Abrasive Blade Tip Additive Prevents Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Abrasive tips in turbomachines experience clogging due to the buildup of carbonized rub debris from abradable seals, leading to frictional heating and potential damage to polyurethane erosion-resistant coatings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating additives such as solid lubricants, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, hexagonal boron nitride, magnesium stearate, lithium fluoride, or molydisulfide into the abrasive blade tips to prevent adhesion of organic components from abradable seals, thereby preventing clogging and frictional heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If abrasive tips are used to remove portions of abradable seal, then the seal provides protection during rub interaction, but carbonized portions of the seal adhere to the abrasive tips and build up causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
A release agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the abradable seal and the abrasive tip. This release agent prevents direct adhesion of carbonized seal portions to the abrasive tip surface, thereby eliminating the clogging problem while allowing the seal to continue providing protection during rub interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the abrasive tip are modified by applying a release agent coating. This changes the surface energy and chemical composition parameters of the abrasive tip, making it resistant to adhesion of organic seal materials while maintaining its abrasive functionality.
2Power
If carbonized portions build up between grit particles, then frictional heating occurs during rub events, but this heating affects the polyurethane erosion resistant coating on the gas path surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent acts as a thermal barrier and prevents the direct transfer of frictional heat from the rub interface to the polyurethane coating. By preventing adhesion and reducing friction, the release agent eliminates the thermal damage pathway while allowing controlled frictional heating to occur during normal operation.
3Ease of operation
If the abrasive tip removes portions of the abradable seal, then the seal provides a small clearance, but the removed portions transfer to and adhere to the abrasive tip
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent serves as a protective intermediary layer that allows the abrasive tip to remove seal material for clearance while preventing the removed material from adhering to the tip surface. This maintains the functional clearance mechanism while preventing material loss through adhesion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The additive prevents clogging and frictional heating, maintaining the effectiveness of the abrasive tips and protecting the polyurethane coatings from thermal damage, ensuring prolonged operation and reduced maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
the additive is configured to lubricate the organic component responsive to a rub event with the abrasive blade tip
Implementation Method 2
The abrasive tips, upon rubbing the abradable seal, remove portions of the abradable seal. The portions of the carbon based materials that build up between the grit particles of the abrasive tip (i.e. clogging) can cause frictional heating during rub events.
Data Source
AI summary
An abrasive tip comprises an additive, the additive is configured to prevent adhesion of an organic component from an abradable seal onto an abrasive blade tip.