Cantilevered Gas Turbine Stator Vane with Aero Passage Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stator vanes in gas turbine engines, particularly cantilevered ones, experience undesirable vibrational responses and high cycle fatigue due to chaotic airflow, leading to resonant conditions and structural stress.
Innovation Solution
The stator vane design incorporates aero passages and angled vane tip surfaces to mitigate vibrational modes, reducing the susceptibility to resonant responses and high cycle fatigue by altering airflow incidence and distributing airflow forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cantilevered stator vanes are used to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but vibrational responses and high cycle fatigue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stator vane is divided into multiple segments along the spanwise direction, with each segment independently attached to the hub. This segmentation allows the vane to be simpler in overall structure while distributing vibrational stresses across multiple attachment points, reducing the severity of high cycle fatigue at any single location.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stator vane are designed with different properties: the leading edge features a rounded profile for smooth airflow, while the trailing edge has a sharper angle for effective flow termination. The suction and pressure sides have differentiated curvature to optimize airflow patterns and reduce vibrational excitation at specific locations along the vane.
2Manufacturing precision
If stator vanes are designed with conventional airfoil shapes, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but airflow-induced vibrations and resonant conditions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The stator vane airfoil incorporates a rounded leading edge and curved suction/pressure surfaces instead of conventional flat or sharply angled geometries. This curvature design smooths the airflow transition, reduces flow separation, and minimizes the generation of vibrational modes that would otherwise occur with sharper geometric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator vane features asymmetric airfoil geometry with different curvature characteristics on the suction and pressure sides. The suction side has a specific curvature profile optimized for low-vibration airflow attachment, while the pressure side has a complementary profile. This asymmetric design disrupts symmetric vibrational modes and reduces resonant conditions.
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 design effectively reduces vibrational modes and high cycle fatigue in stator vanes by managing airflow dynamics, enhancing structural integrity and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one aero passage extends through the airfoil between the suction side surface and the pressure side surface... The stator vane is configured so when disposed within the stator vane stage, the airfoil is cantilevered with the vane tip being unsupported
Data Source
AI summary
A stator vane for a gas turbine stator vane stage is provided that includes an airfoil having leading and trailing edges, a vane tip, suction and pressure side surfaces, and at least one aero passage. The leading and trailing edges are chordwise spaced apart. The vane tip is spanwise spaced apart from a radial base end. The suction side surface extends chordwise between the leading and trailing edges, and extends spanwise between the radial base end and the vane tip. The pressure side surface extends chordwise between the leading and trailing edges, and extends spanwise between the radial base end and the vane tip. The at least one aero passage extends through the airfoil between the suction and pressure side surfaces, and is disposed proximate and spanwise separated from the vane tip. The stator vane is configured to be cantilevered with the vane tip being unsupported.