Turbine Blade Wear-Resistant Material Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anti-wear materials on turbine blades tend to detach, requiring time-consuming and expensive reapplication, especially in titanium and aluminum alloy blades where traditional TIG welding is not possible, leading to vibration fatigue and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The development of a titanium and aluminum alloy blade with an azimuthal contact surface featuring an imprint for the anti-wear material, allowing for a thicker, more robust deposition that is flush with the surface, reducing friction and shock exposure, and maintaining precise dimensional accuracy without adding extra thickness, using methods like plasma spraying or machining to create the imprint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional TIG welding is used to apply wear-resistant material, then the material can be permanently fixed, but the method is not applicable to titanium and aluminum alloy blades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepermanent fixation of wear-resistant materialVSAvoidapplicability to different blade materials
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the application method from TIG welding to plasma spraying, which is a different physical process parameter that works with titanium and aluminum alloys. This parameter change enables the wear-resistant material to be applied to previously incompatible materials while achieving permanent fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the plasma-sprayed wear-resistant material coating) that mediates between the blade surface and the operational requirements. This intermediary layer provides both permanent fixation and wear resistance for titanium and aluminum alloy blades that cannot undergo TIG welding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wear-resistant material is applied by plasma spraying, then titanium and aluminum alloy blades can be treated, but the coating is thicker and requires more material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with titanium and aluminum alloy bladesVSAvoidamount of wear-resistant material
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the wear-resistant material locally through plasma spraying only on the azimuthal contact surfaces where wear occurs, rather than coating the entire blade. This localized application reduces the total quantity of material needed while maintaining compatibility with titanium and aluminum alloy blades.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the wear-resistant material is deposited on the azimuthal contact surface, then it provides wear resistance, but the material tends to detach requiring reapplication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidservice life of wear-resistant material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by creating an indentation in the azimuthal contact surface before applying the wear-resistant material. This pre-prepared recess ensures the material is mechanically interlocked and will not detach during service, extending the service life without requiring reapplication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the wear-resistant material within an indentation created in the blade surface. This nested configuration provides mechanical interlocking where the material is housed within a recess, preventing detachment while maintaining wear resistance functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If the entire azimuthal contact surface is prepared for material deposition, then good adhesion is achieved, but the preparation process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion of wear-resistant materialVSAvoidpreparation time for material application
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating an indentation only in the specific area where the wear-resistant material will be deposited, rather than preparing the entire azimuthal contact surface. This localized preparation reduces the time required for material application while maintaining adequate adhesion in the critical area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 anti-wear material is permanently fixed, reducing detachment risks, enhancing vibration absorption, and maintaining the blade's dimensions, resulting in improved durability and reduced maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

A plasma spraying process is used to deposit a cobalt-based coating, which may have the composition cobalt-molybdenum-chromium-silicon (CoMoCrSi)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma spraying: Plasma Spray

Implementation Method 2

the wear-resistant materials, through damping via contact between the blades, dissipate the vibrational energy of each blade's natural mode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3847340B1Rotor blade
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS
  • EP3847340B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3847340B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3847340B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a movable blade (1) made of aluminium and titanium alloy, for a turbojet engine turbine comprising a vane (2) and at least one root (3) at a distal end of the vane (2). The root (3) has at least one azimuthal contact surface (31, 32) with another directly adjacent blade (1). A hard abrasion-resistant material, called wear-resistant material (6), is deposited onto the at least one azimuthal contact surface (31, 32). A cavity (5) is produced in said at least one azimuthal contact surface (31, 32), the wear-resistant material (6) being deposited in the cavity (5).