Gas Turbine Casing Intumescent Fire Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intumescent materials used for fire protection in gas turbine engines require high temperatures to activate, which may allow fire to damage components before the material expands for protection.

Innovation Solution

A casing assembly for a gas turbine engine featuring an electrically conductive intumescent material around the casing, activated by an electrical activation line that extends in a pattern covering at least 50% of the casing's axial and circumferential extent, and controlled by a temperature sensor and activation system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional thermal activation of intumescent material is used, then the material expands to provide fire protection, but the high activation temperature (up to 190°C) allows fire to damage components before protection activates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire protection effectivenessVSAvoidactivation temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely thermal activation mechanism with an electrical activation system. An electrical activation line embedded in the intumescent material delivers electrical current to initiate expansion at lower temperatures, substituting the passive thermal trigger with an active electrical control system that can respond to fire conditions before reaching high temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the activation parameter from thermal (temperature-driven) to electrical (current-driven). By introducing electrical current as the activation trigger, the system can initiate intumescent material expansion at lower temperatures than the traditional thermal activation threshold, thereby providing earlier protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If electrical activation line covers entire casing surface, then intumescent material activates over large area, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation area coverageVSAvoidactivation line configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the activation line into multiple discrete sections or zones around the casing rather than using a single continuous coverage. This segmentation allows the activation line to be divided into manageable portions that can be independently configured and installed, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a helical or three-dimensional pattern for the activation line rather than simple planar coverage. By arranging the activation line in a helical pattern that wraps around the casing, the system achieves comprehensive axial and circumferential coverage through a single continuous line, simplifying the configuration compared to multiple separate coverage systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution allows for the activation of intumescent material at lower temperatures, providing effective protection to gas turbine engine components from excessive heat or fire by expanding the material over a large area of the casing.

Implementation Method 1

an electrically conductive intumescent material extending around the casing, the intumescent material being activatable in response to electrical current to expand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

an intumescent material will expand many times its original size when heated to a predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS12292002B2Casing assembly

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 ROLLS ROYCE PLC

AI summary

There is provided a casing assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising: a casing and electrically conductive intumescent material extending around the casing. The intumescent material is being activatable in response to electrical current to expand. The casing assembly comprises an electrical activation line extending around the casing to activate the intumescent material. The activation line extends in a pattern such that an activation area which circumscribes the activation line has an axial extent of at least 50% of the casing and a circumferential extent of at least 50%, to thereby activate the intumescent material at multiple locations over a corresponding area of the casing.