Cascade Flowpath Insert Ducts for Gas Turbine Exhaust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine exhaust cases are often complicated in design and heavy, leading to fluid leakage due to thermal issues and complex aero configurations.
Innovation Solution
A flowpath assembly with a cascade configuration of flowpath insert ducts, featuring radially inward and outward walls, side walls, and retention hooks, secured by cartridge housings, which allows for a lightweight and efficient fluid passage while providing radial support through a cold frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If prior art exhaust cases use complex aero configuration and thermal fight design, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust case is divided into multiple modular segments including a cold frame, multiple flowpath insert ducts arranged in cascade configuration, and housing cartridges. Each segment can be independently manufactured, assembled, and replaced, reducing overall design complexity while maintaining aerodynamic performance through standardized modular interfaces.
2Productivity
If prior art exhaust cases use complex aero configuration, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but fluid leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cascade configuration of multiple discrete flowpath insert ducts creates natural sealing zones between adjacent ducts, reducing fluid leakage paths while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency through optimized duct geometry and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
Housing cartridges serve as intermediary components that engage with retention hooks on adjacent flowpath ducts, providing a sealing interface that prevents fluid leakage between modular segments while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction.
3Productivity
If prior art exhaust cases are designed for thermal fight and complex aero configuration, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular segmented design allows each flowpath insert duct to be optimized for minimal weight while maintaining structural integrity, replacing heavy monolithic construction with lightweight modular components that can be strategically positioned in the cascade configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing cartridge and retention hook mechanism provides dynamic thermal compensation, allowing components to expand and contract independently during thermal cycles without compromising structural integrity, enabling the use of lighter materials that can withstand thermal stress.
4Ease of repair
If flowpath assembly uses modular cascade configuration, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular cascade configuration with standardized housing cartridges and retention hooks enables individual flowpath insert ducts to be quickly removed and replaced without disassembling the entire exhaust case, significantly improving maintenance accessibility despite the multi-component design.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized housing cartridge design serves multiple functions including structural support, sealing, and mechanical retention through engagement with retention hooks, reducing the need for separate fastening components and simplifying the overall assembly process despite the modular configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A flowpath assembly (24) for a gas turbine engine (10) includes a plurality of flowpath insert ducts (32) arranged in a cascade configuration. Each flowpath duct (32) includes a radially inward wall (32-3,32-4); a radially outward wall (32-5,32-6), a first side wall (32-1,32-2), and a second side wall (32-2,32-1). A flowpath volume is defined between the inward (32-3,32-4), outward (32-5,32-6), first side (32-1,32-2) and second side (32-2,32-1) walls. The first side wall (32-1,32-2) of a given one of the plurality of flowpath insert ducts (32) is positioned adjacent to the second sidewall (32-2,32-1) of an adjacent one of the plurality of flowpath insert ducts (32) in the cascade configuration.