connecting channel de?ning a ?at base wall and

ing from opposed sides of said transverse side wall to de?ne

a forward and rearward ?ange section and secured to said

35