Angled Inlet Guide Vane Assembly for Uniform Turbine Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face issues with airflow non-uniformity due to the long and heavy vane inlet structure, which allows air ingestion through the interface between the vane inlet and shroud plug, complicating the flow into the gas path.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an elliptically shaped vane inlet with an acute angle to the engine axis and a conforming shroud plug, featuring a teardrop shape and packing gaskets to seal the interface, along with a rotated installation method to reduce the inlet case length and prevent air ingestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a long vane inlet structure is used to allow the vane airfoil to pass, then the vane can be properly installed, but the inlet case becomes heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The vane inlet aperture is changed from a conventional circular shape to an elliptical shape with the long axis at an acute angle to the engine centerline. This curved/geometric modification allows the vane airfoil to pass through more easily while reducing the required length of the inlet case structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane inlet aperture uses an asymmetric elliptical shape rather than a symmetric circular shape. The ellipse is oriented at an acute angle to the engine centerline, creating an asymmetric configuration that facilitates vane installation while reducing structural length and weight.
2Device complexity
If a conventional circular vane inlet aperture is used, then the structure is simple, but air ingestion occurs at the interface creating non-uniform flow
Solution Approach 1:
The elliptical shape of the vane inlet aperture with its curved boundaries provides better flow guidance and reduces flow separation at the interface. The acute angle orientation of the ellipse optimizes the flow path, preventing air ingestion and ensuring uniform airflow into the gas path.
3Device complexity
If the vane inlet is aligned with the engine centerline, then the structure is straightforward, but the inlet case becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The vane inlet aperture is deliberately misaligned from the engine centerline by orienting the elliptical shape at an acute angle. This asymmetric arrangement reduces the axial length of the inlet case while maintaining proper vane installation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of aligning the vane inlet axially with the engine centerline, the solution rotates the elliptical aperture into a different angular dimension. This dimensional change allows the vane to pass through more easily while reducing the axial length requirement of the inlet case.
Data Source
AI summary
An inlet guide vane assembly of a gas turbine engine, the assembly having an inlet case having an outer ring that extends axially along an engine axis between a ring front end and a ring aft end, and radially between a ring outer surface and a ring inner surface, wherein: the outer ring has a vane inlet, defined by a vane inlet surface that extends between the ring outer and inner surfaces; the vane inlet that is elliptically shaped having an inlet long axis disposed at an acute angle to the engine axis; and the assembly includes a shroud plug, the shroud plug having an inner portion that is disposed within the vane inlet, the inner portion having a shape that conforms with the vane inlet.