CMC Vane Rotatable Baffle for Re-stagger
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in gas turbine engines is to effectively manage the high temperatures in the turbine section using ceramic matrix composite (CMC) static vanes, while also addressing manufacturing tolerances and achieving optimal turbine stage flow area through re-staggering.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining a re-stagger angle for the airfoil on a CMC vane, adjusting the position of a metal baffle within the vane's central chamber, and fixing the baffle's upper face to the bathtub seal flange support face, ensuring proper orientation to accommodate the re-stagger angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If re-staggering is applied to adjust manufacturing tolerances and optimize flow area, then turbine stage flow area and performance are improved, but the complexity of integrating the baffle and bathtub seal structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is designed with rotational capability within the bathtub seal, allowing the baffle to be rotated to different angular positions. This dynamic adjustment enables re-staggering of the airfoil while maintaining proper sealing and support, thus optimizing turbine stage flow area without permanently complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bathtub seal is divided into separate components including the seal body, the baffle, and mounting structures. This segmentation allows the baffle to be independently positioned and rotated relative to the seal body, facilitating re-staggering while keeping the sealing function separate from the positioning function.
2Manufacturing precision
If the baffle position is adjusted to accommodate re-stagger angle, then manufacturing tolerance compensation is achieved, but the manufacturing precision of the baffle-seal interface becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is pre-positioned and pre-aligned with the bathtub seal support face at the correct orientation before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the re-stagger angle is accurately established during manufacturing, while the standardized interface between the baffle upper face and bathtub seal support face maintains ease of manufacture through repeatable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the re-stagger angle to be varied as a parameter while maintaining a standardized interface geometry between the baffle and bathtub seal. By separating the angular orientation parameter from the interface geometry, the system achieves both manufacturing precision in airfoil orientation and ease of manufacture through standardized components.
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
This solution enables the efficient integration of CMC vanes with re-staggered airfoils and baffles, enhancing the engine's ability to withstand high temperatures and maintain optimal flow dynamics, thereby improving the overall performance and reliability of the gas turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
step 3) is performed by brazing
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming a vane assembly for a gas turbine engine includes the steps of 1) determining a re-stagger angle for an airfoil on a ceramic matrix composite (“CMC”) vane, 2) determine an adjusted position of a baffle to be inserted within a central chamber in the vane, inserting the baffle into a bathtub seal, and adjusting an upper face of the baffle to an orientation relative to a bathtub seal support face to account for the adjusted position of the baffle and 3) fixing the baffle upper face to the bathtub seal flange support face. A vane assembly and a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.