Annular Mount Secondary Flow Passages for Cavity Purging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engines face issues with dead cavities filled with warm stagnant air, which can lead to inefficiencies and material degradation due to uneven temperature distribution.

Innovation Solution

The use of annular mounts with channels and impingement holes to direct secondary air flows for purging these cavities and providing film cooling to critical components, thereby reducing temperature gradients and extending component lifespan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If components are used to seal off cavities in gas turbine engines, then cavity isolation is achieved, but dead spaces filled with warm stagnant air are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecavity isolationVSAvoidstagnant air temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful stagnant air from the cavities by introducing cooling air flows through passages in the annular mount. The cooling air is directed through the cavity to replace the warm stagnant air, effectively removing the thermal problem while preserving the seal function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary cooling air flow that acts as a mediator between the sealed cavities. This cooling air passes through the cavities via passages in the annular mount, serving as a thermal intermediary that removes heat without compromising the seal integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If secondary air flow is directed through passages to purge cavities, then temperature gradients are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature distributionVSAvoidmount structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sealing function and the cooling function into a single integrated annular mount structure. The mount includes both seal elements to isolate cavities and passages to conduct cooling air, combining two functions that would traditionally require separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The annular mount is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs sealing, cooling air distribution, and structural support. This universal component eliminates the need for separate sealing elements and cooling channels, reducing overall device complexity despite the added cooling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution effectively purges dead cavities and enhances the operational life of gas turbine engine components by ensuring consistent cooling and reducing material costs through temperature management.

Implementation Method 1

direct secondary air flows for purging these cavities and providing film cooling to critical components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilm cooling: Convection

Implementation Method 2

direct secondary air flows for purging these cavities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2938841B1Passages to facilitate a secondary flow between components

Publication Date: 2017.06.28 UNITED TECH CORP

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Figure 2B

AI summary

An annular mount for a gas turbine engine includes a first flange and a second flange. The first flange has an arcuate shape, and the second flange extends from the first flange. The second flange has an interface surface along at least one side and has a plurality of mounting apertures extending therethrough. The channels extend along a length of the interface surface from a first edge to a second edge.