Segmented Airfoil Vanes for Turbine Engine Debris Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face challenges with debris ingestion, leading to foreign object damage (FOD), which can cause significant structural issues and reduce engine efficiency due to distorted airflow and turbulence, and existing protection devices are either heavy, inefficient, or pose safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
An environmental defense shield comprising a plurality of aerodynamic vanes with a symmetrical airfoil shape, designed to deflect debris and stabilize airflow, reducing turbulence and noise, while being lightweight and minimizing interference with normal airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shroud surrounding the engine component is used to protect against debris, then protection against foreign object damage is improved, but the overall weight of the aircraft increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is divided into multiple discrete aerodynamic vanes positioned around the engine inlet, rather than using a continuous shroud. Each vane is independently shaped to deflect debris while maintaining lightweight construction, collectively providing comprehensive protection without the weight penalty of a solid enclosing structure.
2Reliability
If metal shrouds are used to protect the engine, then protection against debris is improved, but fuel consumption increases due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The engine protection is achieved through segmented aerodynamic vanes rather than a solid metal shroud. These vanes are strategically positioned to intercept and deflect debris away from the engine inlet, providing effective protection with minimal added weight, thereby avoiding the increased fuel consumption associated with heavy protective structures.
3Reliability
If screens are used as inlet covers to protect against debris, then protection against foreign object damage is improved, but engine efficiency is impaired due to interference with normal air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic vanes are designed with specific airfoil cross-sections and orientations that allow them to dynamically interact with the airflow. The vanes are positioned and shaped to deflect debris while simultaneously managing the air flow patterns, ensuring that the protective function does not create significant flow disturbances that would reduce engine efficiency.
4Reliability
If mechanical or explosive actuators are used to activate protection devices, then protection against debris is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic vanes are designed to passively perform their protective function through the natural force of airflow. The vanes' positioning and airfoil geometry enable them to automatically deflect debris without requiring any active actuation mechanisms, sensors, or control systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while providing effective protection.
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 shield effectively prevents debris ingestion, improves engine efficiency, reduces noise, and enhances aircraft safety, while minimizing weight and fuel consumption, and preventing ice formation, thus reducing damage and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention is directed to an environmental defense shield for a turbine engine on an aircraft, which serves to block debris and other foreign objects from entering the engine with minimal interference to the airflow into the engine. The shield mitigates distortion of the air intake opening flow caused by boundary layer differences, crosswinds and/or swirling
Implementation Method 2
The shield mitigates distortion of the air intake opening flow caused by boundary layer differences, crosswinds and/or swirling, such as reducing the disruption of vortices around the air intake opening by placement of a plurality of vanes, attached or merged with a base, and by conditioning the air with multiple vanes that keep the air directed, while maintaining, or stabilizing, velocity and air flow pressure
Implementation Method 3
The present invention also has a noise suppression value, because reducing inflow distortion reduces the production of noise
Data Source
AI summary
An environmental defense shield includes symmetric airfoil-shaped vanes contributing to and positioned around a plenum space and positioned in front of a turbine engine. An annular band stiffener is set into the vanes, which projects forward in a diminishing size, the vanes merging together to create or attaching to a solid nose. The environmental defense shield serves to protect the engine from debris while also smoothing airflow into the engine.