CMC Combustor Assembly Coupling Flange Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively joining multiple components made of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials within the combustor assembly, which is crucial for high-temperature applications but lacks reliable attachment methods.
Innovation Solution
A combustor assembly design that incorporates CMC materials for the combustor dome and inner and outer liners, utilizing coupling flanges and a mounting assembly with metal flanges and support members to securely attach these components, allowing for thermal growth mismatch and providing a durable attachment mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If CMC materials are used for combustor components to withstand extreme temperatures, then temperature resistance is improved, but joining reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A metal bonding flange acts as an intermediary component between CMC combustor components. The flange includes a first bonding surface with a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second bonding surface with a second coefficient of thermal expansion, which are matched to the CMC components it connects. This intermediary structure enables reliable joining of CMC components while accommodating their thermal expansion characteristics through the metal flange's intermediate thermal expansion properties.
2Device complexity
If multiple CMC components are joined directly, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal bonding flange serves as a precision-matched intermediary that facilitates accurate alignment and joining of CMC components. The flange's bonding surfaces are designed with specific coefficients of thermal expansion that match the CMC components, enabling precise thermal and mechanical coupling without requiring direct CMC-to-CMC joining, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while managing structural complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If coupling flanges are added to CMC components, then joining capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding flange is merged with the CMC combustor components to form an integrated assembly. The metal flange is bonded directly to the CMC components, combining the thermal resistance of CMC with the joining capability of metal flanges. This merging approach enables reliable joining while minimizing assembly complexity by creating a unified structure rather than separate detachable components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A combustor assembly (100) includes a first combustion chamber member (112) and a second combustion chamber member (114). The first and second combustion chamber members (112, 114) are each formed of a CMC material and include adjacently positioned coupling flanges (138, 140). A mounting assembly (136) includes a pair of mounting flanges (142, 144) positioned on opposite sides of the coupling flanges (138, 140) of first and second combustion chamber members (112, 114). An attachment member (146) of the mounting assembly (136) clamps the pair of mounting flanges (142, 144) together to mount the first and second combustion chamber members (112, 114).