Gas Turbine Bore Basket Cooling via Segmented Cylinder Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas powered turbines face heat sensitivity issues in rotor bores due to direct exposure to hot air flows, which can reduce performance unless effectively shielded and cooled.
Innovation Solution
A bore basket with a unitary structure, comprising radially outward and inward cylinders mechanically interconnected via struts, creates a fluid passageway for cool air to flow and isolate hot air, using structural struts for support and guiding airflow to prevent backflow and enhance cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single metal cylinder bore basket is used to shield rotor bores from hot air, then the rotor bores are protected from heat, but the structural support and airflow control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bore basket is segmented into an outer cylinder, inner cylinder, and multiple struts, where each component serves a specific function. The outer and inner cylinders create a annular passage for cool air flow, while the struts provide structural support and define flow paths, collectively achieving effective heat shielding through divided functional elements
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cylinder is nested within the outer cylinder, creating a concentric structure that defines the cool air passage between them. This nested arrangement allows the bore basket to effectively shield the rotor bores while maintaining a compact design that directs cool air flow along the rotor bore surfaces
2Temperature
If cool air flow is directed along the rotor bore, then cooling efficiency is improved, but airflow control and directionality become critical
Solution Approach 1:
The struts are positioned at specific locations to create localized flow control features. The forward strut defines a forward wall that directs cool air flow along the rotor bore in the forward direction, while the aft strut defines an aft wall that prevents backflow, creating zone-specific flow management that optimizes cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The struts act as intermediary structures that mediate between the cool air source and the rotor bores. They define the flow path and direction of the cool air, ensuring it reaches the rotor bores effectively while preventing hot air intrusion, thus serving as a flow control mechanism
3Strength
If the bore basket is constructed as a unitary structure, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer cylinder, inner cylinder, and struts are merged into a single unitary structure through additive manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate assembly operations and connections, achieving full structural integrity while simplifying the manufacturing process through single-step fabrication
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 bore basket effectively shields rotor bores from hot air, maintaining performance by providing a controlled cooling mechanism that directs cool air to rotor bores, reducing heat exposure and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
directs a cool air flow along a radially outward surface of the first radially outward cylinder, through the radially aligned opening on a first end of the bore basket into the gap defined by the radially outward first cylinder and the radially inward second cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The basket operates as a heat shield and a flow guide, providing separation between the hot air flow and sensitive rotor bores, and shielding the sensitive rotor bores from the heat of the hot air flow
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A bore basket (130) for a gas turbine engine includes two cylinders (132,134) that guide a cooling flow through a bore opening (122). The cylinders (132,134) define an axially aligned gap (133) that further directs fluid flow. The cylinders (132,134) are mechanically interconnected to create a unitary structure.