Axial Compressor Drum Stiffening via Internal Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing axial turbomachine compressor drum designs face challenges in achieving a balance between mechanical resistance and weight reduction, as traditional designs often require significant massiveness to withstand centrifugal stresses while minimizing material addition, which can lead to geometrical tolerances and material weakening issues.
Innovation Solution
The design features a rotor stage with a symmetrical, hollow body wall that includes an annular area with a central part raised to support vanes, forming a continuous, stiffened surface that integrates vanes and eliminates the need for traditional fasteners and massive reinforcements, ensuring optimal stiffness and aerodynamics while minimizing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional reinforcements (leeks) are added to increase drum stiffness, then mechanical resistance improves, but drum weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local reinforcement only where needed - internal ribs are positioned specifically at the drum ends where centrifugal stresses are highest, rather than uniformly throughout. The ribs have variable thickness with greater massiveness at their ends directed toward the drum interior, providing localized stiffness enhancement without overall weight increase
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional external or surface-mounted reinforcements to internal three-dimensional rib structures that extend into the drum volume. These internal ribs create a spatial distribution of reinforcement that optimizes stiffness-to-weight ratio by placing material in the most structurally effective positions within the drum body
2Strength
If material is added to increase drum stiffness, then mechanical resistance improves, but centrifugal forces increase due to added mass at radius
Solution Approach 1:
Material is concentrated locally at the drum ends where centrifugal stresses are maximum, rather than distributed uniformly. The internal ribs are positioned to intercept and redistribute centrifugal forces at their origin points, providing stiffness enhancement while minimizing overall mass addition
Solution Approach 2:
The internal ribs are pre-positioned within the drum structure to proactively counteract centrifugal forces before they can cause deformation. The ribs act as preventive reinforcement elements that redistribute stresses in advance, allowing the drum to withstand higher centrifugal loads without additional mass
3Weight of moving object
If the drum is reduced in size and weight, then weight decreases, but mechanical resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves weight reduction by eliminating unnecessary material from non-critical areas while concentrating reinforcement only where structurally essential - the internal ribs at the drum ends. This selective material distribution maintains mechanical resistance with minimal weight
Solution Approach 2:
The drum employs a composite structural approach combining the base drum material with integrated internal rib reinforcements. This composite construction optimizes the overall strength-to-weight ratio by merging structural functions into a unified design that eliminates the need for separate, heavy reinforcement elements
Data Source
AI summary
An axial turbomachine compressor drum rotor stage includes an axis of rotation, a wall generally symmetrical in revolution about the axis of rotation. The wall forms a hollow body and includes a veil and an annular area integrally formed with the veil for supporting a row of vanes. The annular area includes a central part raised in relation to that of the veil.