Blade Tip Clearance Control by Operating Mode Objectives

Solution Overview

Problem

Current gas turbine engine tip clearance control systems primarily focus on minimizing blade tip clearances for efficiency, but do not consider broader operational objectives such as fuel efficiency, life-cycle costs, and noise reduction, which can lead to suboptimal performance and increased maintenance.

Innovation Solution

An objective-driven system for blade tip clearance control that adjusts the distance between the blade and the blade outer air seal and engine climb thrust rating based on predefined operational modes, such as high-performance, fuel-efficiency, and life-cycle cost-minimization modes, using an optimization loop that incorporates real-time input and output variables to optimize engine operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If tip clearance is minimized to enhance engine performance, then engine efficiency is improved, but engine life and reliability deteriorate due to increased stress and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine efficiencyVSAvoidengine life

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts blade tip clearance based on real-time operating conditions and selected operational modes. The clearance control is not static but adapts continuously, allowing the engine to optimize between efficiency and reliability requirements for different flight phases and operational objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameter of blade tip clearance to match different operational objectives. By modulating clearance as a variable parameter rather than a fixed dimension, the system can optimize engine performance for specific modes while managing wear and stress accumulation over the engine lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If tip clearance is minimized for high-performance mode, then engine thrust is improved, but fuel consumption increases due to suboptimal operation in other modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine thrustVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts blade tip clearance based on real-time operating conditions and selected operational modes. The clearance control is not static but adapts continuously, allowing the engine to optimize between efficiency and reliability requirements for different flight phases and operational objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameter of blade tip clearance to match different operational objectives. By modulating clearance as a variable parameter rather than a fixed dimension, the system can optimize engine performance for specific modes while managing wear and stress accumulation over the engine lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single clearance control strategy is used for all operational modes, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different operational objectives deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidoperational mode adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The clearance control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse operational objectives. It can operate in different modes (high-performance, fuel-efficiency, life-cycle cost-minimization, noise reduction) by adjusting clearance settings, making a single system capable of serving multiple functions without requiring separate control systems for each mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts blade tip clearance based on real-time operating conditions and selected operational modes. The clearance control is not static but adapts continuously, allowing the engine to optimize between efficiency and reliability requirements for different flight phases and operational objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3543805B1Systems and methods for active clearance control based on selected operating mode

Publication Date: 2023.10.11 RTX CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

An objective-driven system (400) for blade tip clearance control may comprise a BOAS (106) and a controller (334) in operable communication with the BOAS (106). A tangible, non-transitory memory (416) may be configured to communicate with the controller (334), the tangible, non-transitory memory (416) may have instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller (334), cause the controller (334) to perform operations comprising receiving an operating objective definition, and modulating a location of the BOAS (106) using an optimization loop comprising the operating objective definition, input vector variables, and output vector variables driven by the input vector variables.