Turbomachine Blade Distribution Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for distributing blades around a turbomachine disk face challenges in achieving balance with high computational loads, leading to vibrations and acoustic noise due to the large number of possible blade distributions that need to be calculated, which can converge slowly to an optimal solution.

Innovation Solution

A method using different similarity criteria to generate neighboring blade distributions, allowing for quicker exploration of the distribution space through a Tabou-type algorithm, which reduces the number of distributions tested and arbitrates between strategies to converge more rapidly to an optimal solution, while thresholding unbalances ensures focus on meeting specific criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a Tabu-type algorithm switches between distributions by swapping two blades to explore all possible distributions, then the exploration of distribution space is achieved, but the convergence to an optimal solution is relatively slow when the cost function depends on several blade balancing parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexploration of distribution spaceVSAvoidconvergence speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the exploration of distribution space by introducing multiple similarity criteria (first, second, and third criteria) that define different neighborhoods. Each criterion represents a different strategy for generating neighboring distributions, allowing the algorithm to explore the solution space through multiple pathways simultaneously rather than a single slow path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention dynamically adapts the exploration strategy by selecting different similarity criteria based on the current state of the search. The algorithm can switch between different neighborhood definitions (different criteria) to accelerate convergence, making the exploration process flexible and responsive to the optimization progress rather than following a fixed slow path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple similarity criteria are used to generate neighboring distributions with different neighborhoods, then different exploration strategies are defined, but the computational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvergence speedVSAvoidcomputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies partial action by not requiring all possible distributions to be examined exhaustively. Instead, it generates a limited set of neighboring distributions according to each similarity criterion and selects the best one. This partial exploration through multiple criteria provides faster convergence without the prohibitive computational cost of complete enumeration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the search process by introducing multiple similarity criteria with different neighborhood definitions. This allows the algorithm to adjust its exploration behavior dynamically, switching between different search strategies (parameter settings) to balance computational effort and convergence speed based on the optimization needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3552123B1Method for manufacturing a turbomachine bladed wheel
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS
  • EP3552123B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3552123B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3552123B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c

AI summary

The invention proposes a method for simulating the distribution of blades on a turbomachine disc, the method comprising the steps of:⋅providing a plurality of blade configurations, each blade configuration being associated with a blade and comprising at least one measurement of a balancing parameter measured on the associated blade, ⋅ search for and selection of a bladed-disc distribution combining the configurations of blades supplied with positions on the disc, the bladed disc distribution encouraging the attainment of at least one criterion defined according to a predetermined cost function dependent on the balancing parameter measurements, the search and selection being performed by successive iterations, the method being characterized in that a current iteration in the search and selection involves the steps of: ○ generating a plurality of distributions from a reference distribution, said plurality comprising at least one first nearby distribution generated according to a strategy encouraging the attainment of a first predetermined set of criteria of resemblance to the reference distribution and at least one second distribution generated according to another strategy encouraging the attainment of a second predetermined set of criteria of resemblance to the reference distribution, ○ selecting, from the nearby distributions, a nearby distribution that encourages optimization of the cost function as the new reference distribution.