Blade Tip Clearance Probe Lead Cooling Jacket Against Conductive Heat

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blade tip clearance sensors in gas turbines face challenges with heat-induced failure in probe leads due to conductive heat transfer from the sensor body, leading to potential electrical failure and oxidation, which is not adequately addressed by existing cooling methods.

Innovation Solution

A cooling jacket for the probe lead is designed with a tubular section and a collar to encase the lead, allowing a flow of gaseous coolant, such as compressed air or nitrogen, to provide enhanced cooling, and includes features like thermal spacers and insulated collars to minimize conductive heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If existing cooling methods are used for blade tip clearance sensors, then the sensor body can operate in hot environments, but the probe leads suffer from heat-induced failure due to conductive heat transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor body temperatureVSAvoidprobe lead reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into distinct zones: a first cooling region for the sensor body and a second cooling region for the probe lead. This segmentation allows independent cooling strategies for each component, providing adequate cooling to the sensor body while protecting the probe lead from excessive heat through the thermal barrier created by the first cooling region and insulating materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary cooling structure is introduced between the sensor body and probe lead. This intermediary region acts as a thermal barrier that decouples the heat transfer path, allowing the sensor body to be cooled effectively while preventing direct conductive heat transfer to the probe lead, thus maintaining lead reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If the probe lead is exposed to hot gases for cooling, then heat dissipation occurs, but oxidation and conductive heat transfer cause failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidoxidation and conductive heat transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different cooling qualities are applied to different regions: the sensor body receives intensive cooling for heat dissipation, while the probe lead receives protected cooling through insulation. This local quality differentiation allows effective heat management without exposing the probe lead to harmful oxidation and excessive conductive heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The probe lead is surrounded by an inert or protected environment created through insulation and the design of the cooling regions. This prevents direct contact between the probe lead and oxidizing hot gases, eliminating oxidation while maintaining controlled cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Reliability

If thermal spacers and insulated collars are added to minimize heat transfer, then probe lead protection improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe lead protectionVSAvoidcooling jacket structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protective functions are merged into integrated components: the insulated collar combines insulation and structural support functions, while the thermal spacer integrates heat blocking with mechanical separation. This merging reduces the number of discrete parts while maintaining comprehensive protection against heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively reduces heat-induced failure in probe leads by maintaining optimal operating temperatures, ensuring reliable data acquisition and minimizing retrofitting requirements while maintaining compatibility with existing designs.

Implementation Method 1

an interior portion proportioned to surround a probe lead and provide space for a flow of a gaseous coolant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The solution effectively reduces heat-induced failure in probe leads by maintaining optimal operating temperatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

thermal spacers and insulated collars to minimize conductive heat transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12467376B1Blade tip clearance probe/lead cooling jacket

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 RTX CORP

AI summary

A lead cooling assembly includes a cooling jacket including a tubular section having an exterior portion and an interior portion, where the interior portion is proportioned to surround a probe lead and provide space for a flow of a gaseous coolant. The lead cooling assembly also includes an intake configured to admit the gaseous coolant into the interior portion of the cooling jacket. The lead cooling assembly further includes a collar configured to fit over the exterior portion of the cooling jacket, where the collar includes one or more exit holes configured to pass the gaseous coolant out of the interior portion of the cooling jacket.