Combustor Tile Fastening With Thermal Shielded Fastener Compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fasteners used to connect tiles to the combustor shell in gas turbine engines are prone to failure due to high combustion temperatures, necessitating improved retention mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A combustor assembly design that includes a tile flange portion connected to a meter panel via a fastener, with a heatshield and/or tile forming a compartment to thermally shield the fastener, allowing for a reliable connection without additional assembly steps like welding, and enabling thermal expansion of the tile and shell wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fasteners are used to connect tiles to the combustor shell, then assembly is simple, but the fasteners are prone to failure due to high combustion temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
A compartment is introduced as an intermediary structure between the combustion space and the fastener. This compartment acts as a thermal barrier that mediates the harmful thermal effects, protecting the fastener from direct exposure to high combustion temperatures while maintaining the structural connection between the tile and combustor shell.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is extracted from the direct thermal environment of the combustion space and relocated to a protected compartment. This separation removes the fastener from the harmful thermal field, allowing it to operate in a cooler, more favorable environment while still performing its structural function.
2Strength
If welding is used to connect the meter panel, tile, and shell wall, then connection strength is improved, but manufacturing and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The welding process is replaced with a mechanical fastening system. The fastener provides sufficient connection strength through mechanical means (threaded engagement with the shell flange portion and meter panel) rather than requiring thermal welding, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining adequate connection integrity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the fastener is exposed to the combustion space, then assembly is simpler, but the fastener lifespan is reduced due to thermal exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The compartment serves as a protective intermediary that extends the fastener's operational lifespan by shielding it from direct thermal exposure. While this adds structural complexity, the compartment is integrated into the existing tile and heatshield components, minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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 design provides a reliable connection with improved mechanical integrity, reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs, and easier assembly, while extending the lifespan of the fastener by protecting it from high combustion temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the heatshield and the tile together form the compartment. The fastener is spaced apart from the combustion space. The fastener is at least partially disposed within the compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
A combustor assembly (100) for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell (110) extending along a shell axis (111). The combustor shell (110) includes a shell wall (112) extending circumferentially around the shell axis (111) and a meter panel (116) connected to an upstream end (113) of the shell wall (112). The shell wall (112) and the meter panel (116) together define a combustion space (165) therebetween. The combustor assembly (100) further includes: a tile (120) disposed within the combustor shell (110) and including a tile flange portion (125) extending radially with respect to the shell axis (111); a heatshield (140) connected to the meter panel (116) and extending at least radially towards the tile (120); a fastener (150) connecting the tile flange portion (125) to the meter panel (116); and a compartment (160) thermally shielded from the combustion space (165). Either the heatshield (140) and the tile (120) together form the compartment (160) or the tile (120) alone forms the compartment (160). The fastener (150) is spaced apart from the combustion space (165) and at least partially disposed within the compartment (160).