Chevron Fluid Distributor Passages for Swirl Angles Above 60°
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional additive manufacturing techniques limit the achievable swirl angle in fluid distributors for gas turbine engine injectors, restricting design possibilities.
Innovation Solution
The fluid distributor passages are designed with vaulted ceilings and floors angled less than 60 degrees relative to the swirl axis, forming a chevron cross-sectional shape, allowing swirl angles greater than 60 degrees, and are produced using additive manufacturing to overcome these limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional additive manufacturing techniques are used to produce fluid distributor passages, then manufacturing capability is maintained, but the achievable swirl angle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved or vaulted ceilings and floors in the distributor passages instead of flat surfaces. This curvature allows the passages to achieve higher swirl angles (greater than 60 degrees) while remaining manufacturable through additive manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between shape complexity and manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the distributor passages by vaulting the ceilings and floors at specific angles (less than 60 degrees relative to the swirl axis) to enable the overall passage to achieve swirl angles greater than 60 degrees. This parameter optimization allows conventional additive manufacturing techniques to produce higher swirl angles than previously achievable.
2Shape
If the ceiling and floor are vaulted to achieve high swirl angles, then swirl angle is improved, but passage cross-sectional shape becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric vaulting of the ceiling and floor surfaces at different angles relative to the swirl axis. This asymmetric design creates the complex three-dimensional shape necessary for high swirl angles while maintaining manufacturability through additive processes, balancing shape improvement with controlled complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid distributor includes a distributor body (102) defining a plurality of fluid distributor passages therethrough. Each of the fluid distributor passages (112) winds in swirl direction about a swirl axis. The swirl direction defines a swirl angle of at least 60 degrees relative to the swirl axis. Each of the fluid distributor passages defines a floor and opposed ceiling, and an opposed pair of sidewalls. At least one of the floor and/or the ceiling is vaulted to define a surface that is angled less than 60 degrees relative to the swirl axis.