Bearing Support Structure with Reaction-Force Decreasing Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbines, the existing bearing support structures are prone to damage due to radial deformation and resulting vibrations when the rotation shaft becomes unbalanced, leading to potential fractures and damage to the bearing and casing components.
Innovation Solution
A bearing support structure with a reaction-force decreasing unit that connects the casing and bearing unit, featuring a cylindrical shape with annular, diaphragm, and bellows configurations, providing higher circumferential rigidity and flexibility in the radial direction to mitigate radial reaction forces and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the casing and bearing unit are rigidly connected via a support member, then the structural strength is improved, but the vibration transmission and damage risk increase when the rotation shaft becomes unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with a bellows structure consisting of multiple folded layers that can expand and contract radially. This flexible structure allows the bearing unit to move radially when vibration occurs, absorbing vibration energy while maintaining structural connection between the casing and bearing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can adapt its rigidity. The bellows structure provides radial flexibility to accommodate vibration while maintaining axial rigidity for structural support, allowing the system to respond dynamically to operational conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support member has high radial rigidity, then the bearing unit stability is improved, but the thermal stress and vibration damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure with multiple folded layers provides radial flexibility that allows thermal expansion and contraction without generating excessive thermal stress. The flexible layers can deform to accommodate thermal changes while maintaining bearing unit stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member's bellows structure dynamically adjusts to thermal conditions, allowing radial movement to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining structural stability. This dynamic flexibility prevents stress concentration that would occur with rigid connections.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the support member is designed with vibration reduction capability, then the damage risk is reduced, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure absorbs vibration energy through radial expansion and contraction of its folded layers, reducing vibration transmission to the bearing unit while maintaining structural connection. The flexible design dissipates vibration energy without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows structure acts as a pre-designed vibration cushion that absorbs shock and vibration before they can cause damage to the bearing unit or surrounding components. This proactive vibration absorption prevents damage while maintaining structural strength.
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 proposed structure effectively reduces radial reaction forces on the bearing unit, preventing damage from shaft vibrations and ensuring the structural integrity of the gas turbine components by distributing and reducing torsional and radial forces.
Implementation Method 1
the reaction-force decreasing unit may have a plurality of diaphragms formed in a disk-like shape perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotation shaft
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a bearing support structure and a gas turbine that prevent damage of device induced by a rotor shaft when the rotor shaft is unbalanced, the bearing support structure and the gas turbine includes: a casing (7) formed in a cylindrical shape; a bearing unit (8) formed in a cylindrical shape and housed in the casing (7); a rotation shaft (5) rotatably supported by the bearing unit (8); and a reaction-force decreasing unit (13) that connects the casing and the bearing unit, and is configured to decrease a radial reaction force on the bearing unit side.