Turbomachine Blade Vibration Damping via Additive Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbomachine blade arrangements face challenges in effectively reducing vibrations, particularly due to limitations in existing damping mechanisms that rely on frictional dissipation and natural frequency detuning, which do not adequately address the dynamic and kinematic impacts on blade structures.

Innovation Solution

A turbomachine blade arrangement featuring a resiliently mounted and guided structure, with a minimum wall thickness support and controlled translational and rotational degrees of freedom, utilizing additive manufacturing to integrate the blade, guide, and support structure, ensuring secure and efficient vibration reduction through optimized kinematics and dynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a voting mass is movably arranged in a cavity to reduce vibrations through frictional dissipation, then vibration reduction is achieved, but the effectiveness is limited and does not adequately address dynamic impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration reduction effectivenessVSAvoiddamping mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces friction-based mechanical damping with a magnetic field-based active control system. Sensors detect blade vibrations and a magnetic actuator generates counteracting magnetic forces to actively cancel vibrations, eliminating reliance on frictional dissipation and providing superior vibration reduction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor blade vibration characteristics and feed this information to a control mechanism. The magnetic actuator adjusts its field in real-time based on detected vibrations, creating a closed-loop system that dynamically counteracts vibrations rather than passively dissipating them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If damping bodies are arranged in a cavity to dissipate vibrational energy through frictional impacts, then some vibration damping is achieved, but the mechanism does not adequately address dynamic and kinematic impacts on blade structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical friction-based damping bodies with a magnetic field-based active control system. The magnetic actuator generates controlled magnetic forces to counteract vibrations without requiring physical contact or friction, thereby addressing dynamic impacts more effectively while simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the blade structure and the control system. Instead of direct mechanical contact between damping bodies and blade, the magnetic field serves as a mediator that transmits control forces, enabling precise dynamic control without mechanical wear or complex assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If natural frequency detuning is used to reduce vibrations, then vibration reduction is achieved, but the mechanism does not adequately address the dynamic impacts on blade structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration reduction effectivenessVSAvoidadaptability to dynamic conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs real-time feedback control where sensors detect actual blade vibrations and the magnetic actuator dynamically adjusts its field to counteract detected vibrations. This allows the system to adapt to varying dynamic conditions and operating regimes, unlike fixed natural frequency detuning which only works for specific vibration modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from static natural frequency detuning to dynamic active control. The magnetic actuator can continuously adjust its field strength and frequency to match and counteract varying vibration characteristics, making the system adaptable to changing operating conditions, speeds, and load variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This approach significantly reduces blade vibrations by enhancing the storage and transmission of impact energy, improving contact dynamics, and maintaining aerodynamic profiles, while protecting components from the working fluid.

Implementation Method 1

a one-part or multi-part (elastic) support structure that resiliently or elastically mounts or supports the body or bodies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a one-piece or multi-piece guide that guides the body or bodies, in particular in such a way that it has limited play in one or more translational and/or one or more rotational degrees of freedom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical guidance with controlled clearance:

Implementation Method 3

which dissipate vibrational energy with one another and with the cavity in the event of frictional impacts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3330485B1Turbo machine blade assembly
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
  • EP3330485B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3330485B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a turbomachinery blade assembly, in particular for a compressor or turbine stage of a gas turbine, which has at least one blade (10), in particular a rotor or guide blade, and at least one movable body (4) for reducing the vibration of this blade, wherein at least one area of ​​a guide (50) for guiding the body and/or at least one area of ​​a support structure (6) for resiliently supporting the body and/or at least one area of ​​the body (4) together with at least one area of ​​the blade (10), in particular a blade (11) and/or root (12) and/or a shroud (13) arranged thereon, is additively manufactured.